OnFARM Scottish farming podcast

The late great Andrew Arbuckle was a well kent name in Scottish farming.

The former Scotsman and Dundee Courier farming editor, ex MSP, author and farmer was a big supporter of RSABI, raising tens of thousands of pounds for the charity with proceeds from his books.

Sadly, Andrew passed away in December 2025.

In tribute to him, and to pay our respects, OnFARM are re-visiting a conversation that we first published in 2022.

As you'll hear in this episode, he was a real character, a true gentleman, and full of brilliant stories.

Farmstrong Scotland is a brilliant wellbeing programme for farmers and crofters, sharing peer-to-peer tips and advice.

Their excellent podcast is called 'Blether Together with Farmstrong Scotland'.

Each month, farmers and crofters share stories with host Sarah Stephen, and reflect on what they do to support their own wellbeing.

Sarah's most recent guests (January 2026) were none other than OnFARM's Anna and her husband, arable farmer Willie Thomson.

In this episode, we've got their conversation in full. You can hear:

1. how Anna and Willie juggle farming, family and other commitments - and occasionally manage a holiday here and there
2. how the recent onset of arthritis has prompted Willie to reconsider his priorities - and has brought a fresh approach to work-life balance
3. the importance in their household of a properly-made bed!

Once you've listened, please subscribe to Farmstrong's podcast alongside OnFARM, so that new episodes pop up on your device when they are published.

If you're online, you can also check out Farmstrong Scotland’s How’s It Going? tool. Answer eight simple questions and get access to resources tailored to support you.

Towards the end of 2025, we sadly lost Christopher Trotter, a well-known Fife chef, food writer, and ambassador for local and seasonal produce. He died at the age of 68 after a battle with cancer.

In tribute to him, and to pay our respects, OnFARM are re-visiting a conversation that Christopher recorded with Sarah Anderson from our team - to mark the publication of his book Coasts and Waters: The British Seafood Cookbook.

As you'll hear in this episode, he was a real gentleman, and a big advocate for eating varied and sustainable Scottish produce.

If you're looking for Christmas present inspiration, look no further!

This week's guest is Arabella Harvey from Raven Botanicals, the Scottish skincare brand known for its nature-led products.

Arabella shares how she and her sister Charlotte built the business - drawing on botanical knowledge, creativity, and a strong connection to the landscape.

She and Anna chat about the realities of growing a rural brand, from sourcing ingredients to staying sustainable.

Ara also tells a lovely story about the family pet which inspired the name of the business…

We hope you enjoy this episode. It's only possible thanks to our brilliant sponsors Scottish legal firm Gillespie Macandrew.

Mentioned in this episode:

Podcast producers Bespoken Media

All episodes of OnFARM are produced and edited by Scottish podcast production specialists Bespoken Media. Find Bespoken at www.bespoken.media

Lorna Dawson was a student in Edinburgh in 1977, when 17-year-olds Helen Scott and Christine Eadie were murdered after a night out at the World's End pub.

Decades later, she helped to convict the women's killer - using pioneering techniques to identify soil samples that had been taken and retained from Helen Scott's bare feet.

Lorna has since reported and advised on over 150 court cases, as professor and head of soil forensics at the James Hutton Institute.

She also talks to Anna - in this fascinating episode of OnFARM - about how soil forensics can be used to help fight rural crime such as machinery or metal theft.

Huge thanks to episode sponsors, Scottish legal firm Gillespie Macandrew.

Further links:

The James Hutton Institute

SEFARI Gateway - Scotland’s Centre of Expertise for Knowledge Exchange and Innovation.

Mentioned in this episode:

Podcast producers Bespoken Media

All episodes of OnFARM are produced and edited by Scottish podcast production specialists Bespoken Media. Find Bespoken at www.bespoken.media

Most of us in farming - unfortunately - know someone who’s been in an argument or a dispute.

It could be between relatives over an inheritance, over a business relationship, or any number of different circumstances that have led to conflict.

You may not realise you can call on support from professional mediators - or even, in some cases, offer to step in as a mediator yourself.

This episode is all about the power of mediation – hearing from Gillespie Macandrew's dispute resolution team lead Fiona Cameron, and Gordon Davies, a mediator working for - among others - rural support charity RSABI. (Full disclosure: Gordon is also OnFARM host Anna's dad!)

This is a repeat of an episode from June 2023 - hosted by Monty, who it's good to hear on the pod again.

Tick-borne virus Louping-ill has been spreading across Scotland since a vaccine was withdrawn. The disease is fatal to sheep and red grouse, though it can also infect and by carried by cattle, horses, dogs, and humans.

Now, the Moredun Research Institute and industry partner Kernfarm has developed a new-generation vaccine - and has launched a crowdfunding campaign to bring it to manufacture and production.

Beth Wells from the Moredun joins Anna to discuss both the crowdfunder work and the vaccine.

Donate to the Moredun's Louping Ill vaccine crowdfunder here.

Beth and Anna mentioned BBC Scotland's episode of Landward featuring Moredun's research on Louping Ill - find it here.

See news on the Scottish Government's £100,000 match-funding pledge for a Louping-ill vaccine here, with a call for industry backing.

Other bodies and organisations involved in developing the Louping-ill vaccine include:

Scottish Land and Estates (SLE), National Sheep Association, Dartmoor Hill Farm Project, Sheep Veterinary Society, Sandhill Vets and The Moredun Foundation.

Well over 70,000 children in Scotland benefit each year from the work of RHET - the Royal Highland Education Trust.

RHET take children onto farms, and bring farmers into schools, to help young people aged 3 to 18 to understand more about where our food comes from.

In an interview first recorded in 2020, Anna joins John Sinclair, owner of Craigies Farm Shop and Cafe, leading children on a RHET tour. Also taking part in this episode are primary school teacher Emmie Petrie, and RHET learning and development coordinator Sara Smith.

You can donate to support the work of RHET here: https://rhet.org.uk/how-to-help/#donate

Mentioned in this episode:

Podcast producers Bespoken Media

All episodes of OnFARM are produced and edited by Scottish podcast production specialists Bespoken Media. Find Bespoken at www.bespoken.media

The inaugural RSABI Great Scone Palace Challenge was a joyous 'It's a Knockout' event, raising over £80,000 to support people in Scottish agriculture.

Teams took part from across rural Scotland - and actors from ITV's Emmerdale were on hand to add a big serving of stardust.

OnFARM's Anna and Dave caught up with competitors and organisers, as well as Mark Charnock - Emmerdale's Marlon Dingle.

Both the RSABI Great Scone Palace Challenge itself and this episode of OnFARM are sponsored by Scottish law firm Gillespie Macandrew.

For more on the challenge, check out RSABI's news pages.

Congratulations to the Challenge winners:

• 1st place: Blackhall & Powis – Cameron Finnie, David Tyler, Ross McWilliams, Lenz Bartelt
• 2nd place: Dalscone (Keeping Up with the Cowdashians) – Kyle McKellar, Connor Cairns, Ben Best, Joe Best, Kristoff Henderson
• 3rd place: Algo – Kelly Strachan, Scott Cameron, Craig Nixon, Louise Nixon, Daryn Jolly

Special recognition goes to the team at Dalscone, who raised a phenomenal £24,000 plus Gift Aid, making them the top fundraising team.

Mentioned in this episode:

Podcast producers Bespoken Media

All episodes of OnFARM are produced and edited by Scottish podcast production specialists Bespoken Media. Find Bespoken at www.bespoken.media

Care leaver Danielle McKinnon runs Eat Sleep Ride, a social enterprise in Lamberton, East Berwickshire, in the Scottish Borders. Her work, with horses focuses on empowering young people and amplifying often unheard voices, especially from low-income and rural communities.

Find Eat Sleep Ride online here.

This episode is sponsored by Scottish legal firm Gillespie Macandrew.

Mentioned in this episode:

Podcast producers Bespoken Media

All episodes of OnFARM are produced and edited by Scottish podcast production specialists Bespoken Media. Find Bespoken at www.bespoken.media