Teagasc has established a new weekly dairy podcast for farmers, aimed at providing the latest information, insights and opinions to improve dairy farm performance.

Presented by Teagasc dairy specialist Emma-Louise Coffey, ‘The Dairy Edge‘ will be broadcast every Thursday.

The first show will focus on spring fertiliser and fodder. On the broadcast, David Wall – a research officer from Teagasc Johnstown Castle – talks about best practice fertiliser application during the spring period.

He debates the best fertiliser type to spread in the first few months of the year, and also quantifies the value of slurry in terms of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content.

The episode also features John Leahy, a dairy farmer from Athea, Co. Limerick, who explains what he is doing to prepare for the busy spring-calving period.

John’s farm is classified as heavy and grazing conditions are difficult in February. Consequently, John begins calving on February 10 and from there 90% of cows will calve within six weeks.

Fodder supplies are in short supply on some dairy farms this January, resulting from failure to make second-cut silage and/or early housing due to deteriorating weather and soil conditions in the autumn of 2017.

Brian Garry – Teagasc ruminant nutrition specialist, Moorepark – provides advice on how to stretch forage between now and turnout to grass.

Farmers interested in tuning in can do so by subscribing to the podcast via smartphone – both Apple and Android – or by listening in on Teagasc’s website.