In Conversation With... - Malting Matters Scotland's Farm Advisory Service Podcast

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