The Sod Pod
Episodes
The Three Pillars of Soil Health Explained 🌱
13 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode, Peter Linden chats with Clodagh Bolger and John Brennan about all things soil health. The conversation focuses on the three pillars o...
Spring Workload but no Weather
27 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode, John caught up with Clodagh and Stephen to chat about the current situation, and the importance of being ready to move when the weath...
Accuracy Starts with the Fertiliser Spreader: Bulk Density & Setup Explained
13 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
On this weeks episode we're joined by John Corbett, Regional Sales Manager of North Cork, to talk about everything fertiliser spreader-related. ...
New Year, New Regulations; Season 5
30 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode, Clodagh Bolger hosts Peter Linden and John Brennan to discuss the new Nitrates regulations, spring slurry application and much more!T...
2025 Wrapped
19 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode, Peter Linden catches up with John O'Loughlin, Clodagh Bolger, John Brennan and Stephen Carey to review the year gone by and disc...
New Voice, Better Content 🚨
07 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode we have a new person sitting infront of the golden Microphone. James has departed Grassland Agro after 15 years for a new challenge....
Ploughing Through Autumn
05 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode James sits down with the panel and the talk about the up and coming National Ploughing Championships. Fertiliser close season, tilla...
Giving it Socks 🧦
08 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode James sits down with John Brennan, Stephen carey, Clodagh Bolger and Peter Linden. From fodder budgets to fertiliser allowances a di...
Back to Business
09 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode James catches up with Clodagh, Peter, Stephen and John and they cover many items from fertiliser for 2nd cut, tillage management and m...
The One That Got Away
04 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Better late that never!Due to a calamity of hick-ups and snags we are only getting around to bringing you this episode taht was recorded at the beginn...
March through Spring; Preparation is Key
07 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Hello, hello and welcome to Season Four of The Sod Pod!The team at Grassland Agro are delighted to be back for our fourth year.For 2025 we have change...
Fresh Start, Same Roots; Season 4 has Landed
07 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Hello, hello and welcome to Season Four of The Sod Pod!The team at Grassland Agro are delighted to be back for our fourth year.For 2025 we have change...
The Season Finale; Bbbrrr in Birr Co. Offaly
20 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode Noel Hamell blackmailed James and Steady Eddie to hit the road and land in St. Brendan's Community Scholl in Birr Co. Offaly.This...
Tommy The Vet
25 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode, James and Ed sit down with Tommy Heffernan. Tommy the Vet talks about what he sees in farming today and his views about the future ...
Winter Housing; Preparation is Key
11 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode James is joined with John, Ed and Sean to discuss winter housing and being as prepared as possible for this tricky time that creeps up...
I Dream about Slurry
27 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this Episode James, John and Ed talked about our time at the ploughing championships. And so many fond take aways from it.Also, on What's in...
Stick Season; Ploughing Preview
13 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode James and Ed are joined by Sophie Tyner, a Regional Manager with Grassland Agro and John Brennan a member of our Technical and Sustain...
Not The Two Johnnies
30 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode John O'Loughlin headed off down to Moorepark and had a sit down and cup of tea with John Maher who heads up the Grass 10 with Tea...
Protected Urea and The Banner Roar
16 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode James, John and Ed talk about NBPT protected urea and of course Clares Famous hurling all Ireland Victory. What are some of the fact...
Joe Dunphy; Let it Grow
02 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode Ed and John are joined by latest Grassland Agro Team member Peter Linden. The three lads caught up with Joe Dunphy from Teagasc and ...
How many Bales are you Short?
19 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this Episode John Ed and Sean caught up and discussed the on going fodder shortage and some useful calculators to help you work our you potential s...
Grab a ☕. N and P Allowances Explained
05 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode John, Ed and Sean had a heavy conversation on data and fertiliser allowances. A tough mind field of data but they have done a great ...
Time to Drive On 📊
21 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode James sat down with John and Ed to discuss, growth rates, fertiliser strategy, the clover struggles this year due to the unusual weath...
Many Voices; Insights from the Experts
07 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode the team from Grassland Agro were welcomed down to Teagasc Research Centre in Johnstown Castle County Wexford.John and Ed grabbed the ...
Deirdre O'Shea; A Broader Spectrum
24 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode John grabbed the gear and headed off to meet Deirdre O'Shea from AON. Deirdre works in their Food Agri and beverage division.Li...
Make Yourself Agri Aware
10 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode James and Steady Eddie are joined by Marcus O'Halloran from Agri Aware. Marcus from Tipperary talks about his own farm enterpri...
☘ Beleaf in Clover with Caitlin and Joe
26 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode John and Ed caught up with two people from Teagasc, Caitlin Looney and Joseph Dunphy. The had a detailed discussion on the impacts o...
Siobhan Walsh; On the Edge
12 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode John and Ed caught up with Siobhan Walsh, Tillage Editor with The Irish Farmers Journal. The discuss the issues currently facing and...
March On
29 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode John, Ed, Lauren and Eoin caught up and had a chat about the current situation in farming and what to look out for.They also covered T...
Bee Like Kevin and Abby 🐝
15 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Wishing all our listeners a very happy St. Patricks Day. This episode is a little different. Firstly John caught up with the Team in Bee Media, Ke...
☘ Mike Egan; Clover and Above ☘
01 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode James Freeman sits down with Edward Healy and John O'Loughlin to have a detailed chat with Mike Egan, Research Officer for Grassl...
🌱Tillage Special; Shay Phelan
16 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode Ed and John recorded a tillage special with Shay Phelan. Shay is a Tillage and Potato Crop Specialist with Teagasc based in Oakpark ...
Spring Forward, Grazing Is Back
02 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode James caught up with John, Ed and Eoin and they had a chat about the growing season ahead. This chat was heavily focused on The Spri...
Don't GLAZE Over, EXTEND Your Knowledge
19 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Hello, Hello!We are back for season three of The Sod Pod! James was joined by John and Lauren and they discussed the new range of protected fertilis...
Season Two Finale; That's All Folks!🤝
22 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Hello, hello and welcome to the season finale of The Sod Pod!A huge thank you to each and everyone of you, our listeners.James caught up with Edward, ...
Sean McMahon; Good with Regulations, Bad with Shotguns 📊
08 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode James Freeman, The Sharp Shooter, is joined by Lauren Stanley, Edward Healy and Sean "Wouldn't Hit A Barn Door" McMahon...
Minerals; Feed the Need, Not the Greed
24 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode James is joined by John, Claire, Eoin and Ed. The talk about the mineral need of animals and different ways of providing them. The...
Does it Pay to Milk On This Winter?
10 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode the Technical Team from Grassland Agro gather to have a conversation about a recent article on The Irish Farmers Journal by Aidan Bren...
Winter is Coming! But it doesn't have to be Stark
27 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode James is joined by Edward Healy from the Product and Technical Team and Sean McMahon one of the original Sod Podders returns. These ...
Kyle Hanbidge; Winter Milk and Rugby 🐄🏉
13 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode John loaded up the car with Edward Healy, Product and Technical Manager and Will Keane, Regional Manager East Region and headed over t...
ICBF; The National Genotyping Programme 🧬
29 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode Lauren, Claire and Eoin where joined by Mark Waters from ICBF (Irish Cattle Breeding Federation).They have a conversation about the Na...
Bonus Episode! Ploughing Along
20 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this bonus episode of The Sod Pod James roamed around the Grassland Agro trade stand in the Innovation arena and caught up with many Grassland Agro...
Grow with Us 🤔
15 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode James and Lauren are joined by Lorraine Rossiter our Human Resources Manager in Grassland Agro and two of our Technical Sales Advisors...
Flat to the Matt; Dairy Calf to Beef
01 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode James Freeman, Eoin Quinn and Lauren Stanley welcome Matt Thompson to The Sod Pod. Matt is an agronomist for Grassland Agro coveri...
Legislation and The Kilkenny Farmer😜
18 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode James Freeman is joined with the usual suspects Lauren Stanley, Claire Aspel and John O'Loughlin. But the newest member of the te...
Mike Bermingham talking Ginger Nuts and Grass
04 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode James Freeman sits down with Lauren Stanley, Claire Aspel and John O'Loughlin to have a great discussion with Cork dairy farmer, ...
Soil Sampling; Understanding the Numbers
21 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode James is joined with Lauren, Claire and John as they discuss the soil sample reports that the department of agriculture have been send...
The Young Farmers Taking Stock
07 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode Claire Aspel and John O'Loughlin catch up with three of our seven Work placement Students as the give us an insight into what the...
Silence is Not an Option 😶👂
23 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode James was tied up as he attended a milk quality event organised by Tirlán so Lauren, Claire and John carried the show. They have a ...
Teagasc Tips; As Drought Closes In
09 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode John and David had the pleasure of being joined by David Wall and Cathal Somers from Teagasc. As we stare down the barrel of drought...
MC Milking It
26 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode Lauren and Claire headed off to Tipperary to meet You Tube and Instagram Influencer / Entertainer MC Milking It.Mark loves Showing how...
Managing May Madness
12 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this latest episode, James is joined by Lauren, Claire and Davy to chat where we’re at as regards farming at this time of year. They discuss gr...
The Once A Day Farmer
28 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode, James is joined by Lauren, John, Claire and Social Media Farming Influencer Andrew Macky!Andrew is a Dairy Farmer in New Zealand and ...
The Trip to Teagasc Grange Research Centre
14 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode, James is joined by Lauren, John, Claire and Davy and they discuss a recent outing in Teagasc Grange where they all got an insight in ...
Topical Topics on The Edge 🤷♀️
31 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode James is joined by Claire Aspel, Lauren Stanley, David Corbett and John O'Loughlin. They discuss many of the topical issues on ...
Farming for Soil Health and Environment Edge
17 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode, Lauren, John and Davy headed on down to Teagasc Soil, Environment and Land use Research Centre in Johnstown Castle, County Wexford. ...
Spring Grazing; Out The Gap
03 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this latest episode, James, is joined by John, Davy, Lauren and Claire. They have a great chat about Spring Grazing and cover many of the triggers ...
Kildalton Agricultural College
17 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this latest episode, James, John and Davy made a visit to Kildalton Agricultural College where they were joined by Vice Principal, James Ryan and h...
Tirlán and Purple Snacks
03 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode, James packs John and David into the car and they head up the road to County Laois where they land onto the farm of John Brennan, Seni...
WE'RE BACK! A Lot More Grassland, A Little Less Agro!
20 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Its Season Two and we are back!This season will see a larger focus on overall Nitrogen Use Efficiency.On this episode, James catches up with John, Dav...
The Season Finale
23 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode we review Season One of The Sod Pod.Nikki McGrath joins James Freeman to talk about the season and pull out some of their favourite cl...
John Maher talks Grazing and Grassland Management
09 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of the Sod Pod, Davy and John headed down to Moorepark to have a chat with Teagasc Grass10 Manager John Maher.John, a proud Kilkenny m...
New Additions, Sulphur and Sustainability
25 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of the Sod Pod, James and John have a chat with the newest additions to the team, the lovely Lauren and Claire.Both ladies hail from a...
Farming Abroad and A Stag for Sean!
11 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode we are delighted to welcome back past pupil Sean McMahon! Sean recently popped the question to his beloved Bronagh and this in turn sp...
Niall Laffan of Kingstown Farm
28 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode we are joined by Niall Laffan and he gives a great insight into the family farm. From Sunflower, multispecies swards and pumpkins.Ki...
Who's Taking the HiAce to France?
14 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode James is joined with John and David and they discuss their recent trip to France. They visited the HQ of Timac International in the ...
Bernard The Vet
30 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode we are joined again by Bernard Furlong, the Grassland Agro Consultant Vet.Bernard previously featured on two occasions, episode seven;...
Dairy Farming and Milk Quality
16 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode we are joined by Conor Quinlan, Dairy Hygiene Manager, from Grassland Agro.We discuss a range of topics on how to manage risk in the d...
Farming for a Better Future at Johnstown Castle
02 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode John and David set off to the Teagasc Johnstown Castle Open Day; Farming for a Better Future - Technologies for Today and Tomorrow.The...
Danny Bermingham; The Heavy Soils Farmer
19 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode we are joined by Heavy Soils Farmer, Danny Bermingham. Danny farms some very challenging land in Doonbeg, Co. Clare. In 2018 he wo...
Professional Agricultural Work Placement Students (Part Two)
05 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode we are joined by 3 more of our 6 Professional Work Placement Students.They are Edmond Casey, James Downey and Sean O'Sullivan.The...
Professional Agricultural Work Placement Students (Part One)
22 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode we are joined by 3 of our 6 Professional Work Placement Students.These students got to be engrained within Grassland Agro and got to b...
David Wall of Teagasc; Farming Past, Present and Future
08 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode we are joined by Dr. David Wall. David is a soil scientist, biochemist and enterprise leader with Teagasc based in Johnstown Castle,...
Grassland Reseeding to Maximise Farm Productivity
24 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode we discuss reseeding grassland. Reseeding is done for many reasons. The main ones are to increase productivity of the farm and car...
The Agronomist and His Dairy Partnership
10 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode we are joined by Simon Delaney. Simon is a Technical Agronomist with Grassland Agro for four years, working in the North and East Co...
Farming Sustainability from a Social Standpoint
27 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode we look at farming for a socially sustainable standpoint. We look at it from a dairy, beef and tillage point of view.The role of the...
From 40th's and GAA, to the Burren and Biodiversity
20 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode we discuss biodiversity.We couldn't kick off before congratulating Dr. David Corbett on the successful completion of his PhD, a s...
Pica; The Vet's Point of View
13 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode we are delighted to be joined again by Bernard Furlong, the Grassland Agro Consultant Vet.And, Guess who's back, back again!? Dav...
The Vet's Perspective
06 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode we are delighted to be joined by Bernard Furlong, the Grassland Agro Consultant Vet.We cover many topics, after an introduction to Ber...
Teagasc Grass10 and Silage Management
29 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode we discuss the Teagasc Grass10 programme and how to make good quality silage.Grassland Agro are continued proud sponsors of the Teagas...
Clover for a Sustainable Future
15 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode we discuss clover, and some of the long and short term solutions we can take for reducing nitrogen application with its use.In farming...
Grassland Management and Preparation for Breeding
01 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode we discuss grassland management and breeding preparation.As we step into 2nd round grazing we cover some key points to look out for an...
First Cut Silage Recommendations
18 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode we discuss some recommendations on how to maximise and best prepare for first cut silage.Farming and agriculture is facing some huge c...
Fertiliser Calibration
04 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode we discuss bulk density and fertiliser calibration to maximise your fertiliser spreading ability.Bulk density is a major factor affect...
The Soil Sustainability Programme
23 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode we discuss, The Grassland Agro soil sustainability programme.We cover the steps to the programme from Soil Sampling, Fertiliser Planni...
It's all about Farming, but first, Meet the Panel
21 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The Sod Pod, brought to you by Grassland Agro.This is a prelaunch podcast to get to know the panel. Over the season we will chat and debate many top...