Scotland's Farm Advisory Service Podcast

Along with our regular monthly updates on policy, cereals, beef, sheep and milk, in this edition we also have a spotlight on Regenerative Agriculture.

Timestamps:

00:42 News in Brief

07:47 Policy Briefs – New CPD consultation, Scottish Government consults on price caps for essential food, new taskforce looks at getting more Scottish food into schools and hospitals, a look at the Latest Agricultural Price Indices and funding opportunities for training and qualifications.

14:11 Cereals – Latest news and market update

24:38 Beef – Latest news and market update

30:09 Sheep – Latest news and market update

35:52 Milk – Latest news and market update

44:34 Sector focus – Regenerative Agriculture

47:59 Further articles – Do I need to reseed? Bluetongue – What you need to know. EnviroCow article

FAS Links and Resources:

Newsletters - Business & Policy Edition - Farm Advisory Service:

https://www.fas.scot/newsletters/

FAS podcasts: FAS Sounds | Helping farmers in Scotland:

https://www.fas.scot/sounds/

[email protected]

Other Links and Resources:

The Code of Practice on Sustainable and Regenerative Agriculture:

https://www.ruralpayments.org/topics/agricultural-reform-programme/the-code-of-practice-on-sustainable-and-regenerative-agriculture/

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) in Tier 4 of the Agricultural Reform Programme - Scottish Government consultations - Citizen Space:

https://consult.gov.scot/agriculture-and-rural-economy/continuing-professional-development-cpd-tier-4/

Price controls on essential food items: consultation paper:

https://www.gov.scot/publications/price-controls-essential-food-items-consultation-paper/

Price controls on essential food items - take part in the consultation:

https://consult.gov.scot/business-and-better-regulation/price-controls-on-essential-food-items-draft-legis/

Latest Agricultural Price Indices:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/agricultural-price-indices/agricultural-price-indices-united-kingdom-july-2026

Funding opportunities for training and qualifications:

https://lantra.co.uk/scotland/scotland-training-funds/

Lantra - funding opportunities for training and qualifications:

https://lantra.co.uk/scotland/scotland-training-funds/

Scottish Upland Sheep Support Scheme:

https://www.ruralpayments.org/topics/all-schemes/scottish-upland-sheep-support-scheme/scottish-upland-sheep-support-scheme-full-guidance/

Grassland section:

https://www.fas.scot/grassland/

Do I Need to Reseed? | Helping farmers in Scotland:

https://www.fas.scot/article/do-i-need-to-reseed/

Blutongue: What You Need to Know:

https://www.fas.scot/podcast/stock-talk-bluetongue-what-you-need-to-know/

EnviroCow Index Yielding Results:

https://www.fas.scot/article/envirocow-index-yielding-results/

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot

Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: [email protected]

Hello and welcome to Crofting Matters, hosted by Osla Jamwal Fraser where we discuss topics that matter in crofting.

Today we’re speaking with Chartered Surveyor and Senior Agricultural Consultant with SAC Consulting, Fergus Russell.

Wherever you may be in the Crofting Counties there are lots of new and different types of land-based development going on from renewables to data centres and everything in between. If you or your community are affected, it can be difficult to know where to turn for advice and support. Fergus specialises in exactly this area so today we are going to be taking a look at what you need to know if your area is involved in large-scale development projects.

If you would like to find out more about anything we discussed today, you’ll find links in the show notes.

If you enjoyed this episode of Crofting Matters, please do subscribe to make sure you hear the next episode when we’ll be discussing all things wool! We’ll be hearing about the last fleece to garment mill in Shetland and learning more about the quiet revolution happening in how Shetland perceives and promotes the importance of its own knitwear heritage.

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:

Scottish Land Commission: Making more of Scotland's land - Scottish Land Commission

Your local NFUS branch may be able to answer questions on access to support

RICS - Rights over land for electricity infrastructure - Code of practice

The Electricity Act 1989 which provides the legislation around new and existing developments: Electricity Act 1989

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot

Twitter: @FASScot

Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: [email protected]

Before FAS, Farming for a Better Climate helped put practical climate action firmly on the agenda for Scottish agriculture. At its heart was a focus on practical change. The programme encouraged farmers and crofters to look at areas including energy and fuel use, renewable energy, soil carbon, fertiliser and manure management and livestock efficiency. Rather than approaching climate change as an issue separate from everyday farm management, Farming for a Better Climate sought to demonstrate where better use of resources could reduce costs, strengthen the business and lower emissions at the same time.

In this episode Rebecca Audsley joins Alex to look back over the life of Farming for a Better Climate and consider its impacts. More than fifteen years on from the programme's beginnings, they also consider what comes next.

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

01.35 Introducing Rebecca Audsley

02.37 Where are we in terms of climate change, landscape management and lower carbon farming

05.42 Farming For a Better Climate (FFBC) initiative

08.37 Where did FFBC operate across the country & 5 key action areas

12.53 FFBC outputs and learning from others

14.48 A Policy Pathfinder

17.10 Emission reductions and associated financial benefits

19.17 What problem did FFBC identify that is less of an issue now

22.22 A good healthy soil – PLANT YOUR PANTS!

Climate change: are we moving in the right direction?

Farming & Water Scotland

30.14 Getting in touch & what's next for Rebecca

Resources

Farming For a Better Climate

Scottish Forestry Integrating Trees Network

Farming & Water Scotland

Climate Smart Advisors

Climate Week | Net Zero Nation

Previous episode of interest: Thrill Of The Hill - Climate Change Catch up with Seamus Murphy

Previous episode of interest: Thrill Of The Hill - COP26 One Year On

Get in touch with Rebecca [email protected]

Get in touch with the show [email protected]

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot

Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: [email protected]

We’re joined by Derek Robeson from the Tweed Forum to explore their catchment-scale action across the River Tweed and the surrounding landscape and communities. We discuss their various projects including Eddleston Water and Destination Tweed and cover topics including natural flood management, working with landowners and economic drivers, to showcase what it takes to turn ambitious ideas into practical, beneficial action on the ground.

Host Harry Fisher, Producer Iain Boyd, Editor Kieron Sim, Executive Producers Kerry Hammond & Kirstyn Blackwood

Key Timestamps:

0:59 – 14:54 Intro to Tweed Forum, its activities and Eddleston Water project.

14:55 – 24:49 Destination Tweed, other projects and drivers.

24:50 – 33:40 Catchment scale approach, funding and logical solutions

33:40 – end How to get involved and find out more

Resources:

Tweed Forum: https://tweedforum.org/

Tweed Foundation: https://rivertweed.org.uk/tweed-foundation/

Borders Forest Trust: https://bordersforesttrust.org/

Southern Uplands Partnership: https://sup.org.uk/

FAS Water Management: https://www.fas.scot/environment/water-management/

River Catchment Management at Landscape-Scale:

https://www.fas.scot/article/river-catchment-management-at-landscape-scale/

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot

Twitter: @FASScot

Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: [email protected]

Welcome to Stock Talk. In this episode James is joined by SRUC Veterinary Investigation Officer Kythe Mackenzie. In this episode, recorded on 17th September 2026, we discuss the Bluetongue Virus. It's important to note to listeners that the spread of the Bluetongue Virus, the control zones and restrictions is a constantly changing situation, and listeners should ensure that they check the Scot Gov website for the latest up to date information. This Podcast is intended to provide information about the Bluetongue Virus itself, how it is spread, risk factors, clinical symptoms, vaccinations, and testing.

Resources

Scot Gov:

Latest situation - Bluetongue: how to spot and report the disease - gov.scot

Bluetongue movement restrictions for animals - Bluetongue: how to spot and report the disease - gov.scot

APHA map:

Bluetongue Cases and Zones

AHDB:

Vaccination cost calculator launched to help Battle Bluetongue | AHDB

BTV-3 vaccination finance calculator (sheep) | AHDB

BTV-3 vaccination finance calculator (dairy) | AHDB

BTV-3 vaccination finance calculator (beef) | AHDB

Ruminant Health & Welfare website:

Home - Ruminant Health & Welfare

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot

Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: [email protected]

Organic farming in Scotland is entering a period of renewed growth. The latest Scottish Government statistics show that, in 2025, 168,200 hectares of Scottish agricultural land were either fully organic or undergoing conversion — an increase of 28% on 2024 and 62% since 2021. Of this, 115,800 hectares were fully organic, while 52,400 hectares were in conversion, around double the area recorded the previous year. Organic and in-conversion land now accounts for 3.3% of Scotland’s agricultural area.

For businesses considering making the change, organic conversion is about considerably more than simply replacing conventional inputs. The conversion period provides an opportunity to examine the whole farming system — including rotations, soil fertility, nutrient management, grass and clover production, livestock management, markets and the financial implications of operating within organic standards. A well-developed conversion plan is central to understanding whether organic farming is both practically achievable and financially sustainable for an individual business.

In this episode of Thrill of the Hill, we are joined by Ewan Johnston, Principal Consultant with SAC Consulting and the Farm Advisory Service Topic Lead for Organics. Based at Thainstone in Aberdeenshire, Ewan has more than 25 years of agricultural consultancy experience, having worked in Shetland and Moray before moving to the North East. His career has given him experience across a broad range of Scottish farming systems, from crofting, hill and upland livestock enterprises through to intensive lowland arable businesses.

Growing demand for organic advice led Ewan to complete an MSc in Organic Farming, and he has since developed particular expertise in organic production, soil and nutrient management, grassland and clover-based systems, alongside wider crop, livestock and farm business management. He is BASIS, FACTS and FBAASS accredited, sits on the

Scottish Organic Producers Association technical advisory committee and teaches organic farming to students at SRUC.

As FAS Topic Lead for Organics, Ewan is also working to broaden the conversation beyond farms already committed to certification, looking at how principles and practices associated with organic farming can be integrated into conventional and regenerative systems.

In this episode, we discuss what farmers and crofters need to consider before beginning an organic conversion, what goes into preparing an organic conversion plan, where the potential opportunities and challenges lie, and why planning the farming system as a whole is so important before taking the first step towards certification.

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

00.57 Introducing Ewan Johnston

03.26 Where are we at now in Scotland with organic conversions

04.19 What goes into the organic conversion plan

08.14 The conversion plan is a live document

09.50 Timeline for the conversion process

11.18 Standard conversion and simultaneous conversion

12.58 Be clear in your own mind why you want to go organic

14.35 Information to include in a conversion plan

18.00 How should seasonal grazing be viewed

18.50 Partial conversion & parallel production

20.55 Nutrient management

24.06 Stocking rates and forage demand

25.40 Dispelling the myth – animal health in organic systems

28.10 Record keeping

31.06 Common mistakes in conversion plans

33.45 Ewan's take home message

Resources

Access a range of FAS Organic information and guides here Organic Information | Helping farmers in Scotland

Rural Payments and Services: Organic Farming: Conversion

Soil Association

Scottish Organic Producers Association (SOPA)

Get in touch with Ewan [email protected]

Get in touch with the show [email protected]

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot

Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: [email protected]

Welcome back to the Rural Round-up. On today’s episode George Chalmers and Tiffany Stephenson are joined by practice vet and SRUC veterinary investigation officer Andrew Robinson to discuss Bluetongue, along with any key updates and reminders for September.

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.

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: [email protected]

On today’s episode Mark is joined by Angus McDowall from Mongoswells Farm. Mungoswells flour begins in the fields of the family farm in East Lothian, a region known as the ‘Breadbasket of Scotland’. What started as a passion project has since evolved into a unique field-to-flour operation. They sow, grow, harvest, mill, and package on-site, offering both organic and non-organic flour, with the aim of keeping the entire process as local as possible. The farm has been in the family for 100 years and began selling flour in 2015.

Timestamps

01.27 Introducing Angus McDowall

05.00 Diversifying into malting and milling

11.38 The farm rotation

15.16 Wheat protein content

17.17 Wheat varieties

21.29 Grain qualities that make a good flour

23.00 A family operation

26.18 Seasonality of sales

27.10 Rye and spelt

28.08 Award winning flour

29.48 Angus’s take home message

Resources

Organic Information | Helping farmers in Scotland

Organics In Scotland Series | Helping farmers in Scotland

Winter Wheat Choices 2025/26 | Helping farmers in Scotland

Website: www.mungoswells.co.uk

Contact Mungoswells: [email protected]

Get in touch with our host: [email protected]

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot

Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: [email protected]

Along with our regular monthly updates on policy, cereals, beef, sheep and milk, in this edition we also have a spotlight on Greening changes for 2027 and changes to muirburn legislation.

Timestamps:

00:48 News in Brief

06:07 Policy Briefs – Bluetongue update, Future Farming Investment Scheme, BSE in Scotland, Organic farming sector continues to grow, Payment rates for Basic Payment Scheme and Greening.

14:47 Cereals – Latest news and market update

26:39 Beef – Latest news and market update

32:36 Sheep – Latest news and market update

38:40 Milk – Latest news and market update

48:06 Sector focus – Greening changes for 2027

52.08 Specialist Article – Getting Ready for Muirburn Licensing

55:49 Further articles –Soil structure and compaction, Biodiversity auditing in Scotland, Are you tick aware? Get Livestock updates via WhatsApp channel.

FAS Links and Resources:

Newsletters - Business & Policy Edition - Farm Advisory Service

[email protected]

FAS podcasts: FAS Sounds | Helping farmers in Scotland

Other Links and Resources:

Bluetongue - how to spot and report the disease

APHA Bluetongue interactive disease map

Scottish Government - declaration of a Temporary Control Zone (Bluetongue) document

AHPA bluetongue case map

APHA animal disease alert subscription service

Bluetongue: latest situation - GOV.UK

Bluetongue movement restrictions: 1 June - 9 September 2026

Bluetongue movement restrictions for animals - Movement licence information - gov.scot

The Animal Plant and Health Agency (APHA) contact number - 03000 600 704

Future Farming Investment Scheme

BSE in Scotland

BSE: how to spot and report the disease

Organic Farming in Scotland: 2025 - gov.scot

Payment rates set for Basic Payment Scheme and Greening 2026

Scottish Upland Sheep Support Scheme

Scottish Pig Producers Support Scheme

Basic Payment Scheme - including links to Greening Guidance

Getting Ready for Muirburn Licensing | Helping farmers in Scotland

NatureScot - Muirburn Licensing - Check your land for a muirburn application

FAS - Muirburn info, link to NatureScot & link to webinar

FAS - soil structure and compaction.

TOTH Podcast - Beyond the Hedgerow, Biodiversity Auditing in Scotland

FAS TV Series 6 Ep 9 - Are You Tick Aware?

FAS Livestock updates – WhatsApp:

https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbDCFdy0gcfPkJONju3v

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot

Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: [email protected]

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: [email protected]