Scotland's Farm Advisory Service Podcast

A brief summary of this episode

A brief summary of this episode

As linear landscape features, hedges bring with them an array of benefits, whether it is in the context of climate change, biodiversity decline or improved productivity. However, these benefits are reliant on good overall management. In this podcast, a part of the Hedges – Cultivating, Cutting & Carbon Capture series the Farm Advisory Service (FAS) talks to Nigel Adams, Countryside Management...

2020 has been a year that has seen all industries and sectors within agriculture have to adapt to a new normal, and this has extended to shows and large events. AgriScot is a staple in the Scottish agricultural calendar, an opportunity to showcase new and innovative technologies, promote good practice and highlight quality livestock. In this podcast the Farm Advisory Service sits down for a dialog...

In this episode, we speak to beef specialist Robert Ramsay about the practicalities of adapting agriculture to climate change. Focussing on livestock systems we look at the challenges livestock farmers may face in the future and how to make their businesses more resilient to a changing climate.

Building resilient businesses and identifying the weaknesses within your business is crucial as Scotland moves into a period of great uncertainty. At a time when farmers are being asked to balance the demands of climate change and biodiversity decline, they must also contend with market instability and change public perceptions of farming. In the first of two podcast for the Meeting Market Demand...

What’s stopping You?  In this podcast Jen Craig farmer @sheepfarmer782, NSA Scotland Chairwoman and NFUS Clydesdale branch Chairwoman tells us about her journey getting involved with Agri-Politics.  We discuss her farming life and balancing this with her committee roles.  We discuss the biodiversity and community benefits that hill farming brings.  

In this episode, Daniel Stout of SAC Consulting speaks with Harriet Wishart from SRUC's Kirkton & Auchtertyre Research Farm about the different EID and data recording technology now available and how they can be implemented on farm to make more informed breeding and management decisions to improve farm efficiency and profitability, whilst making cross compliance easier and reducing labour requ...

“In this 2-part mini-series of podcasts based on Animal Health & Welfare we are speaking with the head of dairy, Duncan Forbes from the Agri-Epi Centre.   This is the second podcast in the series, focusing on the advancements in technology and how the use of sensors, cameras and remote diagnostics are being used to help with early detection of illness and disease in all cattle.”

All businesses must strive to become more efficient. This means making better use data that you have on the farm, whether it be soil data, crop data or livestock data. Information is key to moving your business forward.   This podcast looks at what data you can extract from your livestock records whether cattle or sheep with some simple targets to help make your livestock enterprises more efficien...

In this 2-part mini-series of podcasts based on Animal Health & Welfare we are speaking with the head of dairy, Duncan Forbes from the Agri-Epi Centre.  In podcast 1, Duncan explains the unique features of the South West Dairy Development Centre and how the great work that is being carried out is benefitting not only the dairy industry but the wider beef sector. The 2nd podcast is focusing on...

Agricultural Consultant Malcolm Macdonald spoke to beef and sheep specialist Robert Ramsay and SRUC Vet Colin Mason about livestock health planning over the winter. Colin talked through what issues he has seen coming into the SAC vet labs and what to be on the look out for. Fluke, pneumonia, lungworm, and host of other topics are covered.

A brief summary of this episode

SAC Consultant Ashleigh Forster chats to Carianne MacDonald of Ardbhan Highland Cattle, North Uist and crofter Donald Macsween of Air An Lot, Lewis. Carianne and Donald both use social media to tell their farming stories. In this podcast we talk about how they both started to use social media and how they feel it has benefitted their businesses today. Listen in to hear about their experiences and...

In this podcast, Andrew Farquharson, Partner at Finzean Estate Partnership in Banchory, shares his experience of applying for a carbon audit to identify efficiencies for the beef and cropping business.   In the recording, Andrew gives his thoughts on the process of applying for support, what he got out of the subsequent report and his aspirations for the future of the business. Of which include re...

The third and final podcast in our fodder beet for livestock series.  This podcast focuses on the health of livestock grazing beet and we are again joined by Dr Jim Gibbs.  This technical podcast discusses acidosis, clostridial diseases, soil intake, phosphorus deficiency, protein deficiency and choke of cattle and sheep.  

To discuss this question, SAC Consultant Poppy Frater speaks with Kev Bevan, a former SAC Consulting colleague who specialises in farm business management, policy and market analysis.  Kev highlights the main opportunities and threats to west coast farmers.  He touches on the risks posed by Brexit, the increasing importance of environmental influences, potential residual effects of COVID-19 to the...

In this podcast SAC Consultant Malcolm Macdonald caught up with Charley and Andrea Walker from Barnside Farm. They discussed their farming system, why they became organic, rotational grazing and mob grazing. Charley and Andrea tell us why these practices work for them and how they got to the business to where it is now. 

Malcolm Macdonald speaks to SAC beef consultants Robert Ramsay and Sarah Balfour about managing straw supplies this winter. With straw availability varying across the country this podcast discusses how farmers can manage straw usage through minimising waste, reducing straw demand and using an alternative. 

SAC Consultant Mary-Jane Lawrie speaks with Hannah Jackson, who has become something of a farming celebrity. Hannah has a wealth of advice to offer new entrants, and tells her story about how she found her way into a career in farming, stepping away from her MA in Marine Biology after witnessing a lamb being born, and training their family dog to be a sheepdog to get started. This podcast is a par...

Interview with John Matheson, owner of a 300-acre, 10 year limited duration tenancy farm based in Aberdeenshire. John has over 20+ years experience in farm management and currently specialises in breeding suckler cows, breeding calves and growing spring and feeding barley. In this podcast, John describes how he became a FAS mentor and what skills and advice he’s been able to pass on to the new ent...

How can beneficial insects help you? What insects inhabit agricultural land? How can we tweak the balance towards insects that are beneficial to production? Join Dr Paul Chapman, a conservation consultant at SAC, and Dr Lorna Cole SRUC’s agricultural ecologist, as they discuss the important role beneficial insects play in farmland. They will explore the fascinating lifestyles of these insects, how...

The second podcast in our fodder beet for livestock series. Kirsten Williams, SAC Beef and Sheep Consultant is again joined by Dr Jim Gibbs, New Zealand who has had over 12 years’ experience of livestock grazing fodder beet.  This is an extremely nutrient rich crop, but it does have a high sugar load and requires careful management for livestock.   In this podcast we will discuss transition for ea...

We are extremely lucky to be joined by Dr Jim Gibbs, vet, ruminant nutritionist and fodder beet specialist, who has designed fodder beet grazing systems over in New Zealand.  The first in our three part series, he joins SAC Beef and Sheep Consultant, Kirsten Williams, to discuss the history of fodder beet development, the importance of transition onto the nutrient rich crop, calculating yield and...

What is it that makes a farm business successful? And how can we all strive to be more resilient in the face of challenge and change?   George Gauley speaks with Bob Prentice from Downfield farm.  Bob has developed the family run business, adding deer to the enterprises and has grown from there, including converting an old shed into a processing plant.  Bob offers Scotland’s only farm to fork veni...