Irish Farmers Journal Weekly Podcast

With just a few days to go to next week's budget announcement, our farm finance specialist Peter Young asks Declan McEvoy, head of tax at IFAC accountants, what farmers can expect. News editor Patrick Donohoe attended the opening of Kerry Group’s new global Technology & Innovation Centre in Naas last week. He asked the chief executive of Kerry Group, Stan McCarthy, what the expansion meant for the company’s original farmer shareholders. Markets specialist Phelim O'Neill is just back from Poland, where he has been meeting members of the farming industry for a series of reports in the Irish Farmers Journal over the next three weeks. He explains that the growing Polish agriculture sector supplies mainly its domestic market - except for beef, where the lack of local demand makes the country a major exporter. Planting season has started for Irish tillage farmers. Journalist Paula Melvin met Meath man Howard Deheane as he started sowing winter wheat in the past few days. This week’s Irish Country Living is repo

The first meeting of the Dairy Forum brought all industry stakeholders together on Tuesday. Irish Farmers Journal digital editor Thomas Hubert spoke with the IFA’s dairy executive Catherine Lascurettes, who took part in the meeting. With two weeks to go to budget day, news editor Patrick Donohoe spoke with politicians as they met farming representatives this week. Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Heather Humphreys; Government Chief Whip Paul Kehoe; and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin answer his questions. Looking back on last week's Ploughing, Amy Fitzgibbon met 15-year-old Conor McKeown, the youngest judge at the National Championship. Irish Country Living's Women in Agriculture conference will take place on 29 October 2015 in Trim, Co Meath and tickets are on sale now. Consumer editor Ciara Leahy tells journalist Mary Phelan about the highlights of the programme. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Irish Farmers Journal online journalist Amy Fitzgibbon collected impressions from some of the hundreds of thousands of visitors to this week's National Ploughing Championships. President Michael D Higgins had strong words to highlight the role of farming at the heart of Irish society when he opened the event.Yet rural communities have been plagued by rising crime and Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan visited the Ploughing to explain what the Gardaí are doing to address this issue. News journalist Odile Evans recorded the testimony of John Duggan, a Co Waterford farmer who suffered three successive burglaries.One of the many events hosted on the Irish Farmers Journal’s stand at the Ploughing was the FBD National Farmyard Awards. Irish Country Living’s consumer editor Ciara Leahy spoke to national winner Sean Treacey just after the ceremony.Finally, Amy Fitzgibbon illustrates the wind of innovation and entrepreneurship felt at this year's Ploughing with a visit to the stand of Co Longford-based Lir Agri labo

Irish Farmers Journal news correspondent Amy Nora Fitzgibbon speaks to Liz McCormack of Lir Agri, a company that addresses industry specific requirements for cleaning and sanitation on dairy farms, in the local enterprise village at the National Ploughing Championships 2015. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, the Irish Farmers Journal carries an exclusive interview with Taoiseach Enda Kenny this week. Listen to extracts from the interview on the importance of suckler beef and the "battle ahead" on climate change, discussed by news editor Patrick Donohoe and news correspondent Pat O'Toole.At the Agricultural Science Association’s conference on Friday, Padraig Brennan, Sustainability Development Manager at Bord Bia, said that we should start having a positive discussion about climate change and Irish agriculture. Journalist Odile Evans asked him what he meant by this. One of the many events organised by the Irish Farmers Journal at the National Ploughing Championships is the Innovation Arena, where companies and individuals compete to convince the judges that their invention is the best business idea to meet farmers' needs. Digital editor Thomas Hubert asked machinery editor James Maloney how the contest will unfold. Irish Country Living journalist Mary Phelan tells consumer editor Ciara Leahy about the l

Irish Farmers Journal news correspondent Paul Mooney was in Brussels on Monday for the EU-wide farmers' protest and special meeting of agriculture ministers. He tells news editor Patrick Donohoe about the atmosphere on the streets and the outcome to be expected from the €500m in support for farm incomes announced by the European Commission. The debate on rural crime heated up again in the past few days and part of the problem is livestock theft, with a growing number of farmers buying insurance against this risk. Digital editor Thomas Hubert talked to Fergal Brady, a sales executive with FBD in the border region, where the problem is most serious. In Co Mayo, the Calvey family are famous for the quality of the Blackface lambs they raise and butcher on Achill Island - so much so that they have trademarked the name Achill for lamb sales. But in recent years, another company, Caoracla, has started to source gourmet lamb sourced from the island and the Currane Peninsula. Thomas Hubert met Caoracla's director Edwa

In this week's podcast, Irish Farmers Journal reporter Lorcan Allen followed the 2,000 farmers who protested outside the European Commission’s office in Dublin on 31 August. Odile Evans interviews Co Louth pig farmer and FBD Young Farmer Award winner Jonathan Marry.Digital editor Thomas Hubert talks to outgoing Youg Farmer of the year Sean O'Donnell and Teagasc geneticist Donagh Berry, both speakers at the recent Virginia Show's dairy conference.And Irish Country Living's Consumer editor Ciara Leahy explains why the cost of car insurance is going up. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's podcast digital editor Thomas Hubert speaks to Irish Farmers Journal livestock specialist Nathan Tuffy about the mart price review, published in this week's paper. News editor Patrick Donohoe asks dairy specialist Aidan Brennan what effect the wet weather conditions of the past few days have had on farms and he also speaks to market specialist Phelim O'Neill about how soon Irish manufacturing beef could be in the US. Finally, Irish Country Living consumer editor Ciara Leahy speaks to journalist Aisling Hussey about farming in Malawi, which Aisling experienced first-hand on her trip to Africa in June, sponsored by the Simon Cumbers media fund. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr Michael Brennan, one of the architects of the Quality Payment System (QPS), commonly known as the beef grid, has told the Irish Farmer Journal that the gap in payments between grades no longer reflects the yield and should have been increased as beef prices rose. Markets specialist Phelim O'Neill discusses the proposal with news editor Patrick Donohoe. The Irish Farmer Journal's Northern Ireland correspondent Peter McCann talks to host Declan Rafferty, who hosted a recent Northern Ireland Suckler Beef Programme farm walk, and CAFRE advisor Brian Hanthorn about block calving and innovative ways of reseeding.Gerry Murphy, meteorologist with Met Éireann and one of the presenters of the Farming Forecast on RTE 1, tells Irish Farmers Journal journalist Amy Fitzgibbon that the cold and wet weather in the west in July had do with a track of wind called the jet stream - one of the phenomena he has been watching for nearly 15 years. And Irish Country Living's consumer editor Ciara Leahy and journalist Roisin Healy

Last week, Lakeland Dairies and Fane Valley announced that they were combining their milk processing and feed milling operations.The Irish Farmers Journal's news editor Patrick Donohoe met Lakeland’s chief executive Michael Hanley at the Tullamore Show to find out more about the plan. The Irish Farmers Journal's digital editor Thomas Hubert heard the reaction of a dairy farmer supplying Lakeland and talked to some of the tens of thousands of people who visited the Tullamore Show - not all of whom were farmers. Patrick Donohoe also asked IFA deputy president Tim O’Leary about his organisation's Charter for Rural Ireland, and Irish Country Living's Mary Phelan share essential tips for the transition to college life for Leaving Cert students. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Following a period of heavy rain across the west of Ireland, the Irish Farmers Journal dairy editor Jack Kennedy has more details about the situation and he gives some tips on the management of cattle throughout the wet patch to digital editor Thomas Hubert.FBD Insurance's chief executive Andrew Langford resigned last Friday after seven years in the job. The Irish Farmers Journal’s business editor Eoin Lowry gives digital editor Thomas Hubert an insight into what is happening at the insurance company founded by farmers in the 1960s.The Institute for International and European Affairs and Glanbia have held the last of a series of conferences on agriculture and climate change. Irish Farmers Journal news editor Patrick Donohoe asked the IIEA’s senior research fellow on climate change, Joseph Curtin, about the results of a survey they carried out across the agriculture sector about opinions on upcoming climate change challenges.And Irish Country Living consumer editor Ciara Leahy tells Roisin Healy about the best

In this week's podcast, Noreen Lanigan, head of Bord Bia for France and Belgium, tells Irish Farmers Journal digital editor Thomas Hubert about the impact of French farmers' protests on Irish exports into the country.Tillage editor Andy Doyle updates news correspondent Pat O'Toole on early harvest progress in mixed weather.Northern editor David Wright talks to dairy farmer Brian McCracken, who is making the most of grass on his farm – an unusual choice in his area.And Irish Country Living's Mary Phelan tells consumer editor Ciara Leahy about the reality of returning to the dating scene after a divorce - and shares tips on how to make it a success. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's podcast, the Irish Farmers Journal's news editor Patrick Donohoe asks IFA chief economist Rowena Dwyer what her organisation is hoping for in Budget 2016. Beef farmer and Irish Farmers Journal contributor Tommy Moyles explains how he switched from weanlings to finishing and why he thinks more research should go into beef farming. IFA Munster chairman James McCarthy took part in an information seminar on the proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) organised by Sinn Féin MEP Matt Carthy in Dublin on 20 July. He voices concerns on the equivalence of standards for food production between the US and the EU and on the transparency of negotiations. And Irish Country Living journalist Mary Phelan tells consumer editor Ciara Leahy how an internship can boost a young graduate's career. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Irish Farmers Journal editor Justin McCarthy and markets specialist Phelim O'Neill discuss this week's beef factory price leagues with news editor Patrick Donohoe. Barryroe Co-op topped the Irish Farmers Journal-KPMG Milk Price Review last week. West Cork dairy farmer Harold Kingston, who supplies Barryroe, tells news editor Patrick Donohoe why his co-op paid the best price. Dairy specialist Aidan Brennan talks to Mike Murphy, the influential Cork farmer and businessman who has interests in New Zeland and in the US. He asks him for his outlook on dairy markets for the coming months and advice Irish farmers should follow to ride out the storm.Finally, Irish Country Living editor Mairéad Lavery had a chance to interview the BBC’s top TV gardener Monty Don ahead of his visit to Ireland later this month. She told Ciara Leahy about the lessons she took away from talking to him – on gardening and life in general.To attend Monty Don's talk at the Carlow Garden Festival on 25 July, call +353 (0)59-9130411 or visit ww

The Irish Farmers Journal is publishing its annual milk price review in association with KPMG this week. Dairy editor Jack Kennedy talks winners, losers and trends with news editor Patrick Donohoe.Digital editor Thomas Hubert followed this week's joint visit by European Commission officials who are preparing legislation on greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture and forestry.Macra na Feirme is launching a new training programme for young farmers who want to keep learning new skills after they are finished college, and the Irish Farmers Journal's Amy Fitzgibbon got more details from Macra President Sean Finan. From the Country Living desk, consumer editor Ciara Leahy explains what rural Ireland can expect from all the announcements on the roll-out of broadband to every home in the country. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At this Wednesday's dairy open day in Moorepark, Irish Farmers Journal online journalist Aisling Hussey talks to our dairy specialist Aidan Brennan and to some of the participants around the grounds.The upcoming TAMS II grant scheme for dairy equipment will open for applications next week: from the Irish Farmers Journal's news desk, Patrick Donohoe asks Paul Mooney about the details of the scheme.This week, Irish Country Living is launching a new edition of the FBD Women in Agriculture Awards to recognize the contribution of exceptional women to Irish farming.Country Living’s editor Mairéad Lavery and consumer editor Ciara Leahy tell us more, and Thomas Hubert interviews former award winner and vegetable grower Tracy Hamilton. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Irish dairy farmers have run up a record superlevy bill for the last year of the quota system, and the full details of who is going to pay what – and when – have emerged in the past few days. Irish Farmers Journal journalist Amy Fitzgibbons asks dairy editor Jack Kennedy for the latest.For a different view on dairy expansion, agribusiness editor Eoin Lowry then talks to feed manufacturer Jimmy Brett.Meanwhile, pig prices have recently picked up after a difficult year. So how are pig farmers doing at the moment - especially in Northern Ireland? Thomas Hubert asked Ulster Farmers’ Union vice-president Ivor Ferguson.And Mary Phelan tells Amy Fitzgibbon of her experience interviewing Ivan Yates for the cover story of Irish Country Living this week. A fascinating character by the sound of it! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, dairy editor Jack Kennnedy discusses the latest milk price cuts, and says there is good news too.As the dust settles on the new Beef Data and Genomics scheme, Patrick Donohoe asks for the views of three suckler farmers.Machinery editor James Maloney talks to tillage editor Andy Doyle about upcoming supplements on loaders and tractors, down to the tax implications of investing machinery, as well as the Crops and Spraying event coming up next week.And Irish Country Living's features editor Maria Moynihan introduces the new beauty column – with a promise for make-up tips that don't cost the Earth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After weeks of low prices, the Irish Farmers Journal's livestock journalists Darren Carty and Peter Varley say sheep farmers can now look forward to a better deal and an exciting Sheep 2015 event on 20 June.Food processor Edward tells agribusiness editor Eoin Lowry about Ireland's changing consumer market; and Irish Country Living’s editor Mairead Lavery invites entries from safety-conscious farmers for this year's Farm Yard Awards. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.