Mary-Jane Lawrie talks to John Scott and Jock Gibson from Farmstrong Scotland.  Farmstrong Scotland is a new initiative which is inspired by Farmstrong New Zealand and Doug Avery’s visit to Scotland a couple of years ago.  John and Jock tell us what Farmstrong is, why they want to be involved in it, what wellbeing means to them, and give examples of how they implement Farmstrong’s five steps to wellbeing in their own lives.   

FAS Resources  

Mental Health and Wellbeing in Agriculture | Information helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot) 

What's Stopping You - Wellbeing | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot) 

Other Resources  

Farmstrong Scotland - Live Well, Farm & Croft Well 

Step-Guide.pdf (farmstrongscotland.org.uk) 

For more information, visit  www.FAS.scot 

Twitter: @FASScot 

Facebook: @FASScot 

National Advice Hub 

Phone: 0300 323 0161 

Email: [email protected] 

Welcome to Cropcast, 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 Iain Boyd, Executive Producer Kerry Hammond, in association with the Scottish Government. 

In this episode, Tiffany Stephenson is joined by Professor Fiona Burnett from SRUC to discuss the results of this year’s fungicide performance trials.  

Professor Fiona Burnett is Head of Knowledge Exchange and Impact at SRUC and an applied plant pathologist with a focus on plant health and sustainable and integrated crop production. 

Linked FAS Resources 

AHDB - Trial Results for 2024 https://ahdb.org.uk/recommended-lists-for-cereals-and-oilseeds-rl-harvest-results-commentary 

AHDB Agronomy Roadshow 9TH Jan – 16th Jan https://www.fas.scot/events/ 

FAS Crops & Soils bulletin https://www.fas.scot/crops-soils/crops-and-soils-bulletin/   

In this podcast, we hear from Lorna MacPherson, SAC Dairy Consultant, and Jimmy Goldie, Technical Manager at Carrs Billington. They speak about the dairy market outlook for the winter season including milk price and input costs. They discuss the importance of nutrition rationing dairy cows and trying to get the best value diet without compromising on performance. They also speak about sustainability of the dairy industry and the role of carbon auditing. The future of the dairy industry is discussed including the challenges ahead and the opportunities.  

Hosted by Robert Ramsay, edited by Malcolm MacDonald, Produced by Kirstyn Blackwood, Executive Producer Kerry Hammond. In association with The Scottish Government.

Along with our regular monthly updates on policy briefs, arable, beef, sheep and milk, In this edition we are also bringing you 2 sector overviews on land prices and croft diversification. We will also be bringing you news on soil health, digital dairy chain and Farm Management Handbook. 

Show Notes  

00.47:-News in Brief 

02.35:-Policy Briefs - RSABI aid funds, Ag and Rural Communities Bill 

07.03:-Arable - Markets continue to fall despite efforts to stabilise 

11.02:-Beef - Prices upturning to near spring peak  

14.52:-Sheep - Lamb defies trend for reduced consumption of other meats  

17.51:- Sector Focus – Land price update 

22.34 :-Milk - Prices rising slowly but behind autumn ‘22 

28.14:- Sector Focus – Croft diversification 

34.30:- Input Costs - Soil health 

39.12:- Management Matters - Digital Dairy Chain and Farm Management Handbook 

FAS Resources 

Agribusiness News November 2023 | Information helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot) 

Other Links: 

https://www.gov.scot/publications/results-scottish-agricultural-census-june-2023/ 

Consultation on the Agricultural and Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill 

Call for Views on the Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill Financial Memorandum. 

RSABI Flooding Crisis Fund. Tel 080 1234 555  

Forage Aid 

[email protected] 

Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill 

Agricultural Reform List of Measures (ruralpayments.org) 

Agricultural Reform Programme (ARP) - Volunteer to take part in research and design 

https://foodanddrink.scot/ 

Regional Food Fund (RFF) - Application 

[email protected] 

Farm Management Handbook Tel 01835 823322 or email the FMHB team on [email protected]   

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot 

Twitter: @FASScot 

Facebook: @FASScot 

National Advice Hub 

Phone: 0300 323 0161 

Email: [email protected] 

Welcome back to the Rural Round-up hosted by Kerry Hammond. This show is produced in association with the Scottish Government. On today’s episode George & Robert discuss the recent extreme weather events and the opportunities for farmers through PSF (Preparing for Sustainable Farming). We are also joined by Dr Annie Williams to discuss optimum mineral supplementation for cows and sheep.  

FAS Resources 

Mitigating Extreme Rainfall: October 2023 Flooding | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot) 

fas.scot/downloads/water-management-on-your-farm-resilience/ 

Preparing for Sustainable Farming (PSF) - An Overview | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot) 

Mineral Supplementation for Sheep Webinar - YouTube 

Mineral Supplementation for Cattle Webinar - YouTube 

Cattle Mineral Supplementation | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

Other Links  

Preparing for Sustainable Farming (PSF) (ruralpayments.org) 

RSABI Launches £100,000 Flooding Fund for Farmers - RSABI 

Fundraiser by John Morrison : Brechin Community Assistance Fund (gofundme.com) 

Guide to Natural Flood Management (farmingandwaterscotland.org) 

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot 

Twitter: @FASScot 

Facebook: @FASScot 

National Advice Hub 

Phone: 0300 323 0161 

Email: [email protected] 

Mary-Jane Lawrie talks to Lawrence Martin who was a new entrant to farming. After doing an HNC in agriculture at college, he started an apprenticeship with Lantra and SRUC. The apprenticeship gave him the opportunity to get out on farm and ultimately became a farm manager. He tells us of his farming journey, how the apprenticeship scheme works and how you can get involved in the scheme. 

FAS Resources  

Managing People | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot) 

Other Resources  

Carbeth Home Farm – an an adventure in ecology, agriculture and tourism 

From apprentice with no farming background to farm manager | The Scottish Farmer 

Apprenticeships - Lantra 

Study at SRUC | Apprenticeships 

Modern Apprentice Lawrence Martin tells us how much he enjoys his career in farming - YouTube 

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot 

Twitter: @FASScot 

Facebook: @FASScot 

National Advice Hub 

Phone: 0300 323 0161 

Email: [email protected] 

In this episode of Natural Capital Ross Mackenzie and Janette Sutherland visit Sam Thorburn’s croft on the Isle of Skye. They discuss the natural capital on the islands, Gaelic culture, biodiversity, and crofting life. Gaelic language provides a unique insight and understanding of Scotland’s nature, helping us to understand it better. Central to all Natural Capital is people; our heritage, language, and communities are all important considerations. They provide valuable lessons and traditional ways of doing things, helping to develop successful natural capital projects and effective policy.   

Guest hosts Ross Mackenzie and Janette Sutherland. 

Host Rachel Smillie, producer Iain Boyd, executive producer Kerry Hammond, editor Ross Mackenzie. 

Related FAS resources:  

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

FAS Biodiversity Pages: https://www.fas.scot/environment/biodiversity/    

FAS Crofts & Small Farms: https://www.fas.scot/rural-business/crofts-small-farms/  

Other Related Resources: 

Bòrd na Gàidhlig: https://www.gaidhlig.scot/en/  

Crofting Commission: https://www.crofting.scotland.gov.uk/  

Gaelic within NatureScot: https://www.nature.scot/gaelic 

John Muir Trust Wild Words - Reading the Land: https://www.johnmuirtrust.org/whats-new/news/39-wild-words-reading-the-land#:~:text=Meall%2C%20ubiquitous%20on%20the%20map,is%20a%20high%2C%20rocky%20hill 

Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority - Our Gaelic Culture: https://www.lochlomond-trossachs.org/discover-the-park/our-heritage-culture/our-gaelic-culture/  

We are at Dornie hall, talking to clerks and committee members about the issues they face when trying to run the common grazing, especially when it comes to finances.  Firstly, we talk with Finlay Beaton from the Crofting Commission, about the problems that they deal with and the solutions for clerks. Finlay also has the advantage of having worked with RPID, so also understands the grant and subsidy systems.  Arthur Macdonald adds his take from years of running finance training, working with landlords and crofters, and working at the CC.  These meetings are continuing around the crofting counties, so if you are a clerk, book on!

We cover:

Common themes such as monitoring and accounting for funds, who is responsible for the funds; how and who to bring onto your committee; how to set it up; the difference between CG and clubs; vacant crofts

Useful Links

Finance Forms for Common Grazings | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

A Simple Guide to Common Grazings Terms | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

Appointment of Grazings Committees | Crofting Commission (scotland.gov.uk)

Regulated Commons Grazings | Crofting Commission (scotland.gov.uk)

Common Grazings Dilemmas | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

Welcome back to the Rural Round-up hosted by me, Kerry Hammond. This show is produced in association with the Scottish Government. On today’s episode, George & Robert are joined by Professor Steven Thomson from SRUC’s Rural Policy Centre to shine a spotlight on what’s happening currently with rural and agricultural policy.    

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot 

Twitter: @FASScot 

Facebook: @FASScot 

National Advice Hub 

Phone: 0300 323 0161 

Email: [email protected] 

Mary-Jane Lawrie talks to Lucy Mitchell.  Lucy was an active member of Young Farmers from her early twenties and went on to become national chair of SAYFC from 2022 to 2023.  Lucy has recently handed over this role, and she tells us about what Young Farmers is, what sort of opportunities it gives young people, and what her year as national chair was like. 

Related Resources: 

Lucy Mitchell | LinkedIn 

The Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs | SAYFC 

You searched for lucy mitchell - Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs (sayfc.org) 

Scottish Rural Leadership Programme | Elevator UK 

Challenge of Rural Leadership - Worshipful Company of Farmers (farmerslivery.org.uk) 

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot 

Twitter: @FASScot 

Facebook: @FASScot 

National Advice Hub 

Phone: 0300 323 0161 

Email: [email protected]