Farming Matters – Wednesday, 21st October 2026

On this week's Farming Matters with Declan Marren:

• Michael Nolan, Manager of Balla Mart, discusses the latest weanling trade, the impact of strong demand from live exporters and details of Friday's special breeding heifer sale.
• Dr Zoe McKay of UCD outlines findings from her Nuffield Ireland research into how Irish grassland farming must adapt to climate change, drawing on lessons from eleven countries.
• Alan Nolan of Teagasc Ballinrobe speaks with Beef Specialist David Argue about the newly published Teagasc Beef Budgets and recent trends in the beef market.

Plus, the latest agricultural news, including updates on BISS and CRISS payments and the new fertiliser support scheme.

Farming Matters with Declan Marren, every Wednesday night from 9pm on Midwest Radio.

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

On this week’s Farming Matters, Declan Marren speaks with IFA Connacht Regional Chair Brendan Golden about delays to BISS and CRISS payments following industrial action, upcoming scheme deadlines and increased TB compensation ceilings.

Donal Brennan of Aurivo Dairy discusses water quality, slurry storage changes and upcoming farmer training events. John Noonan of Teagasc previews the Western Organics sheep sale at Maam Cross Mart on Friday, 16 October.

Farming Matters, in association with Corrib Oil — Keeping your Farm Moving.

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

On this week’s Farming Matters, Declan Marren was joined by Adam Woods, editor of the Irish Farmers Journal, to assess what Budget 2027 means for farmers, including the main tax and succession measures, while also looking at the latest developments in the beef trade and the growing gap between factory quotes and the top prices being paid.

Michael Larkin of the Land Mobility Service discussed the changes to the Succession Farm Partnership tax credit, the difference between a joint herd number and a Registered Farm Partnership, and how partnerships, long-term leasing and share farming can help bring the next generation into farming while allowing landowners to remain involved.

In the Teagasc slot, Tom Kelly and Katie Brady of Teagasc Ballina looked at silage quality and winter feeding, while listener questions included fertility problems following the hot summer and the latest position on the extended fuel support scheme.

Sponsored by Corrib Oil - Keeping your farm moving. See Corriboil.com

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

This week on Farming Matters, Declan Marren is joined by Martin Merrick of the Irish Farmers Journal to look at the strength of the mart trade, what factory buying activity is telling us about finished cattle supplies, this autumn’s weanling sales and the importance of live export demand.

Nicola Fetherstone of AIB outlines the bank’s upcoming Agri Financial Clinics in Roscommon and Tuam, with discussion on farm cashflow, tax bills following stronger incomes, capital investment and funding TAMS-backed projects. She also looks ahead to the upcoming Dairy Women Ireland conference.

Mayo IFA livestock representative Michael Mitchell discusses the weanling trade across the west and why vaccination, dosing and proper preparation before sale are so important, particularly following pneumonia issues last year. He also looks at the relevant Beef Welfare Scheme measures.

And in the Teagasc Mayo slot, Enda Geoghegan and Claire O’Keeffe of Succession Ireland preview the Transferring the Family Farm Clinic in Kiltimagh on 15 October.

Farming Matters is brought to you by Corrib Oil - Keeping your Farm Moving - see corriboil.com

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

Join Viv and Padraic for another edition of The Gardening Show here on Midwest Radio!

If you're listening to the show live on Saturdays, get in touch with your green-fingered questions by text or Whatsapp on 087 900 4141

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

On this week’s Farming Matters, Declan Marren was joined by Jonathan Higgins of Aurivo Agribusiness to look at feeding and management priorities for cattle and sheep this autumn. The discussion covered planning for weaning, getting the best performance from autumn grass, feeding finishing lambs, Beef Welfare Scheme silage testing, upcoming autumn mart events and the recent rise in meal prices.

Also on the programme, Inspector David McKearney from the Department of Agriculture’s Pesticide Controls Division outlined the upcoming farm hazardous waste collection at Ballinasloe Mart on Tuesday, 29 September, including what farmers can bring, the charges involved and how the collection will operate.

And in the Teagasc slot, Brendan Garry and James McDonnell looked ahead to the upcoming Transferring the Family Farm event, discussing succession planning and the importance of preparing early for the transfer of a farm to the next generation.

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

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

On this week’s programme, Declan Marren brings you the latest from Irish agriculture, with the National Ploughing Championships, the outlook for food and agribusiness and some of the practical questions facing farmers this autumn.

Darren Carty, Sheep and Schemes Editor with the Irish Farmers Journal, joins us from the National Ploughing Championships. We discuss what farmers have actually been saying on the Journal stand over the last two days, beyond some of the more negative farmer-survey headlines published this week. We also look at the first increase in Ireland’s suckler cow population in more than a decade, with particularly strong growth recorded across traditional suckler counties in the west, as well as the outlook for the sheep sector, farm schemes and developments around live cattle exports.

David Leydon, Group Head of Growth and Agrifood Consulting with ifac, talks us through the findings of ifac’s 2026 Food and Agribusiness Report. While 79% of businesses intend to grow over the next year, 91% have experienced higher costs — the highest figure recorded across the nine editions of the report. We discuss squeezed margins, employment costs, AI, succession and what the findings mean for farm and rural businesses across the west of Ireland.

In our Teagasc slot, we look at completing the Green Cert, the different options available to farmers.

Farming Matters with Declan Marren — the news, views and voices from field and farm across the region. Sponsored by Corrib Oil - Keeping your farm moving.

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