Scotland's Farm Advisory Service Podcast

Scotland's Farm Advisory Service Podcast

Scotland’s Farm Advisory Service is funded by the Scottish Government. Our podcast covers a range of topics which help support your farm or croft to be more profitable and sustainable. read less
BusinessBusiness

Episodes

In Conversation With... - Malting Matters
25-04-2024
In Conversation With... - Malting Matters
Welcome to the first episode of In Conversation With… hosted this month by Principal Consultant Mark Bowsher-Gibbs. This show is produced in association with the Scottish Government. On today’s episode Mark is joined by Gary Catto (Head of Merchanting at Scotgrain Agriculture, part of Bairds Malt Ltd) and Robin Barron (General Manager at East of Scotland Farmers). They provide business insights and discuss grain marketplace, how the last 12 months have been, grain quality, supply and demand and what does 2024 look like as a trading environment.   Episode Timestamps  00.00 Introduction – background and business operations 04:26 Increasing demand for malting barley 05:15 Steps in the supply chain 06:29 Global whisky sales and investment at malting level 08:29 Procuring grain and how a cooperative works  09:52 Grain varieties 10:33 Current planting situation and growers aommitments 11:30 Grain storage and movement throughout the year 15:10 Do end users drive when processing occurs and tonnage targets? 17:39 Dealing with variable grain quality 20:42 Expectations for 2024 23:14 New varieties on the horizon 26:33 Supply chain – priorities for the next 24 months 30:29 Lower carbon barley 33.01 Next month – Kirsten Williams discusses sheep health and welfare FAS Resources https://www.fas.scot/crops-soils/  www.fas.scot/problem-solver/all-arable/  https://www.fas.scot/article/agribusiness-news-april-2023-cereals-and-oilseeds/ Other Resources  www.scotgrain.co.uk  www.bairds-malt.co.uk  www.eosf.co.uk  https://feeds.captivate.fm/fas-in-conversation-with/For more information, visit www.FAS.scot Twitter: @FASScot Facebook: @FASScot National Advice Hub Phone: 0300 323 0161 Email: advice@fas.scot Credits:Hosted by Mark Bowsher-Gibbs  Guests; Gary Catto (Bairds Malt) & Robin Barron (East of Scotland Farmers) Produced by Heather Stuart Edited by Cameron Waugh Executive Producer Kerry Hammond
Rural Roundup - Water, Water Everywhere and Far too Much to Do
17-04-2024
Rural Roundup - Water, Water Everywhere and Far too Much to Do
Welcome back to the Rural Round-up hosted by me, Kerry Hammond. This show is produced in association with the Scottish Government. On today’s episode I’m joined by George Chalmers, Robert Ramsay and Tiffany Stephenson who discuss the recent bout of wet weather, and the implications of this on our agricultural businesses. We also talk about beef enterprise efficiencies. I’m later joined by Sascha Grierson, Principal Consultant at SAC Consulting and Project Lead for the Scottish Farm Business Survey, commissioned by the Scottish Government. Sascha tells us the latest findings from the Scottish & Farm Business Survey, and provides some figures for industry performance. If you want to sign up for the farm business survey please email Sascha.grierson@sac.co.uk FAS Resources Stock Talk - Performance in Beef Herds | Information helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot) CropCast - Spring Fertiliser Applications | Information helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot) Whole Farm Benchmarks Tool 2022-23 | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot) Other Resources  Agricultural Reform Route Map (ruralpayments.org) Supporting documents - Scottish farm business income: annual estimates 2022-2023 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)  For more information, visit www.FAS.scot Twitter: @FASScot Facebook: @FASScot  National Advice Hub Phone: 0300 323 0161 Email: advice@fas.scot
Agribusiness News April 2024: A Spotlight on Straw & Muck, Scottish Sheep Meat, Why you should Invest in your Vet and Future Proofing your Retirement
10-04-2024
Agribusiness News April 2024: A Spotlight on Straw & Muck, Scottish Sheep Meat, Why you should Invest in your Vet and Future Proofing your Retirement
Along with our regular monthly updates on policy briefs, arable, beef, sheep and milk, In this edition we are also bringing you sector overviews on straw & muck and Scottish sheep meat. We will also be bringing you news on why you should invest in your vet and future proofing your retirement. Show Notes  00.45:- News in Brief 02.43:- Policy Briefs - Spring Budget, New Bills, Farm Business Survey results 2022/23 07.00:- Arable- Will crops be keeping us cozy in the future? 14.17:- Wet weather tempering demand for grazing store cattle  16.16:- Sheep - Global events bolstering UK lamb price. 19.22:- Sector Focus – Straw & muck star players in an increasingly cyclical economy. 22.22 :-Milk - Volumes rising but demand remains sluggish. 27.11:- Sector focus – Scottish sheep meat – simply Baa-rilliant ! 32.29:- Inputs - Why you should invest in your vet 38.21:- Management Matters - Future Proofing your Retirement FAS Resources Agribusiness News April 2024 | Information helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)Other Links: Land Maintenance Form Rural Payments and Services website The new Land Reform (Scotland) Bill Scottish Farm Business Survey New Agricultural Wages Order Bioenergy 12 week consultation period Tolerable and Repairing Standards Energy Performance Certificate Jennifer Galloway on Jennifer.galloway@sac.co.uk and Tel 01776 702649  For more information, visit www.FAS.scot Twitter: @FASScot Facebook: @FASScot  National Advice Hub Phone: 0300 323 0161 Email: advice@fas.scot
Natural Capital - Biodiversity Net Gain
29-03-2024
Natural Capital - Biodiversity Net Gain
Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is an approach that ensures habitats for wildlife are left in ameasurably better state than they were before development. In England, BNG is mandatory;developers must demonstrate and deliver an increase in biodiversity followingtheir development of 10%. In the last episode of this series, we hear from ecological consultant and future host ofthis podcast, Harry Fisher. We discuss his experience of BNG and how it works,including biodiversity metrics, valuing nature, opportunities for Scotland and whathe is looking forward to as the future host of Natural Capital. If you have an idea for future episodes, or want to provide feedback on the series, we wouldlove to hear from you. Visit: https://www.fas.scot/sounds-comments-and-suggestions/ Host Rachel Smillie, Producer Iain Boyd, Executive Producer Kerry Hammond, Editor RossMackenzie.Related FAS resources:  FAS Biodiversity: https://www.fas.scot/environment/biodiversity/ Previous Natural Capital episodes: https://www.fas.scot/sounds/natural-capital/ Emerging biodiversity markets in Scotland, a source of alternative funding: https://www.fas.scot/article/emerging-biodiversity-markets-in-scotland-a-source-of-alternative-funding/ Other Related Resources:Understanding biodiversity net gain: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/understanding-biodiversity-net-gain Defra statutory biodiversity metric tools and guides: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statutory-biodiversity-metric-tools-and-guides Research into approaches to measuring biodiversity in Scotland: https://www.gov.scot/publications/research-approaches-measuring-biodiversity-scotland/ Timestamps:Intro to episode and our new host Harry: 0:00 – 5:10What is BNG and its use: 5:11 – 13:13Actions to increase biodiversity: 13:14 – 19:12Impact and use of BNG on farms:  19:13 – 25:10Defra tool, metrics and valuing nature: 25:11 – 33:43
Rural Roundup - Trees of the Gaelic World : BIRCH (mini-series)
15-03-2024
Rural Roundup - Trees of the Gaelic World : BIRCH (mini-series)
Welcome back to the Rural Round-up hosted by me, Kerry Hammond. This show is produced in association with the Scottish Government. This episode is part of a spotlight mini-series titled Trees of the Gaelic World. This episode is all about Birch and will explore the Gaelic language and lore surrounding the species with scholar Dr Mìcheal Newton, and advice from Viv Halcrow from The Woodland Trust on the best conditions for the species, and how to manage or establish Birch on our land in the current day. You can find three more episodes in this series on the Rural Roundup Podcast, we also cover, Yew, Oak and Scot’s Pine.  Dr Mìcheal Newton was awarded a Ph.D. in Celtic Studies from the University of Edinburgh in 1998 for his dissertation The Tree in Scottish Gaelic Literature and Tradition.  Music Credit: Our sincere thanks go to composer David Bertrand for providing the folk music interludes in this episode. https://www.davidbertrandmusic.com/ Resources  Tree Planting Advice - Plant Trees - Woodland Trust Michael S Newton - Academia.edu  Home (hiddenglenfolk.org)http://woodlandcrofts.org/?page_id=552    https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/publications/2023/01/trees-for-the-crofting-community/ https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Celebrating-Birch-by-Greg-Wright/9781565233072 https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Birch-by-Anna-Lewington/9781789140118   For more information, visit www.FAS.scot Twitter: @FASScot Facebook: @FASScot National Advice Hub Phone: 0300 323 0161 Email: advice@fas.scot
Agribusiness News March 2024: A spotlight on forestry, how the changing climate affects Scottish farms, optimising grassland management and fertiliser usage & costs
07-03-2024
Agribusiness News March 2024: A spotlight on forestry, how the changing climate affects Scottish farms, optimising grassland management and fertiliser usage & costs
Along with our regular monthly updates on policy briefs, arable, beef, sheep and milk, In this edition we are also bringing you sector overviews on forestry and how the changing climate affects Scottish farms. We will also be bringing you news on optimising grassland management and fertiliser usage & costs.  Show Notes  00.43:-News in Brief 02.38:-Policy Briefs - AECS, energy efficiency standards, visitors levy. 07.18:-Arable- Increased cost of shipped grain imports, tighter domestic cereal supply.. 11.47:-Beef - Demand for finished cattle, straw shortage. 15.27:-Sheep - Smaller 2024 flock keep prices high. 18.56:- Sector Focus – Forestry – updates to FGS and timber markets. 23.02 :-Milk - Characteristics of top performing dairy farms, prices update. 27.22:- Sector focus – How will changing climate affect Scottish farms? 32.06:- Management Matters - Optimising grassland management. 35.34:- Input costs - Fertiliser cost and usage update. Related FAS Resources https://www.fas.scot/publication/agribusiness-news-march-2024/  Other Links: National good food nation plan Rural Payments Website Delivering Net Zero for Scotland’s Buildings Proposals for a Heat in Buildings Bill: Consultation Briefing Note 45- December 2023 Briefing Note 46- February 2024 Timber Price Indices from Forest Research Characteristics of top performing farms in the UK 2024-dairy.pdf For more information, visit www.FAS.scot Twitter: @FASScot Facebook:
Natural Capital - Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS)
29-02-2024
Natural Capital - Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS)
Are you looking for funding for projects to promote conservation and tackle climate change? In this episode of Natural Capital we discuss Scotland's Agri-Environment and Climate Scheme (AECS). AECS is the main mechanism used to support farmers wanting to implement sustainable land management practices such as improving water quality, managing flood risk or mitigating and adapting to climate change. We discuss what AECS has to offer with consultants Dr Paul Chapman and Alex Pirie to find out everything about AECS, how to apply and the opportunities it presents to create, restore and enhance natural capital assets.  Host Rachel Smillie, Producer Iain Boyd, Executive Producer Kerry Hammond, Editor Ross Mackenzie Related FAS resources:   FAS Biodiversity: https://www.fas.scot/environment/biodiversity/  FAS Specialist Advice: https://www.fas.scot/specialist-advice/  Thrill of the hill: https://www.fas.scot/sounds/thrill-of-the-hill/  Other Related Resources: Woodland Trust MOREhedges: https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/plant-trees/trees-for-landowners-and-farmers/morehedges  Woodland Trust MOREwoods: https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/plant-trees/trees-for-landowners-and-farmers/morewoods/  Nature restoration fund: https://www.nature.scot/funding-and-projects/scottish-government-nature-restoration-fund-nrf  Rural Payments AECS: https://www.ruralpayments.org/topics/all-schemes/agri-environment-climate-scheme/   Timecodes:  What is AECS and how it has developed 2:26 – 11:16  Alternative funding and collaboration 11:17 – 15:17 The application process 15:18 – 19:20  What’s included in this year's AECS 19:21 - 26:08 Deadlines, useful info and advice for new applicants 30:28 - 35:07