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.

  1. 19h ago

    Agri Culture - Scottish Women in Dairy Network : Tracey Roan & Rebecca Mactaggart

    You are listening to Agri Culture, a podcast that aims to explore the stories of the people that make up our agricultural industry and culture of farming, in Scotland and beyond. In this episode, Mary-Jane Lawrie is joined by Rebecca Mactaggart and Tracey Roan who run the Scottish Women in Dairy network. Tracey initially set up the network after identifying she was not alone in juggling the realities of parenting, working on farm and holding down an off-farm job. This led to creating a space for women in dairy to support each other through life’s daily struggle whilst learning together, sharing knowledge and building a network. Rebecca came on board to reinvigorate the network after a break during Covid. Rebecca is an enthusiastic content creator and uses her self-taught skills and personal experience as a dairy farmer to share their work. They discuss the benefits of a network, specifically for women in dairy, touch on some of the opportunities and difficulties in the sector and tell us what’s ahead. Thanks for joining us for this episode of Agri Culture. If you’d like to find out more about the Scottish Women in Dairy network, check out their website or social media links in the show notes. This episode was presented by Mary-Jane Lawrie, produced by Kerry Hammond and edited by Cameron Waugh, in association with the Scottish Government. Resources: Scottish Women in Dairy Network Scottish Women in Dairy Instagram Scottish Women in Dairy | Facebook For more information, visit www.FAS.scot Twitter: @FASScot Facebook: @FASScot National Advice Hub Phone: 0300 323 0161 Email: advice@fas.scot

    Agri Culture - Scottish Women in Dairy Network : Tracey Roan & Rebecca Mactaggart

  2. Aug 28

    Stock Talk - The Role of Rare Breeds in our Industry

    Welcome to Stock Talk. In this episode James is joined by Alice Lennox from the Rare Breed Survival Trust (RBST). Alice tells us all about what the RBST does and gave us some insight to some of the rare breeds on the ‘at risk’ watchlist. Alice and James discuss the role of these rare breeds including conservation grazing, conservation of livestock genetics and the inclusion of native rare breeds in commercial systems, for example to produce a low input suckler cow that can be outwintered. Resources RBST website:Right breed, Right place, Right system Link to training courses: Conservation Grazing - RBST Email: enquiries@rbst.org.uk For more information, visit www.FAS.scot Facebook: @FASScot National Advice Hub Phone: 0300 323 0161 Email: advice@fas.scot

    Stock Talk - The Role of Rare Breeds in our Industry

  3. Aug 28

    Natural Capital - Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands

    Join us for a conversation with Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands, the not-for-profit initiative is taking a proactive approach to restoring and connecting native woodland across the region. We explore the importance of woodland connectivity, the realities of creating woodland on working farms, and how the Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands and their projects are helping landowners turn good intentions into trees in the ground. Contact: McNabb Laurie - D&G Woodlands Manager Email: mcnabb.laurie@dgwoodlands.org Mobile: 07538 798 837 Harry Fisher - Consultant Email: harry.fisher@sac.co.uk Host Harry Fisher, Producer Iain Boyd, Editor Kieron Sim, Executive Producers Kerry Hammond & Kirstyn Blackwood Key Timestamps: 0:00 – 14:26 Intro to D & G Woodlands and their work 14:26 - 21:18 Their woodlands connectivity project 21:19 - 28:08 Types of woodland creation and the wider benefits 28:09 – End Next steps and how to find out more information Resources: Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands: https://dgwoodlands.org.uk/ Galloway & South Ayrshire Biosphere: https://www.gsabiosphere.org.uk/ Integrating Trees Network: https://www.forestry.gov.scot/integrating-trees-network Tweed Forum: https://tweedforum.org/our-work/projects/borders-tree-grant-scheme/ FAS trees & woodland resources: https://www.fas.scot/crops-soils/farm-woodlands/ FAS Environment: https://www.fas.scot/environment/ For more information, visit www.FAS.scot Twitter: @FASScot Facebook: @FASScot National Advice Hub Phone: 0300 323 0161 Email: advice@fas.scot

    Natural Capital - Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands

  4. Aug 27

    Crofting Matters - “Northmavine: from Tradition to Tomorrow”

    Hello and welcome to Crofting Matters, hosted by Osla Jamwal Fraser where we discuss topics that matter in crofting. For this series, we are bringing you Crofting Matters from Shetland. Today we are looking at traditional crofting practices, Shetland Kale, and how a local development group is working to protect and develop rural life in Northmavine in the North Mainland of Shetland. We’re delighted to welcome Kathleen Anderson, who has been in crofting since her childhood in the 1950s. She now works to preserve traditional crofting practices producing Shetland Kale, Shetland Sheep and Shetland Cattle, usually referred to as kye here. We’re also joined by her daughter in law, Charlotte Anderson, who works as the local project manager for NCDC, which is the Northmavine Community Development Company. If you enjoyed this episode of Crofting Matters please do subscribe to hear the next episode when we’ll be joined by Andrew Thin from the Crofting Commission to take a look at the changes that will be coming soon with the new Crofting Act passing into law. Many thanks to our producer Kerry Hammond, our Editor Keiron Sim, and thanks to you for tuning in. This podcast was produced in association with the Scottish Government. Resources: Kathleen Anderson - Growing up on the Croft - Northmavine Community Development Company Northmavine Community Development Company Polycrub – Storm-Strength Polytunnels Built in Shetland Shetland Kale Seeds l Seeds of Scotland For more information, visit www.FAS.scot Twitter: @FASScot Facebook: @FASScot National Advice Hub Phone: 0300 323 0161 Email: advice@fas.scot

    Crofting Matters - “Northmavine: from Tradition to Tomorrow”

  5. Aug 20

    Thrill of the Hill - Beyond the Hedgerow: Biodiversity Auditing in Scotland

    Biodiversity auditing has become part of the Scottish Governments Whole Farm Plan and discussions around nature conservation are becoming commonplace around the farm table. In today’s episode Alex is joined by senior ecologist Dr Lorna Cole for a broad discussion on the state of Scotlands Nature and where biodiversity auditing fits into the bigger ambitions for nature restoration. Lorna also puts Alex in the hot seat to talk about levels of farmer agreement with habitat classifications. This episode is brought to you by the Farm Advisory Service, presented by Alexander Pirie, produced by Heather Stuart, edited by Kieron Sim, with executive producers Kirstyn Blackwood and Kerry Hammond. Timestamps 01.48 Introducing Dr Lorna Cole 02.36 Current state of nature in Scotland 07.19 How significant is agricultural land in combating biodiversity decline 13.24 Biodiversity auditing 19.40 Completing your habitat map 23.54 Alex – level of agreement between farmers and consultants in regard to habitat identification for the Whole Farm Plan 29.37 NatureScot Farm Biodiversity Scotland App 34.30 Submitting your biodiversity audit 36.28 Biodiversity audit – where to start 40.22 The value in Biodiversity Auditing 43.05 An opportunity to demonstrate the contribution agriculture is already making to nature 44.15 Lorna’s take home message Resources State of Nature Scotland - 2023 report NatureScot - biodiversity app Whole Farm Plan full guidance Events | Farm Advisory Service Improving Biodiversity on Your Farm | Helping farmers in Scotland Increasing Biodiversity to Build Resilient Farms | Helping farmers in Scotland Using technology to record biodiversity | Helping farmers in Scotland Lorna.Cole@sac.co.uk For more information, visit www.FAS.scot Facebook: @FASScot National Advice Hub Phone: 0300 323 0161 Email: advice@fas.scot

    Thrill of the Hill - Beyond the Hedgerow: Biodiversity Auditing in Scotland

  6. Aug 19

    Rural Roundup - Planning for Autumn

    Welcome back to the Rural Round-up. On today’s episode George Chalmers and Tiffany Stephenson discuss Bluetongue, updates to greening guidance for 2027 and updates to the Future Farming Investment Scheme (FFIS), as well as other key considerations for Autumn 2026. Timestamps How are things in the borders? 00:27 Bluetongue 03:30 Greening guidance for 2027 06:25 Future Farming Investment Scheme (FFIS) 16:00 EFA Hedge cutting guidance 22:17 NVZ closed period dates 23:46 Taking stock of what you have before winter feeding. 27:11 Soil sampling 28:49 Managing grass for tupping 29:47 FAS Resources Farming in Water Scarcity https://www.fas.scot/news/farming-in-water-scarcity/ Other Resources Bluetongue Latest updates can be found here: Gov.uk latest BTV updates Bluetongue Clinical signs in sheep are usually more pronounced than in cattle but can be very variable. A range of photos can be found here: https://ahdb.org.uk/clinical-signs-of-bluetongue. Suspect cases should be reported to APHA Scotland on 03000 600 704. The Ruminant Health and Welfare website has various Bluetongue resources for vets and farmers including a vaccination decision maker tool (Battle Bluetongue vaccination decision maker tool) FFIS 2026 Update https://www.ruralpayments.org/news-events/future-farming-investment-scheme-2026-announced.html Greening guidance 2027: https://www.ruralpayments.org/topics/all-schemes/basic-payment-scheme/basic-payment-scheme-full-guidance/greening---bps/greening-guidance/ For more information, visit www.FAS.scot Twitter: @FASScot Facebook: @FASScot National Advice Hub Phone: 0300 323 0161 Email: advice@fas.scot

    Rural Roundup - Planning for Autumn

  7. Aug 18

    CropCast - Using Insects to make Fertiliser

    In this episode Tiffany is joined by Arthy Surendran a Lecturer from Queens University Belfast to discuss her post-doctoral research, which looks at feeding food waste to insects with the aim of producing high value protein and fertiliser (Frass) as a by-product. Tiffany is also joined by Lachlan Jones, an Agricultural consultant from SAC Consulting, who is using Frass in SRUC crop field trials. Listen to this episode to learn about using insects to produce protein and the potential benefits of using the by-product (Frass) as a potential fertiliser and biostimulant. This episode was presented by Tiffany Stephenson, produced by George Gauley, edited by Cameron Waugh, with executive producers Kirstyn Blackwood & Kerry Hammond. Timestamps 00:49 Introduction to Arthy 01:06 Introduction to Lachlan 01:32 Introduction to FRASS 03:00 What is FRASS? 04:57 What is chitin? 07:50 How can chitin prime a plant against disease? 09:37 Micronutrient value of FRASS? 14:54 What is the organic matter value of FRASS? 15:41 How much protein is produced alongside the FRASS? 19:14 What is the pH of FRASS? 22:00 Potential negatives of using FRASS? 24:00 SRUC Field trials using FRASS 30:00 Where does it fit into Agriculture? Resources Positive early results in Sustainable control of clubroot https://www.fas.scot/article/positive-early-results-in-sustainable-control-of-clubroot-using-chitinous-food-waste/ Arthy Surendran on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arthy-surendran-123408153/ For more information, visit www.FAS.scot Facebook: @FASScot National Advice Hub Phone: 0300 323 0161 Email: advice@fas.scot

    CropCast - Using Insects to make Fertiliser

  8. Aug 12

    Agri Culture - Livestock FarmHER Creating Content: Nicola Wordie

    You are listening to Agri Culture, a podcast that aims to explore the stories of the people that make up our agricultural industry and culture of farming, in Scotland and beyond. In this episode, Mary-Jane Lawrie is joined by Nicola Wordie an award-winning livestock farmer and social media creator from Aberdeenshire. She farms in partnership with her Dad on a mixed upland sheep and beef farm and shares her day-to-day farming life across social media platforms and a YouTube channel under the name Livestock FarmHER. Her success in content creation recently led her to win the Fordyce Maxwell award for agricultural communications. Thanks for joining us for this episode of Agri Culture. If you’d like to find out more about Nicola, follow her social channels or watch her YouTube videos you can find links in the show notes. This episode was presented by Mary-Jane Lawrie, produced by Kerry Hammond and edited by Cameron Waugh, in association with the Scottish Government. Resources: FarmHER Youtube Channel FarmHER Instagram Livestock_farmher | Facebook For more information, visit www.FAS.scot Twitter: @FASScot Facebook: @FASScot National Advice Hub Phone: 0300 323 0161 Email: advice@fas.scot

    Agri Culture - Livestock FarmHER Creating Content: Nicola Wordie
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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.

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