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: [email protected] 

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