The Dairy Edge

Dr. David Wall, Enterprise Leader of the farms and estate at Teagasc’s Environment Research Centre in Johnstown Castle, joins Stuart Childs to discuss the timing of fertiliser applications over the coming weeks to maximise the return from nutrients applied while minimising the risk to water quality.

This is particularly important in drought-affected areas, where low grass growth and reduced nutrient uptake have increased the risk of nutrient losses.

David first addresses the concept of calendar farming, explaining that fertiliser deadlines are driven by declining nutrient uptake rather than soil trafficability. As daylight levels fall, gr...

For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher highlights the top actions to be done for this week: 

Read more from this week’s Grass10 newsletter and subscribe for weekly updates at:

https://bit.ly/Grass10-25thAugust

For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at:

https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/

The Dairy Edge is a co...

Joe Patton, Head of the Teagasc Dairy Knowledge Transfer programme, joins James Dunne with an update on the current situation on dairy farms across the country following the prolonged period of dry weather.

Joe explains the results from the Teagasc National Fodder Survey, which were presented at the National Feed and Fodder committee meeting, and he outlines the priorities for affected farmers regarding winter feed, reducing herd demand, nitrogen fertiliser and seeking advice where needed.

For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at:<...

For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher explains that:

Read more from this week’s Grass10 newsletter and subscribe for weekly updates at:

https://bit.ly/Grass10-18thAugust

For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at:

https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/

Th...

Raymond Ryan, Milk Quality Advisor for the Limerick and Clare regions with Dairygold, joins Stuart Childs to discuss staying on top of milk quality.

Raymond explains that milk quality in 2026 is generally holding up, with cell count and TBC broadly similar to previous years, but drought and difficult weather have created localised problems.

Dirty conditions are the main risk, particularly for thermoduric bacteria and farmers should keep cows and parlours clean, manage sacrifice paddocks or cubicles carefully, ideally dry-wiping cows before milking. Making sure machine maintenance such as liners...

For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher discusses: 

Read more from this week’s Grass10 newsletter and subscribe for weekly updates at:

https://bit.ly/Grass10-11thAugust

For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at:

https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/

The Dairy Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.com

Eoghan Byrne, project manager in FRS farm services, and MTU Agriculture student, Cormac Harnett, who works as an operator with the FRS in Cork joins Stuart Childs to discuss how farmers can help themselves get a bit of a break from the work by making it easier to work on their farm.

Both Eoghan and Cormac say that planning and communication are central by giving operators advance notice and clearly stating what needs to be done, how to do it on your farm and when it needs to be done. Farmers leaving checklists, notes...

For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher discusses: 

Read more from this week’s Grass10 newsletter and subscribe for weekly updates at:

https://bit.ly/Grass10-4thAugust

For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at:

https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/

The Dairy Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.com

Emily Gowing, Teagasc Dairy Advisor based in Dungarvan, Co Waterford, joins James Dunne for an update on the current situation on farms in her catchment and she has some key pieces of advice for farmers over the coming weeks.

For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at:

https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/

The Dairy Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.com

For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher discusses: 

And the featured farm update comes from Sean Carpenter, Co. Kildare.

Read more from this week’s Grass10 newsletter and subscribe for weekly updates at:

https://bit.ly/Grass10-28thJuly

For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at:

https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/

The...

Colman Purcell, Nutritionist with Dairygold Agri Business, joins Stuart Childs to discuss managing stock in drought or near drought conditions.

Colman praises the farmers in the Dairygold catchment who have been affected by the dry weather for how they have dealt with it up to now, maintaining milk and protein performance, a response that he credits to their knowledge of how to react in these situations due to their experience of them in the last decade. 

Colman says that it is important to maintain cow performance by avoiding feed s...

For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher discusses: 

And the featured farm update comes from Cathal Nash, Co. Clare.

Plus, Pat Tuohy of Teagasc joins John for a land drainage discussion and Q&A.

Read more from this week’s Grass10 newsletter and subscribe for weekly updates at:

https://bit.ly/Grass10-21stJuly

For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at...

Pádraig French from Teagasc, who is closely involved in dairy-beef research, including the Ballyvadin Calf-to-Beef Demonstration Farm, joins James Dunne on this week’s Dairy Edge. 

They discuss the key management practices that drive performance, the role of Commercial Beef Value (CBV), what makes these systems financially successful, and what the latest research is telling us about the future of dairy calf to beef production.

For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at:

https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/

For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher discusses: 

Plus the featured farm update comes from Paul Bowden, Urlingford, Co. Kilkenny.

Read more from this week’s Grass10 newsletter and subscribe for weekly updates at:

https://bit.ly/Grass10-14thJuly

For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at:

https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/

The Da...

John O’Loughlin, Head of Sustainability at Grassland Agro, joins Stuart Childs to discuss the impact of CBAM, fertiliser advice in dry conditions and two upcoming farm walks that will be worth attending this July.

John first explains the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) which is adding approximately €50/t to urea in 2026, with the potential to rise significantly in future years. While there has been discussion about suspending the charge during periods of high fertiliser prices, he believes this now looks unlikely, meaning farmers should expect CBAM to remain a factor in fertiliser costs.

...

For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher discusses: 

-       Managing reduced growth

-       Walk the farm

-       2nd cut silage

-       Infrastructure Month

Plus the featured farm update comes from Tommie Devine, Co. Roscommon

Read more from this week’s Grass10 newsletter and subscribe for weekly updates at:

https://bit.ly/Grass10-7thJune

For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at:

https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy...

Longford dairy farmer, Cian Jobe’s journey into dairy farming is one that's likely to resonate with many young people interested in the industry. 

Growing up on a suckler farm, he developed a passion for dairying through relief milking before progressing through agricultural education, farm management and, more recently, farming in his own right. 

Cian joins James Dunne to talk about the experiences that shaped his career, what he's learned along the way, and the advice he'd give to the next generation of dairy farmers.

For more episode...

For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher discusses: 

-          Mid-season management

-          Managing 2nd cut

-          Establish fertiliser spread year to date

Plus the featured farm update comes from the Derrypatrick Herd, Dunsany, Co. Meath.

Read more from this week’s Grass10 newsletter and subscribe for weekly updates at:

https://bit.ly/Grass10-30thJune

For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at:

https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dai...

Tom and Michael Ryan, winners of the NDC and Kerrygold Quality Milk Award for 2025, join Stuart Childs on the day of their farm walk following their win.

Tom gives a bit of background to the their farm and how they have been farming there since the 1860s. 

Michael then explains the decisions made to facilitate him returning home in 2018 and he outlines the current performance of the herd and how genotyping has been a real game changer for them in terms of selecting heifers to retain as replacements.

Fi...

For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher discusses: 

-       mid-season management

-       red clover silage and managing 2nd cut silage

-       spraying and grazing reseeds

-       establishing fertiliser spread year to date

Plus the featured farmer is Liam Rochford from Croase, Co. Wexford.

Read more from this week’s Grass10 newsletter and subscribe for weekly updates at:

https://bit.ly/Grass10-23June

For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at:

With increasing pressure on dairy farms to reduce nitrogen inputs whilst maintaining profitability, technologies such as white clover are attracting renewed interest. 

But how well does clover perform on heavier type soils that are common across the Border, Midlands and Western region, and how can farmers reduce fertiliser and feed nitrogen inputs without compromising grass growth or milk production?

To help answer those questions, James Dunne is joined by Helena Walsh, PhD student with Teagasc, who has been leading a farm systems study at Ballyhaise Agricultural College examining the role of whi...

For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher says concentrate input should be reduced on farms where grass supply is adequate (cover/LU >160 kg DM/LU).  A third of farms are over target and have a cover/LU >190 kg DM/ha. This will negatively impact:

-       Grass quality - negative impact on animal performance

-       Clean out of swards - feed wastage

-       Grass recovery and subsequent quality

June is challenging for grass quality as we are now in the main heading phase for perennial ryegrass.  Grass quality is critic...

Ricki Fitzgerald, Farm Manager of the Teagasc Moorepark Kilworth Farm, and Brian McCarthy, Researcher in Teagasc Moorepark, join Stuart Childs with a run down on how the year has gone so far on the Kilworth Farm and to talk a little about the Next Gen 2 trial that is in its first full year in 2026.

Ricki says they had quite a good spring in 2026 despite the weather challenges with minimal health issues. Regular body condition scoring and managing cow condition was a significant part of this success. 

Grazing, while challenging, happened almost eve...

For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher explains that June is a challenging month for grass quality as we are now in the main heading phase for perennial ryegrass.

Pre grazing yield is too high on many farms:

-       Watch rotation length (Target 18-21 days)

-       Minimise stem content

-       Grazing covers >1500 kg DM/ha will have a negative effect on animal performance, pasture cleanout, grass recovery and quality in the subsequent rotation

Read more from this week’s Grass10 newsletter and subscribe for week...

With breeding season reaching the midpoint on many spring-calving dairy farms, we're taking stock of how the season has progressed so far and discussing the key management decisions for the weeks ahead.

Doreen Corridan, CEO of NCBC, joins James Dunne to discuss breeding performance to date, trends in dairy and beef semen usage, managing cows that have yet to be served, and the key actions farmers should focus on for the remainder of the breeding season.

For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at:

...

For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher discusses tackling surplus grass and why flexibility is required to take out surplus bales.

Plus he explains how grazed grass delivers the lowest feed cost, even with higher fertiliser prices.

Meanwhile, the featured farmer is John Payne from Moydow, Co. Longford.

Read more from this week’s Grass10 newsletter and subscribe for weekly updates at:
https://bit.ly/Grass10-2ndJune

For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show pag...

With the increased cost of fuel and fertiliser, Peter Doyle, Grassland Researcher in Teagasc, Grange, joins Stuart Childs to discuss the cost of growing grass, silage and other feeds.

Peter outlines the costs that he uses in the Grange Feed Costing Model which are of course assumptions but are necessary for the model to function.

He emphasises that grazed grass delivers the lowest feed cost, even with higher fertilser prices. The cost model estimates grazed grass at about 14c/kg dry matter (including land charge), compared with roughly 42c/kg dry ma...

For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher explains that the challenge on farm now will be keeping the right grass in front of the animals.

Swards of low or no stem will maximise animal performance Performance is maximised when the pre-grazing yield is between 1300-1400 kg DM/ha.

Meanwhile, the featured farmer is Michael McGuigan, from Longwood, Co. Meath.

Read more from this week’s Grass10 newsletter and subscribe for weekly updates at:
https://pasturebase.teagasc.ie/Grass10%20Weekly.pdf?=20260529

This week we’re discussing generational renewal in Irish dairying and the challenges facing farmers young farmers trying to enter and progress within the sector while also discussing what options are available to farmers who may not have an identified successor.

Joining James Dunne is Conor Hogan from the GROdairy Project — Generational Renewal Opportunities for Irish Dairy Farm Businesses — a new initiative focused on supporting farm succession, progression, and collaborative farming through demonstration farms, peer learning, and practical advisory supports.

Conor discusses the barriers facing young farmers, the role collaborative farming can play...

For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher discusses the impact of pre-grazing yield on protein, plus how to correct pre-grazing yield on farm.

Meanwhile, the featured farmer is John Phelan from Kilmeaden, Co. Waterford.

Read more from this week’s Grass10 newsletter and subscribe for weekly updates at:
https://bit.ly/Grass10-19thMay

For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at:

https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/

The Dairy...

Claire Mooney, Catchment Coordinator for the Suir, joins Stuart Childs to discuss practical tips for farmers in relation to improving water quality.

Claire first explains immediate on-farm actions to improve environmental compliance and efficiency, including better silage management, protecting waterways with fencing and alternative drinking points, improving slurry and effluent handling, using sulphur correctly, and how clover can reduce chemical nitrogen use.

Claire discusses the need for farmers to prepare for tighter slurry storage rules in 2028 by assessing storage capacity now, working with advisors, exploring TAMS grants and capital allowances, and pl...

For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher says that the majority of farms are grazing covers too high.

As we move further into May, grass composition is changing and keeping grass quality correct becomes more challenging.

To ensure grass quality is maintained to maximise animal performance pre-grazing yield has to be between 1300-1400 kg DM/ha.

Meanwhile, the featured farmer is Killian Brennan, from Kilcogy, Co. Cavan.

Read more from this week’s Grass10 newsletter and subscribe for weekly updates at:
h...

For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher explains why the target for pre-grazing yield in the mid-season is 1300-1400 kg DM/ha.

John also discusses first cut silage and taking surplus bales to be part of grassland management over the next month.

Meanwhile, the featured farmer is David Lowry from Churchminister, Co. Donegal.

Read more from this week’s Grass10 newsletter and subscribe for weekly updates at:
https://bit.ly/Grass10-5thMay

For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podc...

Mick O’Donovan, Head of the Grassland Science Department in Moorepark, and Joe Patton, Head of Dairy KT, join James Dunne to discuss how farmers can maximise margin in the months ahead, focusing on the key grazing management practices and feeding decisions that underpin performance on Irish dairy farms.

For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at:

https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/

 
The Dairy Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.com

For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher says that we're now entering into higher growth rates and reproductive stage of the perennial ryegrass plant:

·      Pre grazing yield must target 1300 - 1400 kg DM/ha on all farms

·      This will enable the animals to graze and clean out the sward to 4 cm

·      Grass should be green leaf from top to bottom

For fertiliser, when spreading on dry stock farms it is important to include P (if allowance available), K and S, especially on paddocks that may have been damaged on the...

Tom O’Connell, dairy farmer in Inniscarra, near Cork city, and John Maher of Grass10, join Stuart Childs to discuss the importance and management of reseeding.

John first outlines the national figures which are poor in terms of the amount of reseeding taking place each year and this is a negative for the industry.

Tom is the opposite, reseeding every year on both grazing platform and silage ground. Reseeding every year  is what Tom says allow him to have the confidence to take out the ground safe knowing he has responsive sward...

For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher says that 42% of farms are well above target AFC (> 750 kg DM/ha) largely due to challenging grazing conditions.

While each farm is individual, these key rules need to be applied:

-       Maximum SR of 4.2 LU/ha

-       Minimum AFC of 160 kg DM/LU

Now is also a good time to assess clover content in your paddocks and the aim is to identify paddocks with a good clover content.

The target is 20-25% clover content in Ap...

Teagasc Grassland Science Researcher, Mike Egan, joins James Dunne to discuss some of the common questions regarding establishing and managing grass clover swards. 

Mike outlines the benefits for farmers but also discusses the challenges and learnings that have been seen throughout the Clover 150 commercial farm trial.  

The correct chemical nitrogen strategy is outlined and why clover content should be the key deciding factor rather than fertiliser price when it comes to reducing nitrogen inputs. 

Mike also outlines what farmers should be doing now with regards to assessing their...

For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher explains how walking the farm will allow you to assess what your grass supply is (AFC).

If you are below target AFC

Mark Treacy, Dairy Specialist in Teagasc Clonakilty, joins Stuart Childs on this week’s Dairy Edge to discuss management tips for April.

Mark explains that dairy farms are in various positions: some have moved too quickly into second-round grazing, others are well-balanced with remaining first-round grass, and some (especially on heavy ground) are delayed due to poor weather conditions.

He then outlines the solutions such as housing some or all of the herd in order to get grass cover back up to where they need to be which might only take a we...