Midwest Radio Podcast

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

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

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.

Listen back to the Sunday Sport wrap-up show on Midwest Radio with Stephen Grealis, where we look back on all the weekend's sporting action, including the Quarter finals of the Mayo senior and intermediate football championships, the Mayo LGFA championship semi finals and much more!

Farming Matters – 16 September 2026On 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.

On this week’s Farming Matters with Declan Marren, we look at some of the biggest issues facing farmers right now.Ciarán Mullooly MEP joins Declan to discuss the ban on Brazilian beef entering the EU, concerns around Brazilian beef already in cold storage across Europe, the wider Mercosur trade picture and the future of the Common Agricultural Policy. He also outlines where he believes the battle will be fought over the next CAP budget and what a potential reduction could mean for Irish farmers.John O’Loughlin, Head of Sustainability with Grassland Agro, looks at fertiliser decisions in the final days before the chemical fertiliser closed period. He discusses whether farmers should spread while grass growth remains strong, suitable rates and products, what to do once the deadline passes, and the outlook for fertiliser prices and availability next spring. We also look at proposals for EU fertiliser support and calls for the Irish Government to provide additional funding.Alan Nolan of Teagasc previews a major suckler and weanling event taking place at Ballinrobe Mart, outlining what farmers can expect on the night and the key management messages for suckler producers this autumn.Declan also answers listener questions, including leasing BISS entitlements, controlling flaggers or yellow iris, and the latest 2026 farm scheme payment dates.Plus, there’s a practical update on the 2026 Beef Welfare Scheme, including the measures farmers need to complete, payment rates and the important application and action deadlines.Farming Matters with Declan Marren — bringing you the news, views and voices from field and farm across the region.

Here is this month's health slot with our resident pharmacist James Geraghty.In association with Molloy's Pharmacy.

Listen back to our hour long wrap up show special for the final round of group games in the Mayo senior & intermediate club championships!