Scotland's Farm Advisory Service Podcast

Thrill of the Hill is back! Episode #27 – Renewed Interest. In this episode we hear from Senior Renewables Consultant John Farquhar about the impacts of the Ukrainian conflict, how that is changing mindsets around energy security here in Scotland, including a discussion on the most popular renewable options for the uplands, costs around construction and some of the pitfalls to watch out for! Catch...

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. In this episode Tiffany Mactaggart is joined by senior SAC agricultural consultant Donald Dunbar and Dr Robin Walker, a senior researcher focusing on lo...

This fortnight's roundup features news updates on the Basic Payment Scheme, avian influenza and agri-environment schemes. Janette Sutherland is back with the second instalment of her personal development bookclub. We learn about lead poisoning and its causes, calving heifers and finally, we speak with Tom Rust, a land agent from Bell Ingram and ask him what's on his desk. 00:00 Rural Roundup with...

Catherine Collins, at Croft 11, Clovullin near Fort William, shares how mentoring through FAS has given her the right start to crofting and helped her integrate into the community. Catherine tells how her long-term interest in creating species rich meadows has finally come to fruition and how mentoring helped her create a strategy for developing her own meadow and connected her with the right peop...

This fortnight's roundup features updates on the Cereal, Wool, and Pig market. As well as a warning about increased tick burdens in sheep and cattle. Janette Sutherland is back with the first instalment of her personal development bookclub, and we speak with Agricalc and Agricultural consultant Anna Sellars to find out more about her and what’s on her desk. Show Notes 0:24 – Rural Roundup with Tif...

Growing Grass - How can we make the best use of our grassland? What is the difference between rotational, mob, deferred and set stocking? What are the benefits of liming? For many crofters, low soil pH and rushes reduce the productivity of grassland. In this episode, Poppy Frater discusses how to control rushes, increase growth of better grasses, reseeding, soil health and fertilisers.

Thrill of the Hill is back! Season 3 #2 – Spawning Success. In this episode we hear from Ayrshire River Trust’s Stuart Brabbs and Struan Candlish about the quality of Scotland’s water environment, factors impacting this quality, the successes of the Nature Restoration Fund and the need for a holistic approach to managing riparian habitats. Farming & Water Scotland is a joint initiative between...

*NOTE* *NOTE* This podcast was published in April 2022. To keep up to date with the latest in the livestock industry, subscribe to our Business and Policy and Livestock newsletters. More information can be found at www.fas.scot/newsletters In this podcast we hear from SAC Consultant George Chalmers, who will discuss current issues, opportunities and options for pig producers. George’s consultancy...

Peter Eccles is a farm manager from East Lothian. He started out as an agricultural consultant with SAC, before taking on the farm manager job at Saughland Farm, Midlothian. There he changed the farming system quite dramatically and went on to win the Farmers Weekly farm manager of the year and farmer of the year, and AgriScot Sheep farm of the year. He recently moved jobs to Dalmunzie Estate, and...

With many Crofters across Scotland currently putting their bulls out, it is a good time to consider your current bull management practices. From pre-breeding examinations and diet, to the Crofting Cattle Improvement Scheme, Crofting Matters discusses key points for Crofters to be thinking about with Sarah Balfour. Sarah works out of the SAC Elgin office and is a Beef Consultant for the SAC Livesto...

Welcome to CropCast, your go to podcast for all the latest information on arable crops. Each month, 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 Mactaggart is joined...

2017 saw the start of Scotland’s Pollinator Strategy, now in 2022 and half way through a ten-year plan, the role and importance of pollinators has only become more significant. Pollinators play an important role in the provision of ecosystem services across the country, impacting on biodiversity and productive farming in equal measure. We talk to The Bumblebee Conservation Trust’s Katy Malone abou...

This fortnight's roundup features information on The Official Controls (plant protection products) Register 2020, The 2022 Food Processing Marketing and Co-operation grant, and some timely information on the agri-environmental climate scheme inspections taking place for 2023 applications. We hear from Janette Sutherland about the new FAS personal development book club, kicking off soon, and hear f...

*NOTE* This podcast was published in May 2022. To keep up to date with the latest in the dairy industry, subscribe to our Business and Policy, Dairy and Livestock newsletters. More information can be found at www.fas.scot/newsletters In this podcast we hear from SAC Dairy Specialist Lorna MacPherson, Kite Consulting’s Senior Dairy Specialist David Keiley and SRUC Veterinary Investigation Officer C...

With many Crofters across Scotland currently putting their bulls out, it is a good time to consider your current bull management practices. From pre-breeding examinations and diet, to the Crofting Cattle Improvement Scheme, Crofting Matters discusses key points for Crofters to be thinking about with Sarah Balfour. Sarah works out of the SAC Elgin office and is a Beef Consultant for the SAC Livesto...

The Rural Roundup is Scotland's Farm Advisory Service's regular Podcast, hosted by Kerry Hammond, featuring a roundup of the latest news, information and opinions from some of our other Podcast show hosts. Listen to find out what new information, events and resources are available through the FAS website, and get to know someone working in Industry with our short segment "What's on your desk?" For...

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...

Consider sooner rather than later where integrated farm forestry could benefit your agricultural business, and seek professional, impartial advice at the earliest opportunity- it takes time to develop a new woodland creation, and with high demand/limited resources in market at present, it’s worth starting this process as early as possible. Farm forestry doesn’t have to be about planting whole farm...

*NOTE* This podcast was published in April 2022. To keep up to date with the latest in the beef industry, subscribe to our Business and Policy and Livestock newsletters. More information can be found at www.fas.scot/newsletters In this podcast we hear from SAC Beef Specialist Lesley Wylie and SRUC Veterinary Investigation Officer Timothy Geraghty who discuss current issues, opportunities and optio...

*NOTE* This podcast was published in April 2022. To keep up to date with the latest in the arable industry, subscribe to our Business and Policy and Crops & Soils newsletters. More information can be found at www.fas.scot/newsletters Welcome to Cropcast, bringing you all the on crops and soils. Each month, SAC Consulting advisor, Tiffany Mactaggart will be joined by a range of industry experts...

Achieving net zero is one of the key targets of Governments and companies around the world, with targets of achieving it by 2030-50 depending on the company or country. With these targets set it is now time for these countries and companies to begin to act, government will use policy and companies will try to influence their supply chains. But what is net zero in terms of Scottish agriculture? Wha...

There is much discussion across social media on feeding pigs natural diets to improve perceived welfare, improve meat quality and reduce overall feeding costs. It is important to maintain a balanced diet and using alternative feeds this can be at risk.

Inflation in costs is a major challenge for sheep producers across the country.  Optimising livestock performance will never have been more important than it is this year.  In this podcast, Robert Ramsay talks to SRUC vet Fiona Crowden about spring management of sheep, giving key information to maximise flock performance and ensure 2022 is as profitable as it can be. 

2017 saw the start of Scotland’s Pollinator Strategy, now in 2022 and half way through a ten-year plan, the role and importance of pollinators has only become more significant. Pollinators play an important role in the provision of ecosystem services across the country, impacting on biodiversity and productive farming in equal measure.  In episode twenty-five of the Thrill of the Hill series, the...

In the latest of our livestock monthly podcasts episodes hosted by Agricultural Consultant Robert Ramsay of SAC Consulting, we talk beef with Veterinary Investigation Officer, Tim Geraghty of SRUC Veterinary Services and Livestock Nutritionist, Karen Stewart of SAC Consulting.  (Recorded February 2022)