Welcome to FarmLand – our weekly farming show broadcasting from our state-of-the-art digital studio at AgriLand’s headquarters in Dublin.
This Weeks Episode
Show 16 - December 25, 2018
As we prepare to put 2018 behind us, tonight on FarmLand in Review we will look back at some of the biggest issues that farmers battled on the ground over the last 12 months.
From the cross-sector impact of multiple extreme weather events, beef price lows, the Lakeland/LacPatrick merger, Brexit fears, and many farmer-led protests, FarmLand will reflect the year’s major talking points.
With reports from all over the country, this special Christmas edition lets farmers do all the talking.
Previous Shows
Episode 15 - December 13, 2018
On this week’s episode of FarmLand, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Michael Creed explains the latest developments on Brexit and what his department is doing to prepare for a no-deal scenario. He also reflects on what has been a tough year for farmers in 2018.
Also, CEO of the Irish Bioenergy Association (IrBEA) Sean Finan outlines the opportunities that are present for Irish farmers in the field of renewable energy.
Episode 14 - December 6, 2018
On this week's episode of FarmLand, Ian Kilgallon of Gas Networks Ireland highlights the opportunities available for anaerobic digestion in Ireland, as well as the GRAZE Gas project in Mitchelstown, Co. Cork.
Aurivo CEO Aaron Forde offered insight into the co-op's performance this year, milk price in 2019 and the launch of Homeland.ie.
Plus, ICSA sheep chairperson John Brooks calls out the faults with unverified elements of Sheep Ireland's star ratings system and the implications of these.
Farmers in Dowra Mart, Co. Cavan, also gave their views on Sheep Ireland and the star rating system.
Episode 13 - November 29, 2018
This week on FarmLand, Joe Burke senior manager of meat and livestock at Bord Bia will talk in detail about Ireland’s live cattle export trade – with a particular focus on 2018 market trends and potential destinations for 2019.
Burke will also offer his outlook on beef price for the Christmas market.
Plus, Grace Maher of the Irish Organic Association will give her response to the re-opening of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s Organic Farming Scheme.
Episode 12 - November 22, 2018
This week on FarmLand, independent senator Ian Marshall urges the Democratic Unionist Party to row in behind the draft Brexit withdrawal agreement for the sake of farmers and agri-businesses in Northern Ireland.
As fears over the future of the beef sector in Ireland continue to escalate, Cormac Healy, the director of Meat Industry Ireland addresses price concerns.
Plus, Eamon Corley, co-founder of the newly-formed Beef Plan Group 2018-2015, reveals that the farmer-led entity has yielded more than 6,500 members in just six weeks.
Episode 11 - November 15, 2018
Tonight on FarmLand, businessman Peter Casey - who garnered the support of one in five voters during last month’s presidential election - will outline his political ambitions to represent the people of rural Ireland.
Richard Kennedy, the deputy president of the IFA, calls for changes to be made to the country’s trespassing and bail laws in order to protect farm families from criminal gangs.
Plus, Fianna Fail’s Jackie Cahill explains the actions that his party is taking to tackle the threats of rural crime and rural isolation.
Episode 10 - November 8, 2018
Tonight on FarmLand, Michael Hanley CEO of Lakeland Dairies will outline his ambitions for the future of the Lakeland/LacPatrick merger.
Eimear McGuinness, general manager of Donegal Co-op Livestock Mart, and Ray Doyle, livestock service executive at Irish Co-Operative Organisation Society, will frame their concerns on “skyrocketing” mart insurance hikes.
Plus, Pearse Kelly, head of Drystock Knowledge Transfer at Teagasc, will discuss the launch of phase two of the Teagasc Green Acres Calf to Beef Programme.
Episode 9 - November 1, 2018
Independent TD Michael Fitzmaurice and Green Party leader, Eamon Ryan, go head-to-head on the country’s strides to hit its renewable energy and carbon emission targets.
Climatologist, Prof. John Sweeney, warns that biomass production is just a “short-term” solution to Bord na Mona’s power plant challenges.
Tom O’Dwyer, the head of Dairy Knowledge Transfer at Teagasc Moorepark, offers advice on how to get the best results at dry-off.
Episode 8 - October 25, 2018
On this week’s episode of FarmLand, Fianna Fail’s Barry Cowen voices “serious concerns” over the impact of Bord na Mona’s unexpected decision to completely stop peat harvesting by 2025.
Conor Finnerty visits Littleton, Co. Tipperary, where locals continue to grapple with the closure of Bord na Mona’s factory earlier this year.
Macra na Feirme president James Healy outlines his disappointment over the Government’s decision to put a limit on tax relief for young farmers.
Teagasc specialist Shay Phelan reflects on a “trying year” for potato growers, while Siobhan Walsh gets the low-down on harvest 2018 from Keogh’s Farm in north Co. Dublin.
Episode 7 - October 18, 2018
On this week’s episode of FarmLand, Dr. Eoin Ryan, senior veterinary inspector at the Department of Agriculture, and Frank Brady, IFA county chairman for Monaghan, discuss the issue of bovine TB, while Teagasc cattle specialist Karen Dukelow and ICMSA deputy president Lorcan McCabe outline the current fodder situation around the country.
Manager of the Burren Programme Dr. Brendan Dunford will also be in studio to talk about progress in the unique region, as well as the upcoming Burren Winterage Weekend.
Episode 6 - October 11, 2018
On this week’s episode of FarmLand, chairman of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine Pat Deering and Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association (ICSA) general secretary Eddie Punch discuss the implications of Budget 2019 for Irish farmers – and look into the newly-announced Beef Environmental Efficiency Pilot (BEEP), designed to aid suckler farmers.
Former Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) president Eddie Downey also joins us to explain why the IFA needs to be reformed - and who he believes are the “key pins” of the organisation.
Episode 5 - October 4, 2018
On this week’s episode of FarmLand, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Michael Creed gives us the inside track on what happened at the 12th Beef Roundtable discussion, as farmers flocked to the city streets in protest.
Eamon Corley, Meath IFA livestock chair and spokesperson of the newly-formed Beef Plan Group, outlines why he believes farmers have “lost confidence” in farm unions and highlights how this new group aims to shake-up the beef industry.
Des Morrison, ICMSA livestock chair and Michael Fitzmaurice, independent TD for Roscommon-Galway, go head-to-head in a debate over the potential of contract rearing to boost incomes and efficiencies for drystock and dairy farmers.
We get the word on the street from farmers that boycotted this week’s Beef Forum; plus, Kieran Henry, a Sligo-based suckler farmer and contract rearer, explains how diversifying his enterprise has brought it from strength-to-strength.
Episode 4 - September 27, 2018
On this week’s episode of FarmLand, we talk to the US Under Secretary of Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs - Ted McKinney - about Ireland’s relationship with the US and opportunities for Irish beef exports across the Atlantic.
Following on from last week’s storm, Prof. John Sweeney – a climatologist at Maynooth University – is in studio to speak about how extreme weather events are set to become more frequent in the future.
As well as this, the general secretary of the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association (ICSA), Eddie Punch, and the CEO of Kilkenny Mart, Michael Lynch, will highlight their grave concerns for the beef sector at present – as farmers struggle to deal with further beef price cuts.
Episode 3 - September 13, 2018
Coming up on this week’s show we have an interview with European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Phil Hogan on giving better opportunity to farmers in the food supply chain, and tackling unfair trading practices in retail and processing.
ICSA Sheep Committee chairman John Brooks explains why sheep farmers are saying enough is enough on the issue of EID tagging, and Gurteen College principal Mike Pearson gives the low-down on the new 30-unit milking parlour recently finished by the college.
Episode 2 - September 6, 2018
Coming up on this week’s show we have a special interview with former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, who contends that the game is not lost for Irish farmers on Brexit - as he believes a ‘no-deal’ outcome is unlikely.
And while the whiskey and beer market booms worldwide, Bobby Miller - the chairman of the Irish Grain Growers’ Group - says Irish malting barley growers are not getting the premium recognition they deserve for producing a quality product.
Episode 1 - August 30, 2018
First up on the couch for the premiere show we have: the Minister for Agriculture, Food, and the Marine, Michael Creed; MEP and First Vice-President of the European Parliament, Mairead McGuinness; and leading agri-food economist Ciaran Fitzgerald.
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