The Beef Edge

In advance of Generational Renewal Week 2026 which takes place from Monday 7th to Friday 11th September, Teagasc specialist Ruth Fennell joins the Beef Edge podcast to discuss succession planning and preview the week. 

The week will consist of a hybrid programme of events on generation renewal and included are three webinars and two farm walks.  Whether you are just starting to consider succession planning or are ready to take the next step, Generational Renewal Week has something for everyone.

It will highlight career paths for young farmers and support for older farmers in stepping back. It covers tax, succession, and collaborative models like partnerships, share farming, and leasing to help families to start the transition.

See details of what’s taking place throughout the week below
Monday, 7th September | Generational Renewal in Action Live Webinar
Tuesday, 8th September | Understanding the Nursing Home Support Scheme (Fair Deal) Live Webinar
Wednesday, 9th September | Dairy Farm Walk – Exploring Collaborative Farming Options
Thursday, 10th September | Agricultural Tax Reliefs and Collaborative Farming Options for Farm Families Live Webinar
Friday, 11th September | Beef, Sheep & Tillage Farm Walk
 Further information at:
https://teagasc.ie/rural-economy/farm-management/generational-renewal-week/

For more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page at:
https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge
Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

DairyBeef 500 manager, Alan Dillon, and DairyBeef 500 farmer, James O’Sullivan from Co. Cork, discuss James’ farm system and upcoming farm walk. 

James works off-farm as an AI technician and has four young children so labour efficiency is very important.

He achieved over €2,600/ha net profit in 2025 and Alan compares the profitability to other dairy beef farmers nationally, while James discusses the investments on the farm and the grazing strategy and fodder deficit options. 

With around 27 tonnes of beef supplied annually, James says management decisions are most important to ensure the Angus cattle achieve the required carcass specifications. 

James is hosting the National DairyBeef 500 farm walk on September 3rd @5:30pm and for further details go to:
https://teagasc.ie/event/dairybeef-500-farm-walk-james-osullivan/

For more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page at:
https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge
 
Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

Future Beef farmer, James Skehan, from county Clare is on this week’s Beef Edge to discuss his spring-calving suckler-to-beef enterprise while also working off-farm.

Over the past number of years he has made significant changes to improve the profitability, efficiency and sustainability of his business, like many suckler farmers, James has adapted his system to make better use of the resources available on his farm. 

He has moved from selling weanlings to finishing cattle, invested in grazing infrastructure to maximise grass utilisation, focused on improving soil fertility, and placed a strong emphasis on breeding a compact, efficient spring-calving herd. These changes have helped him reduce labour demands while maintaining high levels of animal performance.

As a participant in the Teagasc Future Beef Programme, James has been benchmarking his performance and implementing practical changes that are delivering real improvements on the ground. 

In this episode, he shares the lessons he's learned, discusses how he balances farming with an off-farm career, explains his approach to grassland management, breeding and herd health, and outlines how he prepares calves for weaning.
** Due to the passing of a retired Teagasc colleague, James Skehan’s farm walk has been postponed to Friday 11th September at 5pm.**

Visitors will have the opportunity to see his farming system first-hand and hear about the management practices that are helping drive performance and profitability.

Further details at:
https://teagasc.ie/event/futurebeef-farm-walk-james-skehan

For more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page at:
https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge
 
Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

Cork dairy-beef farmer, Philip O'Neill, who operates a calf-to-store beef enterprise alongside a tillage enterprise, while also working off-farm, and his Teagasc advisor, Alan Carey, join this week’s Beef Edge podcast.

Philip O’Neill farms in a Registered Farm Partnership with his mother Denise, and he manages multiple enterprises during the busy spring period which means labour efficiency is essential and in recent years Philip has transformed his calf-rearing system by investing in an automatic calf feeder.

Philip explains what prompted the investment, the practical lessons he learned during the first season using the feeder, and how it has changed the day-to-day management of calves. 

He discusses the labour savings achieved, how technology helps identify health issues at an early stage, and the management practices that have maintained excellent calf health and performance. Philip also shares the importance of planning, from sourcing calves over a short period to ensuring they are weaned before peak tillage work begins.

His Teagasc advisor Alan Carey, discusses the wider lessons for dairy-beef farmers. As many farmers begin reviewing this year's calf-rearing season, Alan outlines the key areas that should be assessed before next spring, including labour requirements, calf health protocols, housing, nutrition and overall system efficiency. 

He also discusses how farmers can control input costs and identify future investment opportunities, including supports available through TAMS, to improve labour efficiency and long-term profitability.

For more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page at:
https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge
 
Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

Cork beef farmer, Noel McSweeney, and his Teagasc advisor, David Hallissey, explain how they prepare for this year's Tullamore Show on this week’s Beef Edge podcast.

Noel runs a progressive beef enterprise where he combines commercial cattle production with an embryo transfer breeding programme to produce top-quality show and fatstock cattle. 

He discusses his journey as a young farmer, the evolution of the farm and how he has developed a successful breeding programme while balancing an off-farm career.

With the Tullamore Show just days away, Noel takes us behind the scenes to explain the planning, preparation and attention to detail that goes into getting cattle ready for one of Ireland's premier agricultural events. 

He also shares the key lessons he has learned from showing cattle and offers practical advice for anyone thinking about getting involved.

David Hallissey discusses the increasing interest in commercial show cattle, the importance of breeding for both performance and profitability, and the key areas Noel is focusing on to further develop the farm.

For more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page at:
https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge
 
Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com