Scotland's Farm Advisory Service Podcast

Along with our regular monthly updates on policy briefs, arable, beef, sheep and milk, in this edition we are also bringing you 2 sector overviews on sustainability trends and falling suckler cow numbers. We will also be bringing you news on energy self sufficiency options and silage.  Show Notes   00.45:-News in Brief  02.51:-Policy Briefs - New TB controls, minimum wage rates...

We talk to Dr Jeremy Leggett from Highlands Rewilding, who are aiming to rewild and repopulate the highlands through a business model focusing on enhancing and restoring natural capital. Doing this they want to support Nature Based Solutions, reduce biodiversity loss and cut UK carbon emissions. Jeremy discusses the role they play and the challenges of balancing nature, farming, traditional ways o...

Welcome back to the Rural Roundup. This show is produced in association with the Scottish Government. On today’s episode George & Robert pick out some positives from across the Sectors, and I’m joined by Nathan Critchlow-Watton , Head of Water and Planning at SEPA, Scottish Environment Protection Agency, to tell us more about planning for water scarcity in Scotland.   Show Notes&nbsp...

We begin our second series of Natural Capital exploring Bees, Butterflies and Biodiversity with Dr Lorna Cole, an agricultural ecologist whose work addresses the challenge of feeding our growing world population whilst protecting our environment. We discuss beneficial insects, habitats and biodiversity, including the many pollinators found in Scotland. Pollinators play important roles but face mul...

In this podcast we will hear from Graeme Parker aka the Hoof GP. Graeme tells us his story about his background and how his ‘Hoof GP’ online social media business has expanded alongside his cattle foot trimming work. His main aim is to share his knowledge of cattle foot health through these social media videos to farmers to allow them to make more informed choices around foot health. Hosted by Rob...

Farmers are custodians of the landscape in Scotland, and the farmed environment accounts for roughly 75% of all land in the country, but farmers need not take all that responsibility themselves. Agriculture adjacent, the game bird sector has a huge role to play in supporting the farmed upland environment and in this episode, Ross Macleod, Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust lays that all out, d...

Welcome back to the Rural Roundup. This show is produced in association with the Scottish Government. On today’s episode we hear from Farm Advisors, Tiffany, George & Robert discussing the proposed closure of the Forfar Mart, the potential consequences of this and the need for robust infrastructure in the wider farming sector, and we’re joined by Nikki Yoxall Head of Research at Pasture for Li...

Welcome to CropCast, your go to podcast for all the latest information on arable crops. Each month, SAC advisor, Tiffany Mactaggart will be joined by a range of industry experts, bringing you timely updates to help you make decisions in the field. Producer George Gauley, Editor Iain Boyd, Executive Producer Kerry Hammond, in association with the Scottish Government. In this episode Tiffany Mactagg...

Welcome back to the Rural Roundup. This show is produced in association with the Scottish Government. On today’s episode Kerry hears from Farm Advisors, Tiffany, and George who are joined by SRUC’s Steven Thomson, (Reader in Agricultural Economics and Policy) to spotlight what is happening in rural policy. Sascha Grierson, Principal Consultant for the Scottish Farm Business Survey, joins us to giv...

Welcome to the April 2023 edition of Agribusiness News, brought to you by the Farm Advisory Service (FAS). Agribusiness news helps you to scan your horizon, prepare for industry changes and keeps you abreast of the latest research and policy updates. Along with our regular monthly updates on policy briefs, cereals, beef, sheep and milk, in this edition we are also bringing you 2 sector overviews o...

Cara Cameron is a Welsh girl living in the Scottish highlands with a love of the outdoors and agriculture. She has a thirst for knowledge and also loves to be able to pass on her experiences to others. After her time studying agriculture at SRUC (formerly SAC) at Craibstone in Aberdeen, she then went on to complete a post-grad in Organic farming. Cara launched Lochview Rural Training from her own...

Episode #12 – A Damming Conclusion? Beavers are a keystone species and their presence in Scotland could go a long way to achieving land landscape scale nature restoration that Scottish Government want to achieve. They are, like humans, ecosystem engineers and the natural processes they encourage can bolster other vulnerable habitats and species. But beavers come with challenges, they will naturall...

Welcome back to the Rural Roundup. This show is produced in association with the Scottish Government. On today’s episode Kerry hears from Farm Advisors, Tiffany, George, and Robert to find out about what’s been going on in the agricultural sector, and Sascha Grierson joins us to tell us about the FAS problem Solver and Lorna MacPherson deep dives into some of the dairy specific resources you can f...

In this podcast we will hear from Martin Beard from the Rare Breed Survival Trust. Martin tells us about what the Rare Breed Survival Trust (RBST) does and the importance of genetic diversity within species. He also talks about the importance of marketing and the supply chain working well. He highlights the RBST conference which will be held on the 23rd March. Linked Resources: Rare Breeds Surviva...

This week the Rural Roundup is bringing you something a little different, we spoke to six diversified farm businesses across Scotland, asking them about their journeys, the conversations they had along the way, and the decisions they had to make. This week we’re going to hear the Story of Tina MacPhail, the manager of Grinneabhat Community Space who is joined by Iain MacMillan a crofting consultan...

Welcome back to the Rural Round-up. This show is produced in association with the Scottish Government. On today’s episode Kerry hears from Farm Advisors, Tiffany, George, and Robert to find out about what’s been going on in the agricultural sector, and Professor Davy McCracken tells us what’s on his desk. Show Notes 00:40- Rural Roundup 13:25 – What’s coming up – events & resources 15:18- Davy...

Episode #11 - The Farm Business Survey. On the podcast, we take two things more seriously than anything else - hills and thrills. But if there were a third place, that would go to data. Being able to produce figures to make informed decisions and justify your actions is at the heart of farming, more so now than ever. The Scottish Farm Business Survey offers a free, independent assessment of your b...

Welcome to CropCast, your go to podcast for all the latest information on arable crops. Each month, SAC advisor, Tiffany Mactaggart will be joined by a range of industry experts, bringing you timely updates to help you make decisions in the field. Producer George Gauley, Editor Iain Boyd, Executive Producer Kerry Hammond, in association with the Scottish Government In this episode Tiffany Mactagga...

This week the Rural Roundup is bringing you the latest in our series of six diversified farm businesses across Scotland, asking them about their journeys, the conversations they had along the way, and the decisions they had to make. This week we’re going to hear the Story of Lindsay Robertson from Long Island Retreats. A woman who invites Shetland ponies into her home was perhaps always destined t...

In this podcast we will hear from Michael Shannon from Damn Delicious. Michael tells us his story from working in the seed business to where he is today running his mixed farm and has diversified his business to include Damn Delicious which direct sells his homegrown produce. Michael talks about his business goals and the influence New Zealand systems had on him and his business. Michael is passio...

Episode #10 – A Cow for the Future. We all think we know a good cow when we see one, but how futureproof is she, and what are the traits the beef industry needs, at an individual cow and herd level to be productive and sustainable? In this episode we hear from agricultural consultant Robert Ramsay about the importance of a range of different features, from tail to temperament, hind legs to horns a...

Welcome back to the Rural Roundup. This show is produced in association with the Scottish Government. On today’s episode Kerry hears from Farm Advisors, Tiffany, George, and Robert to find out about what’s been going on in the agricultural sector and Phil Knott, Vice Chair of the Scotland Nature Friendly Farming Network tells us what’s on his desk. 00:42- Rural Roundup 19:26 – What’s coming up – e...

Welcome to CropCast, your go to podcast for all the latest information on arable crops. Each month, SAC advisor, Tiffany Mactaggart will be joined by a range of industry experts, bringing you timely updates to help you make decisions in the field. Producer George Gauley, Editor Iain Boyd, Executive Producer Kerry Hammond, in association with the Scottish Government In this episode Tiffany Mactagga...

This week the Rural Roundup is bringing you something a little different, we spoke to six diversified farm businesses across Scotland, asking them about their journeys, the conversations they had along the way, and the decisions they had to make. This week we’re going to hear the Story of Laura Beck, from The Pawpark. The Pawpark is an exclusive use dog playpark located just outside Hawick in the...

*Content Warning: This episode discusses themes of suicide and may not be suitable for all listeners* Mary-Jane Lawrie talks to Nigel Owens, a Welsh former international rugby union referee, who retired in December 2020 after a 17-year career. He currently holds the world record for the most test matches refereed and is one of five international referees listed as professional within the Welsh Rug...