Welcome to Stock Talk. In this episode James is joined by David Speller from OptiFarm. David is a poultry farmer who had lots of data and not enough time to analyse it. David will tell us about the AI tool he developed to help him make better informed decisions, which attracted the eyes of investors leading to his company OptiFarm. David explains how the tool works and the benefits of using AI in livestock systems including the use of real-time data to be proactive in terms of livestock management and welfare, and how this can improve livestock performance and profitability.

Resources

https://www.fas.scot/livestock/poultry/

Website address: optifarm.co.uk

Optifarm email: [email protected]

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 Siobhan Macdonald, and this is the Farm Advisory Service series where we discuss topics that matter in crofting.

For this episode, we’re heading north to the wild and windswept Shetland isles to explore the unique world of island crofting and the remarkable resilience of Shetland’s crofters. Join Siobhan Macdonald and Osla Jamwal Fraser as they dive into the opportunities and challenges of farming on the archipelago — from the advantages of geographic isolation for maintaining high-health livestock schemes, to the realities of costly transport links and long ferry crossings.

With Osla at the helm of the series for 2026, we will uncover some of Shetland’s most fascinating agricultural stories and industries, including its iconic Shetland sheep, world-famous wool, native ponies, and even the surprising rise of spaceports among the islands’ rugged landscapes. This is a journey into innovation, tradition, and life at the edge of the North Sea.

Thanks for joining us for this episode of Crofting Matters. If you’d like to find out more about you can find the link in the show notes. This episode was presented by Siobhan Macdonald produced by Kerry Hammond and edited by Kieron Sim, in association with the Scottish Government.

FAS Resources:

Scottish Land Matching Service

Shetland Livestock Marketing Group

Crofting Commission

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot

Twitter: @FASScot

Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: [email protected]

In the first episode of the new series, we speak with Donya Davidson and Sophie Manson from NatureScot about their Natural Capital Tool and find out what it is, the challenges it addresses, and how it supports land managers in Scotland. We have a walk through showing how the tool works in practice and how it allows decision makers to identify strategies that maximise positive outcomes.

The Natural Capital Tool is a free, easy-to-use spatial decision support tool designed to enable a natural capital approach to land management. Considering the full range of benefits and ecosystem services nature provides, it helps users plan land use in ways that deliver multiple benefits for both people and the environment. Developed by NatureScot in collaboration with Liverpool John Moores University and EOLAS Insight, it is tailored specifically to Scotland’s landscapes and needs.

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

Key Timestamps:

1:06 – 6:59 intro and background to the tool

7:00 – 18:34 the data, functions and design of the tool

18:35 – 35:30 how to use it and target audiences

35:30 – 44:19 run through of tool and next steps

Resources:

FAS Environment: https://www.fas.scot/environment/

FAS Natural Capital podcast: https://www.fas.scot/sounds/natural-capital/

Natural Capital Tool: https://natcaptool.nature.scot/

Natural Capital Tool | NatureScot: https://www.nature.scot/doc/natural-capital-tool

Biodiversity Audits for Whole Farm Plan | Helping farmers in Scotland: https://www.fas.scot/article/biodiversity-audits-for-whole-farm-plan/

Farm Biodiversity Scotland: https://biodiversity.scot/

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot

Twitter: @FASScot

Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: [email protected]

Welcome to The Thrill of The Hill. This is the third and final episode in our series exploring beaver reintroduction in Scotland. Across the last two episodes, we’ve looked at the challenges, concerns, and practical realities beavers bring to land management.

Today, we’re joined by farmer and rewilding advocate Tom Bowser from Lerrocks farm and we’ll be focusing on the other side of the story — the ecological case for beavers, the benefits they can bring, and what a future with more beavers in Scotland might look like.

Timestamps

02.28 Introducing Tom Bowser

07.28 Why are beavers worth having back in Scotland?

08.36 Beavers: ecosystem engineers and keystone species

12.40 Beavers, the most controversial animal that we have at the moment?

14.10 Practical benefits of beavers

22.03 Biodiversity and hairy bottomed handstands!

27.23 Balancing the benefits with the challenges

32.49 NatureScot beaver team and available assistance

37.04 Where are we likely to see beavers in the future?

43.08 Food production and nature restoration, not always opposing forces

FAS Resources

Thrill of the Hill Episode 12: A Damming Conclusion?

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/a1a41750-26db-4341-8783-2aa9443a34c3

Thrill of the Hill Episode 2: A Damming Conclusion? Part II

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/34096505-af92-46c9-8a66-6ee445383126

FAS - Rewilding Beavers

FAS Farm Wildlife Walk

Other Related Resources

Argaty Red Kites – Rewilding Experiences in the Heart of Scotland

Tom Bowser – Nature Writer, Journalist, Public Speaker

Beavers in Scotland | NatureScot

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 discuss upcoming events and updates, while Kerry Hammond chats to Linda McAllister from visit Scotland to discuss opportunities for Agri tourism.

Timestamps

00:30 Welcome back Tiffany

02:15 IACS Deadline

02:55 Enhanced Greening

08:28 Future Farming Investment Scheme (FFIS)

10:42 AECS

12:26 Events

13:18 Funding for specialist advice

19:27 Linda McAllister from visit Scotland

FAS Resources

Visit Scotland https://www.visitscotland.org/tourism-events-industry/strategies/agritourism

FAS Events https://www.fas.scot/events/

FAS Specialist advice https://www.fas.scot/specialist-advice/

Other Resources

Future Farming Investment Scheme https://www.ruralpayments.org/topics/all-schemes/ffis/

Agri – Environment Climate Scheme https://www.ruralpayments.org/topics/all-schemes/agri-environment-climate-scheme/

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot

Twitter: @FASScot

Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: [email protected]

Welcome to Cropcast Conversations. On today’s episode Mark is joined by Teresa Dougall (Managing Director SQC) & John Hutcheson (Chair, SQC).

Scottish Quality Crops is the quality assurance body that sets the standards for food safety and good practice for crops grown in Scotland. This gives confidence to buyers across the world and creates market opportunities for Scotland’s growers.

SQC has 3,100 voluntary members, covering more than 90% of Scotland’s crops.

The board is a cooperative of eight organisations from across the supply chain. Audits are carried out by an independent certification body, Food Integrity Assurance, who conduct assessments and certification.

SQC standards are formed by and for growers and grain buyers.

Listen to this episode to hear how SQC works with the supply chain to place Scotland’s combinable crops at the premium end of the UK and European markets.

Time Stamps

01.16 Introducing Teresa Dougall and John Hutcheson (SQC)

05.32 SQC as a cooperative organisation

08.18 SQC history and where it all began

14.41 Annual review structure & what the market wants in terms of assured products

25.19 Interaction with Scottish Government

29.36 Recognising our unique and diverse landscape in Scotland

31.14 Representing a high standard product

34.05 Importing / exporting grain

40.11 Closing thoughts from Teresa and John

Resources

https://www.sqcrops.co.uk/

Contact:

[email protected]

[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 the Agri-Environmental Climate Scheme (AECS).

Time Stamps:

01:56 News in Brief

05:52 Policy Briefs – Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme 2025 payments, Groceries Code Adjudicator moves to Defra, Crofting and Scottish Land Cout Bill, Cairngorms National Park Fire Management Byelaw

10:26 Cereals – Latest news and market update

21:28 Beef – Latest news and market update

28:05 Sheep – Latest news and market update

32:42 Milk – Latest news and market update

40:08 Sector focus –Agri-Environmental Climate Scheme (AECS)

45:37 Further Interest – Slatted Sheep Housing Made Simple (article), Setting up a new grass ley for success (article), PCN and water scarcity (podcast).

FAS Resources:

Newsletters – Business & Policy Edition – Farm Advisory Service

[email protected]

Other Resources:

Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme

Crofting and Scottish Land Court Bill

Cairngorms Fire Management Byelaw

Rural Roundup Podcast

AECS Scoring Criteria

Thrill of the Hill podcast – Where Policy Meets Pasture: The Agri-Environment Climate Scheme with David Brown

Slatted Sheep Housing Made Simple – article

Setting up a New Grass Ley for Success – article

PCN & Water Scarcity – CropCast Podcasthttps://www.fas.scot/article/the-journey-of-a-soil-sample/

Publications:

Avian influenza (bird flu) outbreaks – latest update

Monthly UK statistics on cattle, sheep and pig slaughter and meat production

Labour Market Trends: April 2026 – gov.scot

African swine fever in Europe – latest update

The Environment Strategy for Scotland

Rural Support Plan

Consultations:

Installation and maintenance licences for heat networks

Communications from Revenue Scotland to taxpayers

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. On today’s episode Mary-Jane Lawrie is joined by Julie McLaren. Julie is a Bank Relationship Director – Agriculture & Landed Estates, and Vice Chair of Women in Agriculture Scotland. Julie tells us about her career in banking and how her role evolved, despite not coming from a farming background. Julie joined the Women in Agriculture Scotland committee in 2024, with the aim of setting up a mentoring scheme for the organisation. Now Vice Chair she tells us what she hopes the mentoring scheme will achieve, who it is for, and how both mentors and mentees can get involved.

Thanks for joining us for this episode of Agri Culture. If you’d like to find out more about Women in Agriculture Scotland and their mentoring scheme you can find the link and direct email address in the show notes. This episode was presented by Mary-Jane Lawrie, produced by Kerry Hammond and edited by Robbie Campbell, in association with the Scottish Government.

Resources:

[email protected]

https://womeninagriculturescotland.com/contact-us/

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot

Twitter: @FASScot

Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: [email protected]

In this episode George Chalmers is joined by SAC Consultants Kerry Leslie & Gavin Prentice, to discuss results from PCN Action Scotland along with the new CREW water scarcity guidance.

Welcome to Cropcast, your go to podcast for all the latest information on arable crops. Each month, SAC advisor, George Chalmers will be joined by a range of industry experts, bringing you timely updates to help you make decisions in the field.

Producer George Gauley, Editor Cameron Waugh, Executive Producer Kirstyn Blackwood, in association with the Scottish Government.

Timestamps

01:42 Introduction to Kerry Leslie

02:27 Who does PCN impact?

03:32 What is PCN?

06:08 What is the PCN yield penalty?

09:43 How do we know if there is PCN in a field?

12:27 Variety choice

16:42 The impact of other crops on PCN

18:40 The impact of ground keepers

20:50 PCN Action Scotland

24:50 Next steps for PCN action Scotland

28:50 Introduction to Gavin Prentice

31:19 Water scarcity project

33:20 Key project outcomes

34:40 Identifying water scarcity risks

37:50 Easy wins for farmers

Related FAS Resources

Technical Note (TN30): Potato Cyst Nematodes (PCN)

Planning for Water Scarcity - New Practical Guide for Farmers and Growers in Scotland | Helping farmers in Scotland

Other Related Resources

PCN Action Scotland

CREW Planning for Water Scarcity:

https://www.crew.ac.uk/news/arable-futures-new-guidance-supports-scottish-farmers-plan-water-scarcity

Planning for Water Scarcity: Practical guidance for Scottish farmers and growers | CREW | Scotland's Centre of Expertise for Waters

Welcome back to the Rural Round-up. On today’s episode George Chalmers and Mary-Jane Lawrie discuss the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS) along with other relevant updates.

Timestamps

04:14 Single Application Form (IACS)

08:40 Fuel & Fertiliser prices

14:08 Food processing, Marketing & Cooperation Grant

16:33 Future Farming Investment Scheme

17:00 Agri – Environment Climate Scheme (AECS)

FAS Resources

FAS Events https://www.fas.scot/events/

AECS Scheme https://www.ruralpayments.org/topics/all-schemes/agri-environment-climate-scheme/

Other Resources

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot

Twitter: @FASScot

Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: [email protected]