Scotland's Farm Advisory Service Podcast

Scotland's Farm Advisory Service Podcast
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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.

  1. 19h ago

    The 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

    The Rural Roundup - Planning for Autumn

  2. 1d ago

    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

  3. 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

  4. Aug 10

    Business and Policy News Audio August 2026: Policy, cereal, beef, sheep and milk updates and a spotlight on the pig sector

    Along with our regular monthly updates on policy, cereals, beef, sheep and milk, in this edition we also have a spotlight on the pig sector. Show Notes 00:34 News in Brief 06:09 Policy Briefs – Scottish Pig Producers Support Scheme, New calls to boost Scotland’s wildfire response, Scotland bans glue traps, Cracks appear over the future of brown eggs. 11:29 Cereals – Latest news and market update 20:11 Beef – Latest news and market update 25:56 Sheep – Latest news and market update 31:24 Milk – Latest news and market update 40:05 Sector focus – Pig sector 46:25 Further articles – Soil Moisture Monitoring (FAS articles), Mains of Errol: From Field to Punnet (FAS TV), Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (FAS Video). FAS Links and Resources: Newsletters - Business & Policy Edition - Farm Advisory Service advice@fas.scot Other Links and Resources: www.ruralpayments.org Rural Priorities - Greening Introduction and updates Scottish Pig Producers Support Scheme Scottish Pig Producers Support Scheme: how to apply - gov.scot pigproducers.support@gov.scot Wildfires Strategic Action Plan Scotland bans glue traps Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024 Publications: Avian influenza (bird flu): how to spot and report the disease Swine fever: how to spot and report the disease Bluetongue: how to spot and report the disease SEPA Water scarcity levels and reports Island Resilience Fund 2026-2027 Online Sessions Bluetongue movement restrictions: 1 June - 9 September 2026 https://www.ruralpayments.org/news-events/agricultural-census-2026.html Soil Moisture Monitoring: Technology for Modern Irrigation Management Understanding Portable Soil Moisture Meters Mains of Errol: From Field to Punnet Disease Surveillance Part 4 - Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) Agri Culture podcast - Finding Your Tribe For more information, visit www.FAS.scot Facebook: @FASScot National Advice Hub Phone: 0300 323 0161 Email: advice@fas.scot

    Business and Policy News Audio August 2026: Policy, cereal, beef, sheep and milk updates and a spotlight on the pig sector

  5. Jul 31

    Stock Talk - Venison Market Outlook & Tullynessle Deer Farm

    Welcome to Stock Talk. In this episode James is joined by Dick Playfair from the Venison Advisory Service and Janet Keith from Tullynessle Deer Farm. Dick gives us a market overview of venison, tells us about how the wild deer cull influences deer farming and about the importance of provenance when selling venison direct to consumers. Then we speak to Janet, who runs Tullynessle Deer Farm with her husband Willie. Janet tells us their story of how they got into deer farming and how the business has evolved to diversify into direct selling her venison and running farm tours. Janet also tells us the about the meat itself, venison cooking options and how nutritional this meat is. Resources Tullynessle Deer Farm website: Buy Scottish Farmed Venison online or at our family farm Janet’s mobile number: 07827279241 Email address: tullynessledeerfarm@gmail.com Venison Advisory Service website: venisonadvisory.co.uk Dick’s email address: richard@venisonadvisory.co.uk For more information, visit www.FAS.scot Facebook: @FASScot National Advice Hub Phone: 0300 323 0161 Email: advice@fas.scot

    Stock Talk - Venison Market Outlook & Tullynessle Deer Farm

  6. Jul 30

    Natural Capital - Scottish Agroecological Partnership

    In this episode, we're joined by Abi Mordin from Propagate and Colleen McCulloch from the Soil Association to explore the work of the Scottish Agroecological Partnership (SAP), a collaboration of organisations working to make agroecology central to farming, crofting and growing in Scotland. We discuss what agroecology means in practice, how collaboration is helping farmers, crofters and growers build more resilient businesses and their project to upscale agroecology. Through on-farm workshops, peer-to-peer learning and knowledge exchange, the partnership is supporting the adoption of farming practices that are good for soils, nature and people. We also explore the barriers to change, the economic case for agroecological farming, the role of policy, and what Scotland's farming future could look like. Host Harry Fisher, Producers Iain Boyd & Fiona Salter, Editor Kieron Sim, Executive Producer Kerry Hammond Key Timestamps: 1:10 – 10:21 What SAP do, who is involved and what is agroecology 10:22 – 18:39 What does it look like in practice, farmer clusters 18:40 – 24:29 Overcoming barriers to adoption and making the transition 24:30 – 38:18 workshops, knowledge sharing and engaging with policy Resources: FAS Biodiveristy https://www.fas.scot/environment/biodiversity/ FAS Natural Capital podcast https://www.fas.scot/sounds/natural-capital/ Scottish Agroecology Partnership (SAP) https://www.agroecology.scot/ SAP Events https://www.agroecology.scot/about-sap/events/ For more information, visit www.FAS.scot Twitter: @FASScot Facebook: @FASScot National Advice Hub Phone: 0300 323 0161 Email: advice@fas.scot

    Natural Capital - Scottish Agroecological Partnership

  7. Jul 29

    Crofting Matters - Shetland, From Land to the Sea

    Hello and welcome to Crofting Matters, hosted by Osla Jamwal Fraser where we discuss topics that matter in crofting. Over the next few episodes, we will be bringing you Crofting Matters from Shetland. Today we are joined by David Brown, Crofter, Shetlander, and Area Manager for Cooke Aquaculture Scotland. In this episode we look at the intersection between our crofting communities and the blue economy. Across the Crofting Counties - agriculture, and the seafood sector have always been closely intertwined – It is still true today that the lion’s share of the £5.6 billion generated annually by Scotland’s Marine Economy comes to us through the crofting counties in one way or another. There are few places in the country where that interdependence between crofting and fisheries is as clear perhaps as Shetland. If you enjoyed this episode of Crofting Matters please do subscribe to hear the next episode when we’ll be joined by a crofter who is working to preserve traditional crofting producing Shetland Kale, Shetland Sheep and Shetland Kye as well as a local development company who are now the licensed seed merchants for Shetland Kale, Scotland’s oldest local vegetable variety. If you would like to find out more about anything we discussed today, you’ll find links in the show notes. This episode was produced by Kerry Hammond, and Edited by Keiron Sim, in association with the Scottish Government. Resources: Cooke Aquaculture Scotland | Cooke Aquaculture Scotland is one of the leading producers of Scottish salmon, and the largest producer of organic Scottish salmon. Shetland Islands Regional Marine Plan - gov.scot For more information, visit www.FAS.scot Twitter: @FASScot Facebook: @FASScot National Advice Hub Phone: 0300 323 0161 Email: advice@fas.scot

    Crofting Matters - Shetland, From Land to the Sea

  8. Jul 21

    Cropcast - Field to Fork with Kettle Produce

    Field to Fork with Kettle Produce: in this episode Mark is joined by Finlay Ross (Crop Manager) and Andrew Orr (Head of Agriculture) from Kettle Produce Ltd. Kettle Produce are a market leader for the provision of fresh and prepared vegetables, with over 5,000 hectares of crops grown in Scotland and around the world. Listen to this episode to hear about the background to Kettle Produce, regions farmed, crops grown, rotational demands, agronomic and climatic challenges, technical innovations in the field, labour and market trends. This episode was presented by Mark Bowsher-Gibbs, produced by Heather Stuart, edited by Cameron Waugh, with executive producers Kirstyn Blackwood & Kerry Hammond. Timestamps 02.08 Introducing Andrew Orr (Head of Agriculture at Kettle Produce) 04.18 Introducing Finlay Ross (Crop Manager at Kettle Produce) 06.51 Scale, set up of the business and crops grown 10.06 Crop rotation and working with a pool of growers 12.42 Cover crops 14.18 Farming calendar for broccoli and cauliflower 18.08 Vegetable agronomy 27.18 Adapting to extreme weather conditions 33.46 Crop trials 34.46 Labour requirements and graduate scheme 39.20 Market trends and demand for vegetables 42.28 Andrews take home message 43.50 Finlays take home message Resources Kettle Produce Ltd Contact: mail@kettle.co.uk Mark.Bowsher-Gibbs@sac.co.uk For more information, visit www.FAS.scot Facebook: @FASScot National Advice Hub Phone: 0300 323 0161 Email: advice@fas.scot

    Cropcast - Field to Fork with Kettle Produce
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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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