Scotland's Farm Advisory Service Podcast

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 Diana Garduño Jiménez from Nourish joins us to tell us what’s on their desk, and about their toe health. Show Notes 00:34- Rural Roundup 22:53 - Int...

The incredible transformation of Cairns Farm from hill sheep farm to a gorgeous destination wedding and events venue is a wonderful success story from Caroline Hamilton and her husband, fourth generation farmer Graham. Caroline has three adult children, and whilst none of the three were keen to take on the hill farming aspect of the business, all three were incredibly proud of their home and herit...

Episode #9 – Digging Deep on Soil Carbon. In this episode we hear from Senior Scientific Lead Rachael Ramsay about the scientific consensus around soil carbon, its impact on farm carbon footprints, options to reduce atmospheric carbon and whether soil is the silver bullet in the fight against climate change. There is an increasing awareness of the role of soil, grassland, peatland and atmospheric...

In this podcast we will hear from Nicola Lambe and Claire Morgan-Davies, who are based at SRUC Hill & Mountain Research Centre, Kirkton & Auchtertyre Farms. They talk about the projects they are involved in. One of Nicola’s projects is a breeding program at Kirkton where they are crossbreeding sheep to maximise efficiencies and with the aim of creating a composite breed. Claire is involved...

Welcome back to the Rural Roundup. Happy New Year and a Happy Burns Night from all of us at the Farm Advisory Service! This show is produced in association with the Scottish Government. On today’s episode we will join Farm Advisors, Tiffany, George, and Robert to find out about what’s been going on in the agricultural sector, we bring you an update on some new Farm Advisory Service resources, even...

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 Jock Gibson from Edinvale Farm. Jock is a partner of Edinvale Farms and Managing Director of Macbeth’s Butcher...

Mary-Jane Lawrie talks to Richard and Fiona Lamb of Fordhead Farm, Kippen, about how they have diversified their farming business and how they have adapted to the many challenges that starting new ventures has thrown at them. Richard and Fiona Lamb are the definition of ‘give it a go’. From exiting the Metropolitan Police and dipping toes, (and losing part of a finger) in their entry to farming, F...

In our final episode of the series we are discussing the important financial topics which cover most natural capital projects, including ecosystem markets and green commerce. We discuss potential funding and revenue options for natural capital, and importantly what are the risks and future opportunities for agriculture and landowners in Scotland. Investing in nature can help to improve our environ...

Thrill of the Hill is back! Season 3 #8 – Working for Waders Part II. In this episode we hear from returning guest, Working for Wader's Patrick Laurie, joined this time round by RSPB's Stephen Field, about the importance of our national priority ground nesting wading birds, life through a lense, the importance of predator control and promoting landscape scale conservation efforts. Increasingly rec...

In this fortnight’s edition (recorded in advance of the festive break) Tiffany Mactaggart, is joined by Robert Ramsay and George Chalmers who discuss their farming highlights of 2022, their wishes for the next year, and their new year’s resolutions. Mary-Jane Lawrie joins us on the podcast to tell us more about Agri Culture, one of our sister podcasts. Everyone at the Farm Advisory Service, hopes...

Mary-Jane Lawrie talks to Anna Davies about the importance of great storytelling in agriculture and gets an insider's view from this journalist on how the media could cooperate and celebrate Scotland’s farming successes and the people who create them. FAS Resources https://www.fas.scot/publication/positive-pr-infographic/ https://www.fas.scot/new-entrants/positive-pr/ https://www.fas.scot/publicat...

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...

In this podcast we will hear from Paddy Jack, DLF Business Manager in Scotland. Paddy talks about the pros and cons of different forage crops, clover, and different grazing systems. The importance of growing crops which suit your farm type as well as type of stock grazing it was also discussed. With high input costs involved in keeping stock over the winter, there’s opportunities to outwinter stoc...

This time we are focussing on Arable Natural Capital with John and Louise Seed from Woodend Farming Partnership and Agricultural Consultant Mary-Jane Lawrie, to find out what they are doing on farm and to learn from their combined experiences. Woodend Farming Partnership focusses on arable crops, free-range egg production, renewable energy and conservation, where they take a progressive, evidence-...

We just want to clarify that the AECS Capital, Sustainable Agriculture Grant Scheme (SACGS) and PSF Carbon Audit/Soil Analysis claim deadlines are the 28th February 2023. If you have AECS Capital Items the work for these must be completed by December 31st 2022. In this fortnight’s edition we get the latest news from Tiffany MacTaggart, who is joined by Robert Ramsay and George Chalmers to discuss...

In this fortnight’s edition we get the latest news from Tiffany MacTaggart, who is joined by Robert Ramsay and George Chalmers to discuss what’s happening in the agricultural sector, I (Kerry Hammond) bring you the latest useful resources and events from the Farm Advisory Service, and I talk to Chloe McCulloch, Principal Consultant at SAC Consulting, and Programme Lead for the Farm Advisory Servic...

In this episode Tiffany Mactaggart is joined by David Mathewson from the Scottish government land inspections team, along with Neil Melville, senior Consultant with SAC Consulting, to discuss ecological focus areas (EFA’s). What is the purpose of them? what are the options and how can you make the most of them? Related Resources Greening guidance https://www.ruralpayments.org/topics/all-schemes/ba...

In this water episode of our Natural Capital Series, we discuss seaweed and its wider benefits to the farming community, it’s important ecosystem services and the various uses for seaweed products. We are joined by Rhianna Rees, Seaweed Academy Coordinator at SAMS Enterprise, who is passionate about the growth and expansion of the seaweed industry and its role in a rapidly developing blue economy,...

In this podcast we will hear from Jack Munro, Farm Manager from The Buffalo Farm. The Buffalo Farm run by Steve Mitchell in Kirkcaldy, is the largest Buffalo Farm in Scotland. Jack will tell us about how the buffalo herd got established and the progress and changes they have made along the way, including introduction of the dairy buffalo herd to make mozzarella. Jack also discusses opportunities f...

Thrill of the Hill is back! Season 3 #9 – COP26 One Year On. In this episode we hear from SAC Consulting's Seamus Murphy as we take a look back at Scotland's role in COP26 and review some of the highlights, shortcomings, commitments and missed opportunities from the conference. We also discuss the changing mindsets of farmers in Scotland and how to find common ground with climate marchers and prot...

In this fortnight’s edition we get the latest news from Tiffany MacTaggart, who is joined by Robert Ramsay and George Chalmers to discuss what’s happening in the agricultural sector, I (Kerry Hammond) bring you the latest useful resources and events from the Farm Advisory Service, and I talk to Calum Johnston about some exciting bonus content he has been creating for future Rural Roundup episodes....

In this episode Tiffany Mactaggart is joined by David Ross, a senior Agricultural consultant from SAC consulting along with Audrey Litterick, director of Earthcare Technical, to discuss soil health. What is a healthy soil? What components can be tested and most importantly, what can we do about the results? Related Resources Farm Advisory service (Healthy soils) https://www.fas.scot/article/evalua...

In this fortnight’s edition we get the latest news from Tiffany MacTaggart and are joined by George Chalmers and Robert Ramsay to talk about sheep and beef support schemes and AgriScot. We also get an insight into what’s on Lorna MacPherson's desk. Show Notes 00:20 - Rural Roundup with Tiffany MacTaggart 01:45 –AgriScot with Robert and George 08:20 – Updates from the Farm Advisory Service 10:00 –...

Selling livestock this autumn and winter? We have some wise words from Sarah Balfour on what to think about and how to navigate the auction mart system. This is the time of year for sales of breeding and store cattle and sheep. Sarah and Siobhan discuss the current beef and sheep markets and tips on presentation. Siobhan also speaks to John William Gillies of the North Rasaay Sheep Stock Club, who...