Scotland's Farm Advisory Service Podcast
Scotland’s Farm Advisory Service is funded by the Scottish Government. Our podcast covers a range of topics which help support your farm or croft to be more profitable and sustainable.
Episodes
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 i...
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 sheepare usually more pronounced than in cattle bu...
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 e...
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 – Late...
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 an...
Welcome to Stock Talk. In this episode James is joined by Alice Lennox from the Rare Breed Survival Trust (RBST). Alice tells us all about what the RBST does and gave us some insight to some of the rare breeds on the ‘at risk’ watchlist. Alice and James discuss the role of these rare breeds including conservation grazing, conservation of livestock genetics and the inclusion of native rare breeds in commercial systems, f...
Join us for a conversation with Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands, the not-for-profit initiative is taking a proactive approach to restoring and connecting native woodland across the region. We explore the importance of woodland connectivity, the realities of creating woodland on working farms, and how the Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands and their projects are helping landowners turn good intentions into trees in the ground.
Conta...
Hello and welcome to Crofting Matters, hosted by Osla Jamwal Fraser where we discuss topics that matter in crofting.
For this series, we are bringing you Crofting Matters from Shetland. Today we are looking at traditional crofting practices, Shetland Kale, and how a local development group is working to protect and develop rural life in Northmavine in the North Mainland of Shetland. We’re delighted to welcome Kathleen Anderson...
Biodiversity auditing has become part of the Scottish Governments Whole Farm Plan and discussions around nature conservation are becoming commonplace around the farm table. In today’s episode Alex is joined by senior ecologist Dr Lorna Cole for a broad discussion on the state of Scotlands Nature and where biodiversity auditing fits into the bigger ambitions for nature restoration. Lorna also puts Alex in the hot seat to talk ...
Welcome back to the Rural Round-up. On today’s episode George Chalmers and Tiffany Stephenson discuss Bluetongue, updates to greening guidance for 2027 and updates to the Future Farming Investment Scheme (FFIS), as well as other key considerations for Autumn 2026.
Timestamps
How are things in the borders? 00:27
Bluetongue 03:30
Greening guidance for 2027 06:25
Future Farming Investment Scheme (FFIS) 16:00
EFA Hedge cutting guidance...
In this episode Tiffany is joined by Arthy Surendran a Lecturer from Queens University Belfast to discuss her post-doctoral research, which looks at feeding food waste to insects with the aim of producing high value protein and fertiliser (Frass) as a by-product. Tiffany is also joined by Lachlan Jones, an Agricultural consultant from SAC Consulting, who is using Frass in SRUC crop field trials.
Listen to this episode to learn about...
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 Nicola Wordie an award-winning livestock farmer and social media creator from Aberdeenshire. She farms in partnership with her Dad on a mixed upland sheep and beef farm and shares her day-to-day farming lif...
Along with our regular monthly updates on policy, cereals, beef, sheep and milk, in this edition we also have a spotlight on the pig sector.
Show Notes
00:34 News in Brief
06:09 Policy Briefs – Scottish Pig Producers Support Scheme, New calls to boost Scotland’s wildfire response, Scotland bans glue traps, Cracks appear over the future of brown eggs.
11:29 Cereals – Latest news and market update
Welcome to Stock Talk. In this episode James is joined by Dick Playfair from the Venison Advisory Service and Janet Keith from Tullynessle Deer Farm. Dick gives us a market overview of venison, tells us about how the wild deer cull influences deer farming and about the importance of provenance when selling venison direct to consumers. Then we speak to Janet, who runs Tullynessle Deer Farm with her husband Willie. Janet tells us the...
In this episode, we're joined by Abi Mordin from Propagate and Colleen McCulloch from the Soil Association to explore the work of the Scottish Agroecological Partnership (SAP), a collaboration of organisations working to make agroecology central to farming, crofting and growing in Scotland.
We discuss what agroecology means in practice, how collaboration is helping farmers, crofters and growers build more resilient businesses and th...
Hello and welcome to Crofting Matters, hosted by Osla Jamwal Fraser where we discuss topics that matter in crofting.
Over the next few episodes, we will be bringing you Crofting Matters from Shetland. Today we are joined by David Brown, Crofter, Shetlander, and Area Manager for Cooke Aquaculture Scotland. In this episode we look at the intersection between our crofting communities and the blue economy. Across the Crofting Counti...
Field to Fork with Kettle Produce: in this episode Mark is joined by Finlay Ross (Crop Manager) and Andrew Orr (Head of Agriculture) from Kettle Produce Ltd.
Kettle Produce are a market leader for the provision of fresh and prepared vegetables, with over 5,000 hectares of crops grown in Scotland and around the world.
Listen to this episode to hear about the background to Kettle Produce, regions farmed, crops grown, rotational demands...
The beef industry in Scotland is resilient and adaptable, whether it’s changing markets and cost of production pressures, policy developments or the new entrant bottleneck. To help us navigate these topics and many more, today we are joined by Senior Beef Specialist Gavin Hill to discuss the outlook for the beef sector.
This episode is brought to you by the Farm Advisory Service, presented by Alexander Pirie, produced by Heath...
Along with our regular monthly updates on policy, cereals, beef, sheep and milk, in this edition we also have a spotlight on potato markets and optical grading technology.
Timestamps and links for Show Notes
00:45 News in Brief
06:50 Policy Briefs – New EU rules on New Genomic Techniques (NGTs). Fair Dealing Obligations (Pigs) Regulations 2025. Growing Consumer Awareness of Regenerative Agriculture. Forestry Grant Scheme budget...
Welcome back to the Rural Round-up. On today’s episode George Chalmers and Tiffany Stephenson discuss opportunities for those looking to enter Agriculture, though apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship schemes, The Scottish Land Matching Service, and funded mentoring services, whilst also talking about Succession for those who may be ready to think about passing on the reigns, identifying specialist advice funding and resource...
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