Share

cover art for Ep 1254: Food Island Episode 1 - Land of milk and honey

Irish Farmers Journal podcasts

Ep 1254: Food Island Episode 1 - Land of milk and honey

Can our past help us navigate a more sustainable future in food production and our eating habits? 

Ireland has long been known as a food-producing nation, but do we really know just how far back that extends? In the first episode of this six-part series on the past, present and future of Irish food and agriculture, journalist Janine Kennedy speaks with UCD School of Archaeology researchers Prof Meriel McClatchie and Prof Jessica Smyth, whose careers have centred around understanding our prehistoric diets and farming practises. She also speaks with Co Tipperary-based farmer, Maurice Deasy, who produces some “ancient grains” on his family tillage farm.

 

Food Island is brought to you by the Irish Farmers Journal. This special six-part series on the Past, Present and Future of Irish Food and Agriculture was produced in collaboration with the UCD Earth Institute.

 

Food Island is an Irish Farmers Journal podcast presented by multi-award-winning food journalist, Janine Kennedy. This podcast shares the evolving story of Ireland’s rich food ways, farming cultures and gastronomy. 

More episodes

View all episodes

  • Farm Tech Talk - Fuel protests, schemes and trade markets

    59:51|
    This week, Stephen chats with Adam about a BSE case and the fuel protests, Darren discusses a new dairy beef weighing scheme and the sheep trade, while Daire covers the milk price increase, and Lorcan looks at the energy markets. Join the Farm Tech Talk communityWe welcome any feedback and questions you have for the Farm Tech Talk team. Please email farmtechtalk@farmersjournal.ie or send a text or voice note to our WhatsApp number 086 836 6465Click here if you would like a weekly email notification when Farm Talk is released https://share-eu1.hsforms.com/1LkIraRklQcK5mClBGXTpFgets9e
  • The Tillage Podcast - Rain, resistance and brighter weather

    28:35|
    On this week’s podcast we talk fieldwork and the struggle on farms across the country at present. We chat to fungicide expert Professor Fiona Burnett of the Scottish Rural College on resistance.We also run through feed and grain imports for 2025, look at the paper and have the grain trends and weather reports. The Tillage Podcast is supported by Bayer Crop Science.
  • Inside the Farmers Journal: Healy-Rae resigns and €100m in fuel supports

    29:58|
    Inside the Farmers Journal: Healy-Rae resigns and €100m in fuel supportsOn this week’s show, the team discusses Michael Healy-Rae’s resignation, hears from Minister Martin Heydon on the new €100m fuel package and looks at the lack of engagement with protesters.
  • The Fuel Story - from global crisis to Irish farms

    20:54|
    In this special podcast from The Irish Farmers Journal, Aidan Brennan is joined by Agri Business Editor Lorcan Roche Kelly for an in-depth look at one of the biggest pressures facing farming today—the global fuel crisis.As energy prices surge, we unpack what’s really driving the spike, from geopolitical tensions to market dynamics, and what it all means on the ground for Irish farmers and contractors. From diesel costs to the ripple effects on fertiliser, feed, and transport, this episode connects the global picture to the reality on Irish farms.Lorcan brings his expertise to break down the latest government supports, explaining new measures aimed at easing the burden of rising diesel prices, and outlining exactly how taxes like excise, carbon tax, and VAT are impacting agricultural fuel costs.We also examine the role of conflict in the Middle East in pushing energy markets higher—and crucially, whether any resolution could lead to meaningful price relief in the months ahead.If you’re trying to make sense of rising costs and what they mean for your business now and into the future, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.
  • Trailer Inside Dairy - Grass, Clover & Cashflow

    07:05|
    This week on Inside Dairy, Aidan Brennan and Daire Cregg dig into the key issues shaping dairy farming right now.We start with the weather and its major influence on grass growth across the country—what it means for farm performance in the weeks ahead. Then we break down the latest insights from Ornua’s annual report, including comments from CEO Conor Galvin.Teagasc’s Caitlin Looney joins the show to discuss all things clover, with practical advice on what farmers should be doing at this stage of the season.And in The Breakdown, we tackle a crucial question for spring-calving herds: when is the right time to start the breeding season?All that and more in this week’s episode of Inside Dairy.To hear the full episode of Inside Dairy, subscribe now.Find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at www.ifj.ie/podcasts.
  • Young Stock Podcast - Katie Gleeson on returning to education as a mature student

    50:01|
    Well-known dairy farmer Katie Gleeson is this week’s guest on the Young Stock Podcast, joining Sarah McIntosh and Martin Merrick. With over 32.3k followers on her Instagram account Katie in the Country, she is well known for promoting agriculture to the general public online. Not originally from a farming background, Katie qualified as a hairdresser and opened her own salon. She married her husband Phil and built a family home on their dairy farm. While raising their three children, Daniel, Faye and Jack, Katie began sharing the realities of farming online because of her love of photography. Since then, Katie has grown a large following and partners with brands and organisations as a farming influencer. She is also a farm ambassador for the National Dairy Council (NDC) and a member of Dairy Women Ireland.Three years ago, Katie went back to college as a mature student and studied agriculture and sustainability at Technological University of the Shannon (TUS), Thurles. Now on professional work experience with Agri Aware, Katie discusses her college course and the opportunities for ag graduates in the sector.Sarah and Martin also discuss their pet peeves, favourite languages and why a chance DM has led Martin to question if love is blind.
  • Farm Tech Talk – Fuel protests, TAMS and the outlook for markets

    58:48|
    This week, Stephen chats to Adam on the protests and a lift in the beef trade, Martin talks about the TAMS budget while Aidan discusses milk price and dairy markets. Siobhán joins us to talk about this year’s Crop Protection Magazine for all the latest in plant protection products. Stephen also caught up with Peter Linden from Grassland AGRO to chat about fertiliser options for grazing and silage ground. Join the Farm Tech Talk communityWe welcome any feedback and questions you have for the Farm Tech Talk team. Please email farmtechtalk@farmersjournal.ie or send a text or voice note to our WhatsApp number 086 836 6465Click here if you would like a weekly email notification when Farm Talk is released https://share-eu1.hsforms.com/1LkIraRklQcK5mClBGXTpFgets9e  Farm Alert is now available for beef and sheep farmers as well as dairy farmers. Manage your herd and flock health with ease by signing up at www.farmalert.ie. To get started, watch our quick guide on how to register and set up your account https://youtu.be/zZD-8C7X4LgLearn how to build your calendars to receive automated text reminders https://youtube.com/shorts/uPDisMFEY-k
  • The Tillage Podcast - Fieldwork between showers and plant protection

    33:10|
    On this week’s podcast we chat through fieldwork and jobs to be done. We take a look at Crop Protection Magazine and have the grain market and weather reports. This week we have an interview with Steve Dennis of BASF on product development and much more. The Tillage Podcast is supported by Bayer Crop Science.
  • Inside the Farmers Journal - fuel price protests cause chaos

    20:36|
    Inside the Farmers Journal: fuel price protests cause chaosOn this week’s show, the team hears from protestors at the fuel price demonstration and discusses the protest.Get in touch with the show by leaving a comment below or email news@farmersjournal.ie