Scotland's Farm Advisory Service Podcast Scotland's Farm Advisory Service Podcast

Welcome back to the Rural Roundup 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 & Tiffany Stephenson who chat about the census, thinking about silage and the ECS organics deadline, and I’m later joined by Eleanor Kay from Scottish Land & Estates who talks about their theme of resilience this year. We discuss everything from their organisational strategy, right through to how land-owners can take advantage of the right opportunities at the right time.  
FAS Resources 
https://www.fas.scot/downloads/feed-and-forage-factsheet/ 
Integrated Land Management Plans (ILMPs) | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot) 
Specialist Advice | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot) 

Other Resources  
Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (ruralpayments.org) 
https://www.ruralpayments.org/news-events/agricultural-census-2024.html 
https://www.scottishlandandestates.co.uk/ 
Scottish Land & Estates | Musselburgh | Facebook 
Natural_Capital_Toolkit_Open_Version.docx (live.com) 

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot 
Twitter: @FASScot 
Facebook: @FASScot 
 
National Advice Hub 
Phone: 0300 323 0161 
Email: advice@fas.scot

In this episode Tiffany Stephenson is joined by David Brown, an Environmental Consultant at SAC Consulting to discuss pollinators, beneficial insects and biodiversity on arable farms.  
Cropcast is your go to podcast for all the latest information on arable crops. Each month, SAC advisor, Tiffany Stephenson 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 Cameron Waugh, Executive Producer Kerry Hammond, in association with the Scottish Government. 
Linked FAS Resources 
How to increase wild pollinators on your farm | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)
Improving Biodiversity on Your Farm | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)
FAS – Specialist advice – Funding for a biodiversity, habitat and landscape management plan of your farm 
Specialist Advice | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

I'm Mary-Jane Lawrie, and in this episode I’m joined Claire Taylor.  Claire is a journalist and describes herself as an agricultural communicator.  She has recently finished her travels as part of her Nuffield Farming Scholarship and is now in the process of compiling all the information from her travels.  We talk about her career and how that led her to applying for the scholarship, what she learned from it, and how we, as farmers, can work together to engage with the public to tell positive farming stories. She shares with us some of her amazing experiences from her travels and gives us a real insight into what farming is like in other countries.
Warning: This episode contains themes of political unrest, suicide, gender-based violence and murder. Listen with caution.
Resources
Nuffield Farming Scholarships - https://www.nuffieldscholar.org/ 
Claire Taylor Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-taylor-4135714a/
For more information, visit www.FAS.scot
Twitter: @FASScot
Facebook: @FASScot
National Advice Hub
Phone: 0300 323 0161
Email: advice@fas.scot

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 new tiers for agriculture support and carbon calculators. We will also be bringing you news on forage first sucklers and land registration in Scotland.
Show Notes
0:43 News in Brief
2:47 Policy Briefs - Fair Work First, Antimicrobial Resistance & Visitor Levy
7:36 Arable- Barley area up, rapeseed area down.
12:57 Beef - Prices at Steak – fire up the BBQ.
16:18 Sheep - Lamb having the ride of its life.
19:30 Sector Focus – New Tiers for Agricultural Support.
23:05 Milk - Mind your minerals.
28:31 Sector focus – Carbon Calculators
32:30 Inputs - Forage First Sucklers
37:36 Management Matters - Land Registration in Scotland
FAS Resources
Agribusiness News June 2024 | Information helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)
Other Links:
Fair Work First guidance.
AMR National Action Plan
Phasing out cages for laying hens consultation
Scottish Government Capital Grant Scheme Survey
Vision for Agriculture
Agriculture and Rural Communities Bill
Spring Short Term Outlook
Scope 3emissions reporting
‘Harmonisation of Carbon Accounting Tools for Agriculture
New Forage First Suckler Systems guide. Email livestock@sac.co.uk
Land Register
For more information, visit www.FAS.scot
Twitter: @FASScot
Facebook: @FASScot
National Advice Hub
Phone: 0300 323 0161
Email: advice@fas.scot
 

Gary Campbell is our guest this week. Gary is the new Chief Executive of the Crofting Commission, having just started his role in January this year. With a background working in both the public and private sectors he talks us through his previous roles, his own family crofting story, what he is planning to achieve in his new CE role and his vision for the Crofting Commission. 
Related FAS Resources: 
Crofting & Smallholders Guide to Organisations
Succession Planning – Crofting | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)
Crofting Legislation | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

In this podcast we hear from James Biggar who has drastically changed his farming system in recent years. His main aim is to reduce the cost of production with his beef herd which includes the use of forage crops and deferred grazing with bales to outwinter cows. 120 of his cows are kept outside 365 days a year. James talks about the importance of options and having a Plan B in case of a crop failure in his system, this is why he spreads the risk by growing different types of forage crops and has the bale grazing (deferred grazing with bale silage) which breaks up the winter into 3 parts. Lorna speaks about soil health and how important it is setting up for growing a forage crop including the factors you need to think about beforehand. James talks about how he has learnt a lot from going to events and approaching farmers with a similar system.
Related Resources
Chapelton Farm - Pedigree Beef Sires
Event on 14th June 2024: Forage First Systems at Corbieton Farm | Events helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)