Ear to the Ground

Ear to the Ground is back for a new series. In episode one a community fighting back in the face of suicide, Wallaby steak and a microbiologist cultivating mushrooms in the Galtee mountains.

After a Summer of harrowing farm fatalities, Helen meets a farmer who is lucky to be alive. Ella encounters an ancient bovine breed and Darragh hangs out with a steam head at Stradbally.

This week on Ear to the Ground this week it’s a family affair in Naul, County Dublin. Helen looks at the beef industry exodus, while Ella explores the striking Winterages of old in the Burren.

War on the sea shore threatened in the West. It’s style over substance for Darragh at Millstreet in Cork, while Helen heads to Wexford to visit a man who has gone back to his roots.

Hidden disease in Ireland's wells, Belmullet boys ditch textbooks for the bloodstock market and preserving Ireland's biodiversity and wildlife.

Is cutting down a 6 foot fir tree for Christmas bad for the planet? Raw milk - beneficial to our health or not? Helen visits a raw milk supplier in County Tipperary to find out.

It wouldn’t be Christmas without brussels sprouts, we follow their journey to the Christmas plate. Helen visits a heart warming community that have turned things around in Loughmore County Tipperary and Ella visits a Donkey Sanctuary.

While the Celtic tiger’s gone, the Chinese economy continues to roar. Darragh discovers how Irish food producers are cashing in on a burgeoning middle class. Helen is on hand with vet Donal Lynch in Tullamore.

With many farmers having dived head first into dairy, prices are dropping rapidly. Meanwhile Ballina Mart goes online and Wild Boar are thriving in Co. Cork.

Social farming saves lives, John Murphy tells his story. Darragh explores the Burren Nature Sanctuary and Spring is on the horizon as Ella looks at the future of lambing in County Westmeath.

Broadband is still not available in rural areas, Helen Carroll talks to Minister Alex White to get some answers. Industry takes local reservoir water in the West, while Darragh visits a community with an innovative project in Port Laoise.

Sheep commonage farmers in County Mayo struggle to cope with ever changing EU regulations. Ella explores if we can really trust what it says on the label? While Darragh is in County Limerick checking out some world leading technology.

Munster Family Farm of the year winner Con Murphy talks about depression. We meet one of the first women priests in Ireland and hear how the near extinct hen harrier is resulting in farmers being unable to farm their own land.

The exploding market of gluten free food and the story of 10 year old Joe Kelly from Tipperary at the Special Olympics.

America has lifted it’s ban on beef imports, what will this mean for Irish exporters? Ella looks at a unique Donegal food movement and Helen meets with a farm labourer of old.

Darragh follows Boyne Fishermans Rescue and Recovery Service. High welfare veal makes a comeback in Kilkenny and Ella is in Newfoundland exploring its Irish Heritage.

Pets turn savage as lambing season is in full swing? Innovation at it’s best in County Cork, and with the end of dairy quotas we look to North for a view to the future.