The Tillage Edge is Teagasc's weekly tillage podcast, presented by Michael Hennessy, bringing you weekly episodes covering the agronomy needs of crops throughou...
Pig slurry in tillage - a natural boost for soil & crops
We explore the benefits of using pig slurry as an alternative to chemical fertilisers in tillage farming on the latest Tillage Edge podcast.  Michael McKeon, Teagasc pig specialist, and Ciaran Collins, Teagasc tillage specialist, discuss how to target the use of pig slurry on tillage farms.  We cover best practices for application, nutrient replacement, transport logistics, and regulatory considerations, while Michael explains that pig farmers are well used to organising the logistics of getting slurry to the tillage farm.   Teagasc are also running an event in Matty Moore’s farm in Offaly looking at applying pig slurry to winter crops using an umbilical cord system.  For more information:https://www.teagasc.ie/news--events/national-events/events/signpost-tillage-walk.php For more episodes and information from the Tillage Edge podcast go to:https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/crops/the-tillage-edge-podcast/ Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com Â
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16:22
On-farm trials: turning research into results
On-farm experimentation or trials come naturally to some farmers, while others see them as a hassle or someone else’s responsibility.  On this week’s Tillage Edge, Jack Jameson, a Teagasc researcher, and John Pettit, a Teagasc tillage adviser working in the southeast, discuss how farmers can set up their own on-farm trials and maximise the benefits for their efforts. John points out that when farmers don’t see much of a result from different treatments, it could be due to a design or practice error—but it might also mean there’s simply no difference between the treatments.  However, if a treatment has shown a difference in independent, replicated trials, it could be worth revisiting the on-farm trial setup to ensure it’s providing meaningful insights. For more episodes and information from the Tillage Edge podcast go to:https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/crops/the-tillage-edge-podcast/ Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.comÂ
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22:38
Integrating old ideas with new technology
This week on the Tillage Edge, we catch up with John Crowley, a Signpost tillage farmer from Wexford, to discuss his farming system.  Located in the heart of malting barley country, John is dedicated to producing high-spec malting barley each year.  Despite transitioning to a min-till establishment system and incorporating organic manures, he has successfully maintained the quality and consistency of his crop.  Tune in as we explore how these changes have impacted his farm and his approach to sustainable tillage. For more episodes and information from the Tillage Edge podcast go to:https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/crops/the-tillage-edge-podcast/ Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.comÂ
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21:54
What is the ideal tyre for your farm?
When the rubber hits the road, that’s when the action happens - and when tyres hit the soil, that’s when compaction may become a serious issue.  For this week’s Tillage Edge podcast, Dermot Forristal, a machinery researcher from Teagasc Oak Park, discusses the evolution of tractor tyres and how they impact traction, load capacity, and soil compaction. Dermot explains how the mix of machinery size and dual wheels in the 1980s provided an optimal balance for weight distribution. In contrast, today’s larger and heavier tractors are pushing tyre technology to its limits, struggling to distribute weight effectively and minimise soil compaction. For more episodes and information from the Tillage Edge podcast go to:https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/crops/the-tillage-edge-podcast/Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.comÂ
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28:43
Applying nitrogen to winter crops
With spring just around the corner and crop growth set to take off shortly, Ciaran Collins, a Tillage Specialist with Teagasc, and John Pettit, Teagasc Tillage Enterprise Advisor in Wexford, join this week’s Tillage Edge to discuss crop inputs for the coming weeks.   In particular, we focus on nitrogen application for oilseed rape and winter cereals. John emphasises that there’s no rush to apply nitrogen to most winter wheat or winter oat crops.  However, he does stress the importance of walking each field to assess individual needs - especially for crops that are weaker or in rotational positions that may require nitrogen a little earlier than others.  For more episodes and information from the Tillage Edge podcast go to:https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/crops/the-tillage-edge-podcast/ Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.comÂ
The Tillage Edge is Teagasc's weekly tillage podcast, presented by Michael Hennessy, bringing you weekly episodes covering the agronomy needs of crops throughout the season with input from Teagasc researchers and views from across the industry.
The Tillage Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.com
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