Waterford to feature in tonight's Ear to the Ground episode

Ear to the Ground - Thursday 8th February 2024, RTÉ One - 7pm

Pigs - Offaly

Mattie Moore's farm in Co. Offaly yields an impressive output of over four million tonnes of pigment annually. However, despite this remarkable production, the pigment farming sector is notoriously volatile in terms of pricing. Maeve Dineen delved into Mattie's world, spending a day to gain insights into the intricate life cycle of a pig and to understand firsthand the challenges confronting this industry. 

Calving/Genotyping - *Waterford

As spring unfolds across the country, farms are buzzing with the arrival of new life. Darragh Mc Cullough recently immersed himself in the bustling dairy farm of Gillian and Neil O’Sullivan, who are embarking on the calving season. However, what sets this year apart is the groundbreaking initiative underway: many of the newborn calves will undergo DNA sampling as part of an ambitious project aimed at genotyping the entire National Herd, marking a historic milestone on a global scale. 

Willow Coffin - Roscommon

When Kate and Alan Burrows acquired a smallholding in rural Roscommon in 2018, they faced the pressing need to generate income from the land. Their challenge: determining the most viable avenue. After careful consideration, the couple opted to cultivate willow, a crop well-suited to the soil and relatively easily grown. Today, they've transformed the willow yield into a thriving enterprise, crafting baskets and, notably, coffins. 

Ella Mc Sweeney accompanied the couple for a day, delving into the intricacies of this ancient craft and even trying her hand at weaving.