With drones high on the list for Christmas gifts this year for both the young and old, what practical things are people using them for? One innovative EPA-funded project has found a way to take a 2 litre water sample using a drone in order to help sampling become more efficient, a first for any research team in Europe. Senior Lecturer & Researcher in Freshwater Ecology and Biology, Dr Heather Lally, from the Atlantic Technological University Galway, joins Cathal Somers on the latest Environm...
Dec 19, 2022•20 min
We have heard warnings for a number of years now about the impact of Ash Dieback in Ireland but what’s the current situation? Teagasc’s forestry advisor, John Casey, joins Cathal Somers on the latest Environment Edge podcast to discuss and he also has an update on the recent government announcement of a €1.3 billion investment in Irish forestry. For more episodes and information from the Environment Edge, visit the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/environmentedge/...
Dec 05, 2022•21 min
Jenny Deakin, Manager of the Catchment Science and Management Unit in the EPA joins Deirdre and Cathal on the latest Environment Edge podcast to discuss the good and the bad findings of the Water Quality in Ireland Report 2016-2021. For more episodes and information from the Environment Edge, visit the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/environmentedge/
Nov 21, 2022•22 min
Derogation farming – are you aware of the current situation in Ireland? And what does the future holds for farmers with higher stocking rate? Teagasc Environmental Specialist, Tim Hyde, joins Deirdre and Cathal on the latest Environment Edge podcast to discuss just that. For more episodes and information from the Environment Edge, visit the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/environmentedge/
Nov 07, 2022•20 min
With Signpost Sustainability Week 2022 in full swing, the latest Environment Edge podcast hears how Signpost farmer Trevor Boland and his Future Beef programme advisor, Gabriel Trayers, are working together, connecting profit and the environment. They discuss with Deidre and Cathal the steps Trevor is taking to reduce his gaseous emissions improve sustainability on the farm whilst improving profits. Podcast Survey In order to understand the aspects of podcasts which are most appealing and benefi...
Oct 17, 2022•23 min
With ever increasing pressure on dairy farmers to meet the challenges of sustainability and with greenhouse gas emissions currently to the fore, what work is being carried out to support dairy production systems? Lorraine Balaine, postdoctoral researcher working on a European project called MilKey, joins Deirdre and Cathal on the latest Environment Edge podcast to discuss just that. Podcast Survey In order to understand the aspects of podcasts which are most appealing and beneficial to you the l...
Oct 03, 2022•23 min
With major changes to Ireland’s Nitrates Action Programme, in relation to soil sampling and the introduction of a fertiliser register for farmers, coming into effect on January 1st 2023, Teagasc Crop and Nutrient Management Specialist, Mark Plunkett, joins Deirdre and Cathal to discuss how farmers can be ready for the change. Podcast Survey In order to understand the aspects of podcasts which are most appealing and beneficial to you the listener, it would be appreciated if you could take 3-4 min...
Sep 19, 2022•19 min
Did you know that some earthworms inherit lifelong built channels from their parents? Listen in to hear more about this in part two of Deirdre and Cathal’s chat with earthworm specialist, Professor Olaf Schmidt, from University College Dublin, and discover whether slurry application is actually a friend or foe of the earthworm. Podcast Survey In order to understand the aspects of podcasts which are most appealing and beneficial to you the listener, it would be appreciated if you could take 3-4 m...
Sep 05, 2022•18 min
The farmer and the earthworm have a long standing relationship but now more than ever before we are discovering the huge contribution this army of small creatures make to our land. But are we doing enough to return the favour? Earthworm specialist Professor Olaf Schmidt from University College Dublin, School of Agriculture and Food Science joins Deirdre and Cathal to discuss just that. Podcast Survey In order to understand the aspects of podcasts which are most appealing and beneficial to you th...
Aug 15, 2022•21 min
Pollinators provide a vital ecosystem service to the agricultural industry but are we doing enough to help our pollinators and the wider biodiversity on farms across the country? Ruth Wilson, Farmland Pollinator Officer with the National Biodiversity Data Centre working on the All Ireland Pollinator Plan, joins Deirdre and Cathal on the latest Environment Edge podcast to discuss what we can do on the farm and other initiatives going on to help our pollinators. Podcast Survey In order to understa...
Aug 01, 2022•21 min
With great attendance at the recent Teagasc run event, Beef 2022, farmers from across the country visited to hear and see the latest information and technology in beef farming. On the latest Environment Edge podcast, listen in to hear from advisors, researchers and farmers who spoke with Deirdre and Cathal in the Signpost Village, discussing topics such as soil health, biodiversity, hedgerows, water quality and what interested farmers on the day. For more episodes and information from the Enviro...
Jul 18, 2022•16 min
With over 100 demonstration farms across the country comprising of many different farming enterprises, leading the way in implementing practices to solve our social, economic and environmental challenges, Siobhan Kavanagh, Teagasc Communications Specialist with the Signpost Programme joins Cathal and Deirdre on the latest Environment Edge podcast to discuss how it’s going and also tells them what farmers can look forward to seeing in the Signpost village at Beef 2022. For more episodes and infor...
Jul 04, 2022•24 min
With ever increasing pressure on beef farmers, how can we produce a quality product as efficiently as possible to make beef farming more profitable while also making it more environmentally and socially sustainable? Programme manager of the Future Beef programme, Martina Harrington from Teagasc joins Deirdre and Cathal to discuss just that. For more episodes and information from the Environment Edge, visit the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/environmentedge/...
Jun 20, 2022•21 min
ASSAP advisors work with farmers to improve water quality in priority areas for action across the country but who supports the advisors in regards to information on water quality in local areas? Catchment scientist with the Local Authority Waters Programme, Dr Philip Murphy joins Deirdre and Cathal on the latest Environment Edge podcast to discuss his role supporting ASSAP and how his work can help towards solving our water quality issues. Philip also gives Deirdre and Cathal a few tips on how t...
Jun 06, 2022•21 min
The Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for protecting and improving the environment in Ireland which is done through providing environmental data, assessments and evidence to inform decisions and policy. Catchment scientist, Eva Mockler joins Deirdre and Cathal on the latest Environment Edge podcast to chat about water quality and the tools the EPA Catchment Science & Management Unit are developing to help us make improvements. For more episodes and information from the Environme...
May 16, 2022•19 min
With a third of Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions coming from agriculture and methane being one of the biggest challenges, what is the Teagasc led project Sea Solutions doing to solve the problem? Dr Maria Hayes, Teagasc Senior researcher in Ashtown’s food research centre and co-ordinator of the Sea Solutions project joins Deirdre and Cathal on the latest Environment Edge podcast to explain more. For more episodes and information from the Environment Edge, visit the show page at: https://www.te...
May 02, 2022•22 min
With weather starting to pick up, getting clover into our grassland swards is a priority for many farmers. Mike Egan, Teagasc grassland research officer in Moorepark joins Deirdre and Cathal on the latest episode of the Environment Edge podcast to tell them ‘how and why now is the time for clover’. For more episodes and information from the Environment Edge, visit the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/environmentedge/
Apr 18, 2022•25 min
On the latest episode of the Environment Edge podcast, it’s the second part of the interview with Bryan Daniels who is the former Sustainable Farming Grassland Farmer of the Year and is producing up to 17 tonnes of grass dry matter per hectare. Bryan joins Cathal Somers and Deirdre Glynn to discuss sustainability actions he is putting in place on the farm, the challenges and opportunities for farmers in the future and the importance of maintaining a work-life balance. For more episodes and infor...
Apr 04, 2022•18 min
Former Overall and Sustainable Farming Grassland Farmer of the Year, Bryan Daniels, who is producing up to 17 tonnes of grass dry matter per hectare, joins Cathal Somers and Deirdre Glynn on the latest Environment Edge podcast to discuss how this can be achieved and the sustainability plan on his farm to meet environmental targets. Listen in to hear what Bryan means about the importance of the invisible cow along with much more excellent advice. For more episodes and information from the Environ...
Mar 21, 2022•18 min
Minister Hackett recently announced the Organic Farming Scheme is now open for new applicants until the 8th April 2022, and a number of changes have been made to the scheme to encourage farmers to join. Joe Kelleher, Teagasc Organic Farming specialist joins Deirdre Glynn & Cathal Somers on the latest Environment Edge podcast to discuss. For more episodes and information from the Environment Edge, visit the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/environmentedge/
Mar 07, 2022•21 min
With a huge focus on gathering vital data over the last decade, six catchments and over 300 farmers participating in the programme with the aim of improving water quality, Eddy Burgess, Agricultural Catchments Specialist with the Teagasc Agricultural Catchments Programme joins Cathal and Deirdre on the latest Environment Edge podcast to discuss nitrogen loss from agriculture and the programme’s Working Together for Water Quality week. For more episodes and information from the Environment Edge, ...
Feb 21, 2022•27 min
A natural solution to a major problem - how can nematodes help towards meeting European commission targets of a 50% reduction in the use of pesticides in the next decade? Winner of the Teagasc award at the BT Young Scientist competition 2022, Johannah Pigott and her teacher Joanne Corkery from Coláiste Treasa, Kanturk, Co. Cork, join Deirdre and Cathal on the latest episode of the Environment Edge to discuss just that. For more episodes and information from the Environment Edge, visit the show p...
Feb 07, 2022•17 min
Sometimes in sustainability we forget the most important part: the person. With winter still hanging on, people trying to cope with Covid and pressure on the farm mounting, many farmers can feel a bit down this time of year. Dr John McNamara, Teagasc H&S specialist chats to Deirdre Glynn and Cathal Somers on the latest episode of the Environment Edge about Teagasc’s role in promoting farmer mental health and wellbeing, what to look out for and how we all can help. For more episodes and infor...
Jan 17, 2022•21 min
With fertiliser prices having gone through the roof, how can we become more efficient in 2022 in order to maintain grass production? Mark Plunkett, Teagasc Crop & Nutrient Management Specialist, joins Deirdre Glynn and Cathal Somers on the latest Environment Edge podcast to discuss the options. You’ll also hear about a great project carried out by Teagasc and forty local farmers in the Kilkenny/Waterford advisory region where slurry was analysed in Spring 2021 and you’ll be surprised to hear...
Jan 03, 2022•19 min
With the Christmas season very much in the swing now and lots of houses displaying wonderfully lit up trees and decorations, sometimes we take for granted how much we rely on our electricity supply or how its produced. Teagasc Energy and Rural Development Specialist, Barry Caslin, joins Deirdre Glynn and Cathal Somers on the latest Environment Edge podcast to discuss the possibility of energy shortages in the future, price hikes and what the agricultural industry can do to help solve the problem...
Dec 20, 2021•18 min
We are being asked to significantly reduce carbon emissions over the next few years, but to do this farmers need to know their baseline emissions. Did you know this information is available to many farmers based on their own farm but where can you find it and what does it mean? Siobhan Kavanagh, Teagasc Communications Specialist with the Signpost Farm programme and Mick Houlihan, Agri Sustainability Manager with Bord Bia, join Deirdre Glynn and Cathal Somers on the latest Environment Edge podcas...
Dec 06, 2021•25 min
With global temperatures on the rise, this week’s Environment Edge podcast asks how will this affect exotic and endemic disease in Ireland? Superintending Veterinary Inspectors Caroline Garvan & Damien Barrett join Cathal Somers and Deirdre Glynn to chat about antimicrobial resistance, animal health and the upcoming Department of Agriculture Food & the Marine’s Animal Health Awareness week running from the 18 – 24th November. For more episodes and information from the Environment Edge, v...
Nov 15, 2021•26 min
On the latest episode of The Environment Edge podcast, Pippa Hackett, Minister of State for Land Use and Biodiversity joins Deirdre Glynn and Cathal Somers to discuss the challenges ahead for farming and how we can meet them head on. Pippa discusses what has been made available in the budget, organic farming, forestry, rewetting the bogs and the important role of results-based payments in Ireland. For more episodes and information from the Environment Edge, visit the show page at: https://www.te...
Nov 01, 2021•23 min
With Halloween fast approaching, one of Ireland’s most recognisable voices Éanna Ní Lamhna joins Deirdre Glynn and Cathal Somers on the latest Environment Edge podcast to discuss all things bats. Éanna confirms whether Bram Stoker was correct in his assumptions about bats and vampires. They also discuss why bats are so interesting, their role in ecology, how farmers can improve habitats and what you should do if you find one in your house. For more episodes and information from the Environment E...
Oct 18, 2021•28 min
The latest Environment Edge podcast went to the Moorpark open day recently where Cathal Somers and Deirdre Glynn spoke to farmers, researchers, students and advisors in the Signpost programme village. Hear from Tom O’Dwyer, Head of the Teagasc Signpost programme as well as topics such as how carbon and methane is measured, how clover can change the game, the MACC curve and research in Johnstown Castle. Most interesting of all, hear from Waterford farmer John Leamy and his son Darragh who tells u...
Oct 04, 2021•24 min
