Midwest Radio Podcast

On Farming Matters tonight with Declan Marren this week: Adam Woods, Editor of the Irish Farmers Journal, will be on to discuss an increase in Suckler Cow numbers for the first time in a decade. Brendan Joyce of the INHFA will be on to call out the misinformation regarding the Nature Restoration Law being ‘Voluntary’ for farmers.andBrendan Garry, will be speaking to Ronan Mulligan, Dairy Advisor, Teagasc Claremorris, previewing an upcoming reseeding event in Enniscrone.

Irish Summer - Friday May 1stThere's something quietly healing about an Irish summer, isn't there? Not the blaze of heat or long guarantees of sun, because we don't get those, but something gentler and more rooted. A softness in the light, a scent in the air. May arrives with its sudden warmth, a kindness in the breeze, and the stretch in the evenings that invites us to linger. To find out more tune into Teresa from Mental Health Ireland.

On this weeks Farming Matters with Declan Marren:Joe Burke of Bord Bia will discuss the beef market outlook for the coming months as the national beef kill reduced by 15% in the first quarter 2026. Brendan Golden of the IFA will outline the newly announced €100 million Fuel Support Scheme. andMichaela Munnelly speaks to Padraig Walsh of Teagasc in relation to preparing for Farm Transfer, information and supports that can help farmers and landowners plan for succession. All this plus the latest farming news, brought to you with thanks to Westnet Farmyard Wifi visit westnet.ie

April Blossom Thursday 30th In April, isn't it easier? Because the blossom is incredible, but we don't celebrate it enough in this country. In Japan, the cherry blossom, or sakura, is a national obsession, and yet our seasons are just as good as theirs. It begins with blackthorn blossom in February, then fruit tree blossoms in March and April, then the incredible displays of hawthorn in May. To find out more tune into Teresa from Mental Health Ireland.

Scath Shadow Wednesday April 29thGood morning. There's an old Irish saying, translated it means, in the shelter of each other the people live. But the word sca also means shadow, giving the phrase another layer of meaning. In each other's shadow we live. This shelter speaks to a truth deeply rooted in Irish life, our interdependence and shared humanity. To find out more tune into Teresa from Mental Health Ireland. 

Spring Tuesday 28th AprilAs I struggle to open the gate, I glance down and there it is. Frog spawn, clumps of it, floating like grey, slimy sponges on the surface of a puddle. I crouch down to be close to it, to the beginning of new life. That's Michael Morpurgo writing from his farm in Devon, where he's lived for more than 40 years. To find out more tune into Teresa from Mental Health Ireland.

Just One Person, Monday April 27th There's a lot coming at us at the moment. Politics, conflict, the state of the planet, the constant cycle of news. And it can leave a sense that everything is too big, too complex, too far away to meaningfully respond to. And in that space, it's very easy to feel both overwhelmed and unsure of what, if anything, actually makes a difference. To find out more tune into Teresa from Mental Health Ireland.

Welcome to farming matters with Declan Marren – coming up on this weeks show:Joe Healy Chairperson of Cultivate – the farm lending initiative run by credit unions, will outline the available credit facilities for farmers this spring. Tommy Cox, Dairy Beef 500 advisor with Teagasc will be on to discuss preparing calves for turnout to grass and much more. And  John Noonan of Teagasc will be speaking to Thomas Maloney, Technical Manager with DLF Seeds, about reseeding using clover-rye grass mixes, multi-species swards, red clover, and catch crops to help reduce costs this year.