Agricology Podcast

In the final episode of the series, we explore how the island's farmers have diversified their businesses to adapt to changing markets and build resilience for the future. Along the way, we'll discover how these new enterprises are creating benefits that extend far beyond the farm gate, supporting local jobs, producing essential goods and services, creating educational opportunities, and helping p...

In this episode we meet four inspiring guests who are championing small-scale horticulture, alternative food systems and pollinator conservation on Arran. We learn how market gardens, community growing projects and foraging initiatives are helping to celebrate local produce, reconnect people with the land and strengthen social wellbeing. We also explore the important role that bees and honey produ...

In this episode, we explore arable farming on Arran, tracing the journey of locally grown grain from field to fork and glass. We begin at Bellevue Farm, where farmer Donald Currie grows malting barley on Arran's fertile soils. From there, we follow the grain north to Lochranza Distillery, where Brand Ambassador Fred Baumgärtner explains how locally grown barley is transformed into the island's wor...

The episode features farmers, artisan food producers, and the distributers working to connect the two and create a thriving hyper-local milk market. We learn how collaboration and adding value is key to keeping dairy at the heart of the community. Milk production on Arran has a somewhat turbulent history, with external pressures such as pasteurisation legislation pushing the industry to the brink ...

From the early days of crofting and subsistence farming to the present day, animal protein has provided an essential and highly valuable source of nutrients for Arran's population. While sheep and beef production have always been central to Arran's farming economy, venison is now also being embraced as a sustainable protein source that can help to combat the growing threat that the wild deer popul...

In this new season trailor, podcast host Wallace Currie and Alice Farmery from the Agricology team introduce themselves, explain the concept behind our new podcast season and give listeners a taste of what is to come.  This short introduction provides some background to Arran to give context to the series, and provides an overview of the key terms and ideas used throughout. 

In this special e dition  of the Agricology Podcast,  we  introduce  an exciting new research project   investigating how companion cropping can support pest, weed, and disease management in oilseed rape  (OSR) . Head of Agricology Matt  Smee   is joined  by Duncan Coston (Entomological Research Consultant and Project Lead) and Lynn Tatnell  (Weed Biologist at ADAS)  to explore  why  OSR can be su...

This is the last episode of a new series exploring agroforestry, in which we use the elements as a framework to deepen understanding and challenge assumptions around trees on farms. The overarching aim is to explore how trees on farms contribute to more than just individual functions, holding the ability to transform whole landscapes and ecosystems. This episode dives into the human element of agr...

This is the penulitmate episode of a new series exploring agroforestry, in which we use the elements as a framework to deepen understanding and challenge assumptions around trees on farms. The overarching aim is to explore how trees on farms contribute to more than just individual functions, holding the ability to transform whole landscapes and ecosystems. In this episode we take a detailed look a...

This is the third episode of a new series exploring agroforestry, in which we use the elements as a framework to deepen understanding and challenge assumptions around trees on farms. The overarching aim is to explore how trees on farms contribute to more than just individual functions, holding the ability to transform whole landscapes and ecosystems. This episode investigates how trees improve soi...

This the second episode of a new series exploring agroforestry, in which we use the elements as a framework to deepen understanding and challenge assumptions around trees on farms. The overarching aim is to explore how trees on farms contribute to more than just individual functions, holding the ability to transform whole landscapes and ecosystems.  This episode focuses on the element of 'fire.' G...

This is the first episode of a new series exploring agroforestry, in which we use the elements as a framework to deepen understanding and challenge assumptions around trees on farms. The overarching aim is to explore how trees on farms contribute to more than just individual functions, holding the ability to transform whole landscapes and ecosystems. 'Water' includes exploring how trees impact flo...

In the last episode of the series, plant ecologist Jonathan Storkey treats us to fascinating insights on biodiversity in production systems and soil microbial communities, emphasising how context is crucial when choosing your tillage approach. He shares his journey from birdwatching ecologist to leading weed scientist at Rothamsted Reseach, where he has been studying tillage and biodiversity inter...

In this episode with farmer John Pawsey , we talk about the role of tillage in organic systems, balancing weed and pest pressures, how regenerative overlaps with organic, and how diversity drives success. John shares his journey from conventional spraying to organic, mixed farming (over 25 years ago). He explains why he ploughs selectively (once or twice in a six-year rotation) and how organic far...

The third episode of the series welcomes the Organic Research Centre 's Julia Cooper who shares her expertise as a soil scientist. We look at soil health from a scientific perspective, focusing on nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration, and the nuanced role of tillage across different soil types and farming systems. Julia explains how soil health is context-specific, emphasising the importance of...

This second episode with Mark Measures explores the role of tillage in organic systems, the misunderstood relationship between tillage and soil carbon, the balance between weed control and nutrient cycling, and how tillage fits into wider farming systems. Mark reflects on 40 years in organic advice, with deep roots in research, education, and farmer engagement. He argues that tillage, especially s...

The first episode of our latest series introduces both Wallace Currie, guest podcaster from the Isle of Arran (search R2Kast ), who will be chatting to guests throughout the series, and Cambridgeshire farmer Tom Martin . They discuss transitioning to no-till, the emotional and practical side of regenerative farming, redefining success through mistakes, and the value of community and biodiversity i...

The penultimate episode of this season sees us in conversation with Dan Stevenson, the Head of Integrated Farm Management (IFM) at LEAF . Dan comes to this topic with nearly 20 years' experience as a farm animal vet. He discusses his veterinary background and the arc his career has followed; moving on to working with LEAF, and along the way starting to think more holistically about livestock produ...

We are joined by the Sustainable Food Trust 's Senior Researcher Robert Barbour for our sixth episode of this season. Tune in to discussions surrounding methane, carbon footprints, and the complexities and challenges of measuring environmental impacts associated with livestock. Robert draws on his experiences as a researcher and his family farm (an upland beef and sheep farm that also produces tim...

The fifth episode of the season finds us in conversation with Simon Fairlie, recorded earlier this summer when he was still running his dairy operation at Monkton Wyld Court in Dorset. Simon, who was once described by the Guardian as "the most influential and unusual eco-activist you might not have heard of", brings us a wide ranging conversation that looks at the micro and the macro of carrying c...

In this fourth episode we are joined by renowned conservation grazier Bill Grayson who brings us his perspective on the concept of optimal carrying capacity and the way that it is deployed within the system he and his wife Cath run as part of the Morecambe Bay Conservation Grazing Company. He discusses how they go about planning putting animals on to a piece of land, the various practical consider...

This third episode of the new Agricology podcast season features Kate Still from the Soil Association 's Farming and Land Use team. Kate comes to the conversation with a whole farm approach in mind and the need to balance what farms can support to create healthy animals, healthy farmers and a healthy farm bank balance with as few inputs as possible. Her quiet wisdom comes across as she considers s...

In this episode we are joined by Dr Lindsay Whistance, Senior Livestock Researcher at the  Organic Research Centre . Lindsay, who started her working life as a dairy herds-woman, comes to the conversation through the lens of animal welfare. The episode is an enlightening exploration of thoughts and ideas relating to optimal carrying capacity. It covers topics including the important partnership be...

In the first of a new series exploring optimal carrying capacity, we speak to biodynamic farmer  Richard Gantlett , from Yatesbury House Farm in Wiltshire. He talks about farm operations and highlights the approaches used; from dynamic rotational grazing to the role of herbal leys, and what he refers to as being a "forest farm approach." He explains how spending time with Alex Podolinsky has inspi...

This episode features our visit to Three Hagges where we were shown around by Woodmeadow officer Dan Carne & one of the founders Ros Forbes Adam. They talk about what a woodmeadow is, potential relevance to farmers, layout of the site, how it was created & is now managed, tips for farmers interested in putting some land over to a combination of woodland & meadow, & thoughts about wider scale adopt...