As the Taoiseach prepares to appoint his third agriculture minister in as many months, the sector is facing into a perfect storm of uncertainty.

Micheál Martin is expected to make the appointment when the Dáil returns next week.

Whoever gets the nod will need to hit the ground running, with the most recent Government report warning Irish farms are facing a potential €1.6bn loss in income this year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, The UK is due to leave the European Union in just over 17 weeks – with little confidence negotiators can avoid a cliff-edge Brexit for a market that took in over €4bn in Irish food exports last year.

Add to that the upcoming budget and planned reforms to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the size of the task facing the new minister becomes ever-more daunting.

Bales of straw waiting for collection on a farm outside Naas in County Kildare, 31-07-2019. Image: Eamonn Farrell/RollingNews

Newstalk presenter Bobby Kerr has taken an in-depth look at the sector as part of his Back on Track series of podcasts.

Featuring the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) President Tim Cullinan, Irish Farmers Journal reporter Pat O’Toole and economist Jim Power, the episode digs deep into the issues facing Ireland's farmers.

The Back on Track series examines the issues facing six of the most important sectors in the Irish economy and discusses new ways for businesses to prepare for the new normal.

With episodes dedicated to the food industry, the hospitality sector, start-ups, agriculture, retail and the tech industry, the series allows Bobby to really get under the bonnet of the Irish economy.

You can listen back to all six here or get started with Episode One: The Food Industry below: