THRILL OF THE HILL | A Damming Conclusion: Part II with Davy McCracken

Thrill of the Hill returns for season 5, with an exciting line-up on new and returning guest speakers and specialists in their fields and on their hills. 

Beavers and their presence in Scotland continues to divide the agricultural community, for some they generate hope for a more nature-rich Scotland and more dynamic landscape, for others they cause damage and threaten the viability of various farm enterprises. Last year we heard a passionate take on the issue from Euan Walker-Munro who articulated the frustration felt by many in the industry. In this episode we hear from Professor Davy McCracken and cover the positives around beaver reintroduction, the ecology of the species and the opportunities brought by them. We also discuss what to do if the challenges caused by beavers are too much, what his experience was with getting a license and the need for collaboration and knowledge transfer on the issues faced.

Want to get in touch with Davy, he can be contacted at SRUC on 01292 525 299 or via email at [email protected]. Those with questions for NatureScot can make contact via [email protected].

Related FAS Resources

https://www.fas.scot/publication/thrill-of-the-hill-a-damming-conclusion/

https://www.fas.scot/publication/beavers-translocation-ecology-and-mitigation/ 

https://www.fas.scot/publication/living-alongside-beavers/

https://www.fas.scot/publication/accommodating-beaver-impacts-on-a-farm/

https://www.fas.scot/publication/mitigating-beavers-impacts-on-a-farm/ 

Related External Resources

https://www.nature.scot/professional-advice/protected-areas-and-species/protected-species/protected-species-z-guide/beaver/beaver-mitigation-scheme 

Welcome back to the Rural Roundup hosted by me, Kerry Hammond. This show is produced in association with the Scottish Government. On today’s episode I’m joined by George Chalmers & Tiffany Stephenson who chat about the census, thinking about silage and the ECS organics deadline, and I’m later joined by Eleanor Kay from Scottish Land & Estates who talks about their theme of resilience this year. We discuss everything from their organisational strategy, right through to how land-owners can take advantage of the right opportunities at the right time.  

FAS Resources 

https://www.fas.scot/downloads/feed-and-forage-factsheet/ 

Integrated Land Management Plans (ILMPs) | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot) 

Specialist Advice | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot) 

Other Resources  

Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (ruralpayments.org) 

https://www.ruralpayments.org/news-events/agricultural-census-2024.html 

https://www.scottishlandandestates.co.uk/ 

Scottish Land & Estates | Musselburgh | Facebook 

Natural_Capital_Toolkit_Open_Version.docx (live.com) 

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot 

Twitter: @FASScot 

Facebook: @FASScot 

National Advice Hub 

Phone: 0300 323 0161 

Email: [email protected]

In this episode Tiffany Stephenson is joined by David Brown, an Environmental Consultant at SAC Consulting to discuss pollinators, beneficial insects and biodiversity on arable farms.  

Cropcast is your go to podcast for all the latest information on arable crops. Each month, SAC advisor, Tiffany Stephenson 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 Kerry Hammond, in association with the Scottish Government. 

Linked FAS Resources 

How to increase wild pollinators on your farm | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

Improving Biodiversity on Your Farm | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

FAS – Specialist advice – Funding for a biodiversity, habitat and landscape management plan of your farm 

Specialist Advice | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

I'm Mary-Jane Lawrie, and in this episode I’m joined Claire Taylor.  Claire is a journalist and describes herself as an agricultural communicator.  She has recently finished her travels as part of her Nuffield Farming Scholarship and is now in the process of compiling all the information from her travels.  We talk about her career and how that led her to applying for the scholarship, what she learned from it, and how we, as farmers, can work together to engage with the public to tell positive farming stories. She shares with us some of her amazing experiences from her travels and gives us a real insight into what farming is like in other countries.

Warning: This episode contains themes of political unrest, suicide, gender-based violence and murder. Listen with caution.

Resources

Nuffield Farming Scholarships - https://www.nuffieldscholar.org/ 

Claire Taylor Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-taylor-4135714a/

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot

Twitter: @FASScot

Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: [email protected]

Along with our regular monthly updates on policy briefs, arable, beef, sheep and milk, In this edition we are also bringing you sector overviews on new tiers for agriculture support and carbon calculators. We will also be bringing you news on forage first sucklers and land registration in Scotland.

Show Notes

0:43 News in Brief

2:47 Policy Briefs - Fair Work First, Antimicrobial Resistance & Visitor Levy

7:36 Arable- Barley area up, rapeseed area down.

12:57 Beef - Prices at Steak – fire up the BBQ.

16:18 Sheep - Lamb having the ride of its life.

19:30 Sector Focus – New Tiers for Agricultural Support.

23:05 Milk - Mind your minerals.

28:31 Sector focus – Carbon Calculators

32:30 Inputs - Forage First Sucklers

37:36 Management Matters - Land Registration in Scotland

FAS Resources

Agribusiness News June 2024 | Information helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

Other Links:

Fair Work First guidance.

AMR National Action Plan

Phasing out cages for laying hens consultation

Scottish Government Capital Grant Scheme Survey

Vision for Agriculture

Agriculture and Rural Communities Bill

Spring Short Term Outlook

Scope 3emissions reporting

‘Harmonisation of Carbon Accounting Tools for Agriculture

New Forage First Suckler Systems guide. Email [email protected]

Land Register

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot

Twitter: @FASScot

Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: [email protected]

Gary Campbell is our guest this week. Gary is the new Chief Executive of the Crofting Commission, having just started his role in January this year. With a background working in both the public and private sectors he talks us through his previous roles, his own family crofting story, what he is planning to achieve in his new CE role and his vision for the Crofting Commission. 

Related FAS Resources: 

Crofting & Smallholders Guide to Organisations

Succession Planning – Crofting | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

Crofting Legislation | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

In this podcast we hear from James Biggar who has drastically changed his farming system in recent years. His main aim is to reduce the cost of production with his beef herd which includes the use of forage crops and deferred grazing with bales to outwinter cows. 120 of his cows are kept outside 365 days a year. James talks about the importance of options and having a Plan B in case of a crop failure in his system, this is why he spreads the risk by growing different types of forage crops and has the bale grazing (deferred grazing with bale silage) which breaks up the winter into 3 parts. Lorna speaks about soil health and how important it is setting up for growing a forage crop including the factors you need to think about beforehand. James talks about how he has learnt a lot from going to events and approaching farmers with a similar system.

Related Resources

Chapelton Farm - Pedigree Beef Sires

Event on 14th June 2024: Forage First Systems at Corbieton Farm | Events helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

THRILL OF THE HILL | Farm Business Survey: Part II with Sascha Grierson 

Thrill of the Hill returns for season 5, with an exciting line-up on new and returning guest speakers and specialists in their fields and on their hills.  

With change on the horizon, being on sure footing can be the difference between having a successful business and not. The Farm Business Survey is Scotland's way of establishing the state of our farming communities, benchmarking business performance and generating the data that drives decision-making at the policy level. It is a free service, not costing anything other than time and provides a participant with a set of management accounts, providing valuable insights into your business, it can also be a useful way of collecting the data for those increasingly important carbon audits! It's a win, win, win for those serious about data and keen to progress their business in an informed, measured way.

For those interested in participating in the survey, or if you have any questions for Sascha and the team, you can get them on 07557 661316 or alternatively you can email [email protected]. 

Related FAS Resources

Thrill of the Hill - The Farm Business Survey | Information helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

Whole farm benchmarks | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

It’s a brand-new series of Natural Capital with a brand-new host! To kick things off Harry speaks to Scottish Forestry’s Lyn White, who is their forestry and farming development officer. Lyn promotes an integrated approach to farming and forestry, to aid understanding and explore opportunities for them to work more effectively together. We discuss working with farmers to maximise the benefits to farms, the farmer-led Integrating Trees Network and all things agroforestry. We discuss the multiple benefits that planting trees can bring to agriculture, including providing shelter, improving productivity, diversifying income, creating habitats and combating climate change.  

Host Harry Fisher, Producer Iain Boyd, Executive Producer Kerry Hammond, Editor Ross Mackenzie 

Related FAS resources:   

Natural Capital | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

Farm Woodland resources for farmers from Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

Integrated Land Management Plans (ILMPs) | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

Forestry Grant Scheme | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

Other Related Resources: 

Scottish Forestry - Integrating Trees Network

Integrating Trees Network Events

Forestry Grant Scheme (ruralpayments.org)

Scottish Forestry - Home

Timestamps: 

0:55 – 15:05 Lyn’s role and the benefits of agroforestry and integrating trees to farmland.   

15:06 – 26:05 Agroforestry, considerations, challenges, and grant options. 

26:06 – 33:52 Integrating trees network and farmer led initiatives. 

33:53 – 40:05 Farmer hesitancies, where to get more info and making the most of your land. 

IPM (Integrated pest management) is set to become a key feature of the Scottish agricultural reform route map from 2025. In this episode Tiffany Stephenson is joined by Phil Jarvis & Amy Geddes from the voluntary initiative to discuss IPM. What is it and how do farmers go about getting started. 

Cropcast is your go to podcast for all the latest information on arable crops. Each month, SAC advisor, Tiffany Stephenson 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 Kerry Hammond, in association with the Scottish Government. 

Related Resources:

VI Page on IPM

AHDB – IPM Hub

NFU – IPM Plan

Plant health centre – IPM for arable crops or grass, also horticultural.

Scottish Agricultural Reform Route Map