Country Life with MJ Clery

Country Life with MJ Clery

Country Life with MJ Clery

Country Life with MJ Clery

Country Life with MJ Clery every Wednesday from 7pm on Midlands 103. Keep up with everything agriculture and beyond.

Country Life with MJ Clery

On the programme this week Aidan Brennan from the Irish Farmers Journal chats to MJ live from Washington DC where election fever is really starting to ramp up with Donald Trump edging the polls at the moment. Seamus McMenamin from Bord Bia chats about the sheep trade where demand is strong currently. He also chats about how one third of sheep farmers are not quality assured and this is having an impact when Bord Bia are selling lamb abroad as European consumers have extremely high standards when purchasing meat. Tom Cushen from Co. Laois is a cancer survivor and he speaks about upcoming free health checks being offered by the IFA around the country. Tom advocates the importance of regular health checks. Michael O Donovan from Teagasc speaks about the Grassland Climate Adaptation Conference where one of the topics of conversation was that our temperature and the amount of rainfall we receive has increased in the last number of decades.

Country Life with MJ Cleary Wednesday October 9th 2024

On the programme this week MJ chats to Marty Murphy from IFAC about Budget 2025 and what it will mean for farmers. With more money being given to most sectors it's predominantly good news but IFAC are concerned about the "active farmer" test and what it will mean for farmers in nursing homes who plan to pass land over to the next generation. Tim Ashmore Principal of Kildalton College chats about their upcoming open day for students which will include a demonstration of their bovine simulator which allows students to gain real world experience when studying. Brian Nicholson a sheep farmer from Co. Kilkenny and Aidan Maguire a beef farmer from Co. Meath chat about the awards they picked up at the FBD/Teagasc Enviornmental Sustainability Awards which were held in Portlaoise this week. Joe Burke from Bord Bia chats about upcoming changes to the Quality Assurance Scheme. He speaks about how the scheme needs to be updated to keep pace with the everchanging global food market and the desires of consumers.

On the programme this week Sarah McIntosh from the Irish Farmers Journal chats to MJ about the announcement at last weeks National Ploughing Championships that two new vet schools are to be opened in Ireland which will add 80 vet places for third level students. Mike Brady from the Brady Group chats about how farmers need to be more cognisant of their carbon footprint and how policy needs to change to pay farmers properly to ensure that environmental schemes with the aim of lowering GHGs do not lessen income for farmers. Alison Duncan from Fleming Agri Products, David Rice from David Rice Engineering, Teres Malanaphy from M TEC and Desmond Savage from Moonsyst speak about their respective agri businesses live from the National Ploughing Championships.

Country Life with MJ Clery - from the 2024 National Ploughing Championships. Featuring an interview with Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue.

Country Life with MJ Clery

Country Life with MJ Clery

Country Life with MJ Clery

Country Life with MJ Clery every Wednesday from 7pm on Midlands 103. Keep up with everything agriculture and beyond.

Country Life with MJ Clery every Wednesday from 7pm on Midlands 103. Keep up with everything agriculture and beyond.

On the programme this week MJ chats to IFA Poultry Chair Nigel Sweetnam about how Lidl are selling German eggs on Irish supermarket shelves. This is because of the huge downward price pressure the supermarket has put on egg producers forcing many to leave the industry as a result of being paid such poor prices. Eoin Lowry head of Agri with Bank of Ireland chats about the bank's financial results for the first 6 months of this year which shows the financial institution making a pre tax profit of 1.1 billion euro. Siobhán Walsh from the Irish Farmers Journal chats about the new Bailing Assistance Payment which will now run alongside the recently reinstated Straw Incorporation Measure. John Connell author from Co. Longford chats about his recent publication "Twelve Sheep" and comments on a clip from North Tipperary sheep farmer Amy Jackson from Lacka Organic Lamb on resuscitating a new born lamb " a private moment of wonder" as John says, something which every farmer can associate with.

On the programme this week MJ chats to Co. Laois tillage farmer and IFA Grain Chairman Kieran McEvoy about the abrupt decision made by the Minister for Agriculture to suspend the Straw Incorporation Measure which has tillage farmers up in arms and leaves all farmers wondering if schemes which they have entered can be suspeneded at the stroke of a pen. Phelim O Neill from the Irish Farmers Journal chats about the KPMG study which predicts a three billion defict and the loss of 29,000 jobs as a result of a 25% reduction in emissions from agriculture by 2030. Trevor Donnellan from Teagasc reveals the results of the 2023 Teagasc Income Survey which shows a drop in incomes in all farming sectors with dairy being the biggest loser showing a drop of 69% from 2022 figures. Ollie Ryan from Midland Vet gives an update on the Veterinary Medecines Regulations and how merchants could be able to sell vaccines if the legislation is signed in its current form. Peter Ging chats about the upcoming Ossory Show which has been running since 1898.

On the programme this week MJ chats to John Curran IFA Rural Development Chair about the need for an Independent Appeals Panel to be established immediately in the instance of a farmer having a disagreement with the Department of Agriculture. Barry Caslin from Teagasc chats about the annual Energy and Farm Diversification Show taking place this week where areas such as solar power and anerobic digestion will be some of the many topics on offer. Eamonn Carroll from the ICMSA chats about fertiliser usage for this year and how the Minister for Agriculture has confirmed that usage allowance for farmers will remain unchanged. Adam Woods from the Irish Farmers Journal chats about the upcoming open day on Tullamore Farm where the beef and sheep enterprises on the holding will be examined with great detail showing exactly what the margins are.

On the programme this week MJ chats to John Murphy Environment Chair of the IFA about the recent report which shows that emissions from agriculture are down 4.6% this year but is this good news or are famers incomes being eroded as a result? Jimmy Cosgrave Suckler Chair of the ICSA chats about the new Beef Welfare Scheme which sees a payment of fifty euro per cow once certain measures are complied with, this figure is a huge disappointment to suckler farmers and will barely cover the cost of feeding concentrates to the calves which is one the requirements. With the Conservative party receiving a huge blow in the UK elections, Phelim O Neill from the Irish Farmers Journal chats about the consequences of the Labour landslide victory from an Irish farming perspective. Ken Gill an organic suckler beef farmer from Co. Offaly chats along with his Teagasc advisor Aisling Molloy about an upcoming farm walk on his holding as part of the Future Beef series of events.

On the programme this week MJ chats to Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture Martin Heydon about the recently agreed Farmer's Charter where the farm bodies have negotiated that farmers need to be treated in a fair and transparent manner in all dealings with the Department of Agriculture. Paul Smith from Teagasc chats about Beef Quest which was launched last week where the mission of this project is to bring slaughter ages of cattle down across the country through the use of better farming practices. Gráinne McGrath from the Laois Offaly Educational Training Board chats about the various training courses which they offer including AI, hoof pairing and scanning, they are also looking for farming families to come on board for a new project with the aim of helping people with next generation planning. Mervyn Auchmuty chats about an upcoming farm event being ran by BASE Ireland, BASE stands for Biodiversity, Agriculture, Soil and Environment and this event sees a huge focus on the importance of soil quality.