CropCast

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. Timestamps01.27 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 ResourcesOrganic 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]

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 using insects to produce protein and the potential benefits of using the by-product (Frass) as a potential fertiliser and biostimulant.This episode was presented by Tiffany Stephenson, produced by George Gauley, edited by Cameron Waugh, with executive producers Kirstyn Blackwood & Kerry Hammond.Timestamps 00:49 Introduction to Arthy01:06 Introduction to Lachlan01:32 Introduction to FRASS03:00 What is FRASS?04:57 What is chitin?07:50 How can chitin prime a plant against disease?09:37 Micronutrient value of FRASS?14:54 What is the organic matter value of FRASS?15:41 How much protein is produced alongside the FRASS?19:14 What is the pH of FRASS?22:00 Potential negatives of using FRASS?24:00 SRUC Field trials using FRASS30:00 Where does it fit into Agriculture?ResourcesPositive early results in Sustainable control of clubroot https://www.fas.scot/article/positive-early-results-in-sustainable-control-of-clubroot-using-chitinous-food-waste/Arthy Surendran on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arthy-surendran-123408153/For more information, visit www.FAS.scotFacebook: @FASScotNational Advice HubPhone: 0300 323 0161Email: [email protected]

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, agronomic and climatic challenges, technical innovations in the field, labour and market trends. This episode was presented by Mark Bowsher-Gibbs, produced by Heather Stuart, edited by Cameron Waugh, with executive producers Kirstyn Blackwood & Kerry Hammond. Timestamps02.08 Introducing Andrew Orr (Head of Agriculture at Kettle Produce) 04.18 Introducing Finlay Ross (Crop Manager at Kettle Produce) 06.51 Scale, set up of the business and crops grown 10.06 Crop rotation and working with a pool of growers 12.42 Cover crops 14.18 Farming calendar for broccoli and cauliflower 18.08 Vegetable agronomy 27.18 Adapting to extreme weather conditions 33.46 Crop trials 34.46 Labour requirements and graduate scheme 39.20 Market trends and demand for vegetables 42.28 Andrews take home message 43.50 Finlays take home message ResourcesKettle Produce Ltd Contact: [email protected] [email protected] For more information, visit www.FAS.scot Facebook: @FASScot National Advice Hub Phone: 0300 323 0161 Email: [email protected]

In this episode Tiffany Stevenson is joined by Simon Oxley to discuss Arable innovation along with Dr Neil Havis to discuss what growers can expect to see at the upcoming SRUC Crop trial events, which take place on the 23rd & 25th June 2026.With increasing pressure on margins, rising input costs and more challenging growing conditions, arable innovation and making the right variety and crop protection decisions has never been more important.The upcoming crop trial events provide a valuable opportunity to see current and upcoming Winter Wheat and Spring Barley varieties performing under local conditions and hear directly from researchers, industry specialists and fellow farmers about what is looking promising for the seasons ahead.Timestamps 0:10 Introduction to Neil & Simon2:32 What does Innovation mean?6:27 Where is the most potential for innovation?10:48 How are crops looking this season?15:14 Changes to crop varieties?17:28 What to expect at the upcoming crop trial events?26:14 Impact of climate change on arable production?27:50 How can growers make the best decisions?For more information, visit www.FAS.scotFacebook: @FASScotNational Advice HubPhone: 0300 323 0161Email: [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 Stamps01.16 Introducing Teresa Dougall and John Hutcheson (SQC)05.32 SQC as a cooperative organisation08.18 SQC history and where it all began14.41 Annual review structure & what the market wants in terms of assured products25.19 Interaction with Scottish Government29.36 Recognising our unique and diverse landscape in Scotland31.14 Representing a high standard product34.05 Importing / exporting grain40.11 Closing thoughts from Teresa and JohnResourceshttps://www.sqcrops.co.uk/Contact:[email protected]@sac.co.ukFor more information, visit www.FAS.scotFacebook: @FASScotNational Advice HubPhone: 0300 323 0161Email: [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.Timestamps01:42 Introduction to Kerry Leslie02:27 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 choice16:42 The impact of other crops on PCN18:40 The impact of ground keepers20:50 PCN Action Scotland24:50 Next steps for PCN action Scotland28:50 Introduction to Gavin Prentice31:19 Water scarcity project33:20 Key project outcomes34:40 Identifying water scarcity risks37:50 Easy wins for farmersRelated FAS ResourcesTechnical Note (TN30): Potato Cyst Nematodes (PCN)Planning for Water Scarcity - New Practical Guide for Farmers and Growers in Scotland | Helping farmers in ScotlandOther Related ResourcesPCN Action ScotlandCREW Planning for Water Scarcity:https://www.crew.ac.uk/news/arable-futures-new-guidance-supports-scottish-farmers-plan-water-scarcityPlanning for Water Scarcity: Practical guidance for Scottish farmers and growers | CREW | Scotland's Centre of Expertise for Waters

Welcome to CropCast Conversations. On today’s episode Mark is joined by Iain Riddell. Iain was a consultant and project manager with SAC Consulting for 45 years, before becoming self-employed and operating under Graystones Consulting. Iain’s work focuses on agricultural supply chains and his main interest is industrial hemp, which will be the focus of this episode. The global market for hemp is expected to quadruple by 2030 and as markets here evolve, there is great potential for Scotland’s farmers to reap the benefits.Hemp was actually grown in Scotland in the Middle Ages for rope and textile production, before it became more economic to import, to make ropes and sails for ships. It has recently attracted interest as a new arable crop as more uses for hemp become viable, including fibre/shiv for insulation and boarding in house construction and seeds used for cold pressed oil and food health products, plus many other uses. Hemp has also been shown to improve soil structure and quality, store CO2 and improve biodiversity and could play an important role in reducing Scotland’s greenhouse gas emissions. There is potential for this highly versatile crop to be a profitable break crop for farmers as demand increases for biobased materials to replace products derived from fossil fuels.Industrial hemp is used across sectors such as agriculture, automotives, bio-energy, construction, food and beverages, furniture, paper, personal care, recycling and textiles. Several years field crop experience in Angus and the Borders, and hemp crop trials in Scotland in 2024 has confirmed that the crop grows well in our climate.Episode Timestamps 01.23 Introducing Iain Riddell02.50 Potential uses for hemp as an industrial crop03.46 What do we mean by ‘industrial hemp’05.45 Historical context10.45 Growing hemp for fibre12.17 Hemp – what’s currently going on in the UK17.09 What we learned from growing hemp in the rotation22.48 Retting process28.32 Emerging hemp markets and potential uses33.42 Hemp seed industry35.26 Phytoremediation and the advantage of deep tap roots37.23 Biodiversity benefitsResources The Potential of the Hemp Crop in Scotland | Helping farmers in ScotlandAdvancing a sustainable Scottish supply chain for industrial hemp and co-productsBritish Hemp AllianceIndiNature – Natural fibre construction insulationhttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/industrial-hemp-licensing-guidance/industrial-hemp-licensing-factsheetThe Rowett Institute | The University of AberdeenContact:[email protected]@gmail.com (Iain Riddell)For more information, visit www.FAS.scotFacebook: @FASScotNational Advice HubPhone: 0300 323 0161Email: [email protected]

In this episode George Chalmers is joined by SAC Consultant David Ross, to discuss crop margins from 2025 and predictions for 2026. 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. Time Stamps 1:12 Introduction to David Ross 5:00 Impact of weather on 2025 yields 11:12 AHDB Farmbench 13:44 2025 Winter Wheat 19:20 2025 Oilseed Rape 24:50 2025 Spring Barley 28:32 2025 Winter Barley 30:58 Variations between farm 32:55 Projections for Winter Wheat 38:27 Projections for Oilseed Rape 2026 42:04 Projections for Barley 2026 45:35 Alternative crops for 2026 53:30 Key messages Related FAS ResourcesCrops and soils | Helping farmers in ScotlandOther Related ResourcesFarmbench - a farm business comparison tool | AHDBAgricultural Reform Route Map

Welcome to Cropcast Conversations hosted by Mark Bowsher-Gibbs. On today’s episode Mark is joined by Andrew Milne and Nick Hobson of United Oilseeds. We hear how the co-operative is structured, review 2025 OSR harvest and look ahead to prospects for 2026. They also discuss physical movements of the crop and market pricing mechanisms, so for all things OSR, enjoy listening to this very interesting conversation.  Andrew Milne – United Oilseeds Area Manager (Scotland) Nick Hobson – United Oilseeds Trading Manager Timestamps  00.55 Introducing Andrew and Nick from United Oilseeds 02.39 United Oilseeds – the company, it’s history and the area it covers  09.52 Varieties  12.15 Harvest 2025 18.43 Looking ahead to 2026 23.47 Movement of rape beyond the store 30.07 Different contract options and storage options  37.44 Key market watchpoints  41.43 Independent analysis of oil content  43.51 OSR Reboot  47.33 Andrews take home message  Related FAS Resources    Crops and soils | Helping farmers in Scotland How to Get Oilseed Rape off to a Good Start | Helping farmers in Scotland Related FAS Resources    United Oilseeds | Oilseed Rape | Buy Seed | Sell crops OSR-Reboot | United Oilseeds | Oilseed Rape Winter oilseed rape recommended and candidate lists | AHDB For more information, visit www.FAS.scot Facebook: @FASScot  National Advice Hub Phone: 0300 323 0161 Email: [email protected] 

In this episode George Chalmers is joined by Professor Fiona Burnett to look back at some of the key developments in agronomy which have taken place over her 33-year career, along with discussion about those which will shape the future. Welcome to CropCast, your go to podcast for all the latest information on arable crops. Each month, SAC adviser, 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. Timestamps02:00 Fiona Background 05:00 Developments in crop rotation 07:00 Yield (change in mindset)  10:29 Using multi-site chemistry 16:28 New technology & Chemistry 18:00 Biostimulants  20:40 IPM Planning 24:14 Changes in regulations 29:30 BASIS training 31:50 Quality Assurance 33:45 The future of agronomy 35:40 Managing inputs for the season ahead38:05 Seed dressings 39:50 Reducing application rates 41:30 The challenge of resistance 43:40 Three top tips  Related FAS ResourcesFAS Crops & Soils https://www.fas.scot/crops-soils/ 

In this episode George Chalmers is joined by Edward Jones, who is a Sustainable Farming Advisor at Frontier Agriculture to discuss cover crops.  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. Time codes 04:13 Definitions of green manure, cover crops & catch crops 09:14 Potential benefits 12:24 New species available 14:15 Different species for different areas 20:03 Considerations when choosing a crop 24:14 Greening 2026 28:40 Establishment 33:46 Potential uses with livestock 36:00 Seeds suitable for broadcasting 39:19 Three top tips Linked FAS Resources  FAS Crops & Soils https://www.fas.scot/crops-soils/  EFA Greening 2026 https://www.fas.scot/preparing-for-the-future/Other Linked ResourcesLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ed-jones-931725133?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=android_app  Clinkstone – Companion Crops & autumn cover crops in a min-till system https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uw5xnHdsaEw  Cover Crop Guide: https://covercropsguide.co.uk/ 

Welcome to Cropcast Conversations hosted by Mark Bowsher-Gibbs. On today’s episode Mark is joined by Julian South, Executive Director of The Maltsters’ Association of Great Britain (MAGB). MAGB are the trade association of the UK malting industry and represent over 98% of UK malt production, buying around 2 million tonnes of UK malting barley, to make about 1.6 million tonnes of malt. Mark and Julian discuss harvest 2025, barley varieties, tariffs and trade deals and opportunities for the industry. Episode Timestamps  01.38 Background and structure of MAGB 04.43 What is malt? 06.59 Distilling malts and brewing malts 07.50 Harvest 2025 round up  16.12 Evaluating and approving new barley varieties for malting  23.31 International Barley Hub 26.00 Biggest challenges for the malting barley industry  29.47 International trade 33.25 Tariffs and trade deals 35.04 Peat as a flavouring for malt  37.10 Finding out more: www.ukmalt.com 38.25 The malt industry in 10 years time  Resources    The Maltsters’ Association of Great Britain Malting Barley Committee - The Maltsters’ Association of Great Britain Contact: Julian South: 07967452838, [email protected] SRUC - Soils & plants - Recommended lists  SAC Recommended Lists for Cereals 2025-26 International Barley Hub - The James Hutton Institute  Mycotoxins - The Maltsters’ Association of Great Britain  For more information, visit  www.FAS.scot Facebook: @FASScot  National Advice Hub Phone: 0300 323 0161 Email: [email protected] 

In this episode George Chalmers is joined by SAC Senior Consultant and Chartered Accountant Andrew Coalter to discuss Arable Farm Finances, particularly cash flow challenges, investment and capital allowances for arable farms.  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. Related FAS Resources  Cash Flow Forecasting: https://www.fas.scot/article/building-good-financial-habits-with-cash-flow-forecasting/  Budgeting & Financial Planning https://www.fas.scot/rural-business/business-tools/budgeting-and-financial-planning/ Finance & Funding https://www.fas.scot/whats-stopping-you-finance-funding/ 

In this episode Tiffany Stephenson is joined by Robert Meadley to discuss some of the considerations which should be made when deciding to replace or invest in a piece of machinery. 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 Cameron Waugh, Executive Producer Kirstyn Blackwood, in association with the Scottish Government. Related FAS ResourcesGetting Started In Arable Agriculture - Machinery Appraisal | Information helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory ServiceOther Related ResourcesRobert Meadley LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-meadley-85652223/?originalSubdomain=uk Machinery costing calculator | AHDB

Welcome to CropCast Conversations hosted by Mark Bowsher-Gibbs. On today’s episode Mark is joined by two guests. Grant James (Business Development Manager at Sea2Soil) discusses an organic soil improver product from Sea2Soil. Grant provides an explanation of the biological mechanisms at play in the product, how it works on-farm and what to expect from applications. Steve Townsend brings a wealth of knowledge and experience of Regenerative Agriculture. Steve advises farmers all over the UK and Europe on how No-Till can improve their business. Steve is passionate about helping farmers reduce their fixed costs, increase their crop yields and weed control whilst repairing their soils. Episode Timestamps  00.55 Harvest 2025 feedback 03.03 Steve & Soil First Farming 04.04 Grant & Sea2Soil 06.01 What is fish hydrolysate? 06.46 Feeding the soil biology 11.04 Practices to build up soil biology 20.20 Measuring soil biology 27.47 How different crop sectors are responding to regenerative agriculture 32.04 Nitrogen use efficiency  34.56 Albrecht theory 38.40 Getting the magnesium ratio right 41.15 Grant’s take home message 42.00 Steve’s take home message   FAS Resources Regenerative Agriculture | Helping farmers in Scotland Other Resources    Organic Soil Improver - Make soil healthier & more productive | Sea2Soil  Grant James: [email protected], 07976 879646 Soil First Farming Steve Townsend: [email protected], 07989 402112  For more information, visit  www.FAS.scot Facebook: @FASScot  National Advice Hub Phone: 0300 323 0161 Email: [email protected] 

In this episode Tiffany Stephenson is joined by Kristina Grenz, Senior Cereal Product Quality Scientist at AHDB, to discuss ergot, which proved to be a significant problem for many growers during harvest 2024. In this episode we discuss the ergot life cycle, symptoms as well as top management tips. 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 Cameron Waugh, Executive Producer Kirstyn Blackwood, in association with the Scottish Government. Related ResourcesAHDB – Ergot management guidance for cereals - https://ahdb.org.uk/news/ergot-management-guidance-for-cereals-strengthened-by-review AHDB – An introduction to Ergot & its management in cereals https://ahdb.org.uk/knowledge-library/an-introduction-to-ergot-and-its-management-in-cereals FAS – Ergot – What is it and how to prevent it? https://www.fas.scot/article/ergot-what-it-is-and-how-to-prevent-it/ AHDB- Ergot in harvest 2024 https://ahdb.org.uk/news/ergot-in-harvest-2024-cereals-a-pathologist-s-paradise-a-supply-chain-challenge AIC – Ergot in cereal crops https://www.agindustries.org.uk/resource/ergot-in-cereal-crops-contracts-legislation-and-effective-management-frequently-asked-questions-faqs.html 

In this episode Tiffany Stephenson is joined by Donald Dunbar and Alan Bruce to discuss changes to EFA options under the Scottish Government’s enhanced greening measures for 2026, and how farmers might go about integrating some of these options into their own farming systems.   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 Cameron Waugh, Executive Producer Kirstyn Blackwood, in association with the Scottish Government. Related FAS Resources  Greening guidance (2026)Preparing For The Future | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service

Welcome to Cropcast Conversations hosted by Principal Consultant Mark Bowsher-Gibbs. On today’s episode Mark is joined by James Bolesworth (CRM AgriCommodities) to discuss how grain markets are looking for 2025 and in part 2 Mark is joined by George Chalmers (SAC Consulting) and Neil Havis (SRUC Professor, Crop Pathology) to update us on how crops are looking in Scotland.  Episode Timestamps  00.00 PART 1 – James Bolesworth (CRM AgriCommodities) 03.30 Wheat price movements over winter and early spring 06.14 Why has there been a steeper decline in grain price over the last few months? 09:20 Carryover stocks: current position and going into next season 12.58 Trump and tariffs: impact on food commodities and the grain market 16.33 Crop conditions and predicted reduction in production and output 19.55 Selling new crop: looking at opportunities to smooth the curve of volatility  23.00 PART 2 – George Chalmers (SAC Consulting) and Neil Havis (SRUC, Professor of Crop Pathology) 24.17 How crops are looking in Scotland 32.51 Yellow Rust and YR15 37.19 Choosing wheat varieties to grow this autumn  38.20 Spring barley update 42.30 Ramularia: the late season disease  FAS Resources Yellow rust - FAS New yellow rust strain confirmed - FAS June Crop Update - FAS FAS Newsletters - Crops & Soils Edition     Crop Trials Evening - Lothians Crop Trials Evening - Aberdeenshire Crop Trials Evening - Lanark Other Resources    CRM AgriCommodities   [email protected]  For more information, visit www.FAS.scot Facebook: @FASScot  National Advice Hub Phone: 0300 323 0161 Email: [email protected] 

In this episode Tiffany Stephenson is joined by George Chalmers to discuss grain storage and the importance of making sure stores are ready for harvest.  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 Cameron Waugh, Executive Producer Kirstyn Blackwood, in association with the Scottish Government. FAS ResourcesCrops and Soils Bulletin June 2023 - Grain Store Hygiene Ahead of Harvest | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory ServiceEnsuring Safe Storage for Wet Malting Barley | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory ServiceOther ResourcesAHDB (2023) Grain Storage Guide

In this episode, Tiffany Stephenson is joined by Dr Kerry Leslie to talk about the Potato viruses, which can cause devastating compulsory burn down orders, and why these viruses remain a major concern for the industry going forward.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 Cameron Waugh, Executive Producer Kirstyn Blackwood, in association with the Scottish Government.Linked FAS Resources  Six steps for virus management doc https://www.sasa.gov.uk/sites/default/files/The_6_Steps_to_Effective_Virus_Management_in_Potato_Crops.pdf The SAC Association of Potato Producers (SACAPP) https://www.sruc.ac.uk/business-services/sac-consulting/our-expert-teams/knowledge-networks/potato-services/ 

Welcome to the first episode of Cropcast Conversations hosted by Principal Consultant Mark Bowsher-Gibbs.  On today’s episode Mark is joined by Iain Riddel (Principal Consultant, SAC Consulting). They discuss growing sugar beet in Scotland and cover sugar beet trial work, sites, varieties, farmer group feedback and conclusions from trial work.  Episode Timestamps  00.32 Introducing Iain Riddell 01.49 Background to sugar beet in Scotland 05.05 Rural Innovation Support Service project 10.12 Biorefining hubs 11.35 Farmers feedback on practicalities of sugar beet in the rotation 15.43   Harvesting sugar beet 18.40 Storing sugar beet 19.35 Trials of different varieties at different locations 29.40 IBiolC Conference take-home messages 31.30 Iain’s closing thoughts FAS Resources Field Trialling Sugar Beet in Eastern ScotlandOther Resources    IBiolC (Organisation that connects industry, academia and government to bring biotechnology processes and products to the global market)  IBiolC annual conference (March 2025)    Sugar Beet: A Just Transition for the Chemicals Sector and a Net Zero Solution for Manufacturing.  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 Edward Scaman and Chris McClymont to talk about herbicides. How is the current season progressing and what is the best practice advice when it comes to applying products.  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 Cameron Waugh, Executive Producer Kirstyn Blackwood, in association with the Scottish Government.Linked FAS Resources  YouTube - Bayer Weed ScreenFind your local Bayer technical managerFAS - Herbicides

In this episode Tiffany Stephenson is joined by Tom Scrope to talk about his 2025 Nuffield Scholarship, in which he is exploring new ways of farmer knowledge exchange to secure stronger soils. Tom is also the Co-founder of soil benchmark, an online platform which can be used to create bespoke soil management plans.  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 Cameron Waugh, Executive Producer Kerry Hammond, in association with the Scottish Government. Linked Resources  Nuffield Farming Scholarships: https://www.nuffieldscholar.org/scholars/2024/tom-scrope Soil benchmark: https://www.soilbenchmark.com/#features Tom Scrope, Linked in: Tom Scrope on LinkedIn: 🤔 🇦🇺 🪱 Why do Aussie farmers share soil-y ideas BETTER and FASTER than… | 70 comments 

In this episode Tiffany Stephenson is joined by Balbirnie Farms manager David Aglen along with Professor Fiona Burnett, an applied plant pathologist at SRUC to discuss the results from crop trials, which have been taking place at Balbirnie Home Farms as part of the AHDB strategic cereal farm Scotland project. 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 Cameron Waugh, Executive Producer Kerry Hammond, in association with the Scottish Government. Related ResourcesStrategic Cereal Farm Scotland | AHDB

In this episode Tiffany Stephenson is joined by Borders Farmer Neil Ramsay along with Prof Roger Sylvester-Bradley, Principal Research Scientist and Head of Crop Performance at ADAS; to discuss grain analysis and the benefits it can have when tailoring nutrition. 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 Cameron Waugh, Executive Producer Kerry Hammond, in association with the Scottish Government. Linked ResourcesThe Yield Enhancement Network | YENNutri-Check Network

In this episode Tiffany Stephenson is joined by Angus Farmer & Managing Director of Soil Essentials, Jim Wilson to discuss soil health and the types of tests arable farmers should be considering.  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 Cameron Waugh, Executive Producer Kerry Hammond, in association with the Scottish Government. Related ResourcesSoilEssentials | Precision Farming Solutions By Farmers for FarmersSoil sampling - SoilEssentialsGreat news for GREATsoils: AHDB issues Soil Health Scorecard guidance | AHDBTechnical Note (TN721): Soil Biodiversity and Soil Health | Information helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service

In this episode Tiffany Stephenson is joined by Dr Ruth Wade and Professor Pippa Chapman from the University of Leeds, along with Dr Joseph Martlew from NIAB, to discuss Regenerative Agriculture and the trials which have been taking place in Yorkshire. 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 Cameron Waugh, Executive Producer Kerry Hammond, in association with the Scottish Government. Related ResourcesUniversity of Leeds Farm - Fix Our FoodHow to assess soil structure | AHDBThe Six Principles of Regenerative Farming: Why are they important? - AgriCaptureCO2Regenerative-in-a-Nutshell.pdf (LEAF)Farm-Scale Regenerative Agriculture | H3

In this episode Tiffany Stephenson is joined by Dr Steve Hoad, team leader in agronomy, physiology & genetics at SRUC, to provide an update on how Spring cereal varieties have been performing during the 2024 variety trials, along with his top variety picks. 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 Cameron Waugh, Executive Producer Kerry Hammond, in association with the Scottish Government.Linked FAS ResourcesFor the most recent Scottish Recommended list 24/25  https://www.sruc.ac.uk/media/4qybv20b/sruc-cereals-recommended-list-2024-tables-winter-edition-w1.pdf  Full variety data sets collected are available on the AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds website https://ahdb.org.uk/rl  Lothian crop trials webinar 2024 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V74muZHiI9w 

In this episode Tiffany Stephenson is joined by Dr Steve Hoad, team leader in agronomy, physiology & genetics at SRUC, to provide an update on how winter cereal varieties have been performing during the 2024 variety trials, along with his top variety picks. 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. Linked FAS ResourcesFor the most recent Scottish Recommended list 24/25  https://www.sruc.ac.uk/media/4qybv20b/sruc-cereals-recommended-list-2024-tables-winter-edition-w1.pdf  Full variety data sets collected are available on the AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds website https://ahdb.org.uk/rl  Lothian crop trials webinar 2024 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V74muZHiI9w 

In this episode Tiffany Stephenson is joined by Professor Fiona Burnett, an applied plant pathologist at SRUC to discuss the performance of fungicides during the challenging growing season, that has been 2024. 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 Lothian Crop Trials Webinar - YouTube 

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)

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 IPMAHDB – IPM Hub NFU – IPM PlanPlant health centre – IPM for arable crops or grass, also horticultural. Scottish Agricultural Reform Route Map

In this episode Tiffany Stephenson is joined by Andy Cunningham, a Field Technical Manager at Syngenta to discuss Vixeran, a new biostimulant which is now available to growers in the UK. 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 ResourcesVIXERAN - Biostimulant | SyngentaThe Role of Biostimulants in IPM | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)Click here to listen to CropCast Natural Products Part 1 - Elicitors

In this episode Tiffany Stephenson is joined by Dr Neil Havis, a Senior Plant Pathologist at SRUC to discuss natural products with a focus on elicitors.  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 ResourcesStrategic Cereal Farms | AHDBTechnical note (TN725): Integrated pest management | Information helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)Click here to listen to CropCast Natural Products Part 2 - VIXERAN (Biostimulant)

In this episode Tiffany Stephenson is joined by Peter Lindsay, an Agricultural Consultant at SAC Consulting and Professor Ian Bingham, a Plant & crop physiologist at SRUC, to discuss spring fertiliser applications for the season ahead. 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 ResourcesTN685 - Sulphur Recommendations for Crops TN732-Nitrogen Recommendations for Cereals, Oilseed Rape & Potatoes TN715 – TN718 Phosphate & Potash recommendations for crops

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 Cameron Waugh, Executive Producer Kerry Hammond, in association with the Scottish Government. In this episode Tiffany Stephenson is joined by Neil White, from Greenknowe Farm to discuss his journey, switching from a plough-based system to strip tillage, almost 10 years ago. Neil was recently awarded Farmers weekly, arable farmer of the year 2023. Linked FAS ResourcesProfiting From Reducing Tillage and Lowering Emissions - Neil White, Greenknowe Farm (youtube.com)Profiting From Reducing Tillage and Lowering Emissions - John Muir, Freelands Farm - YouTubeProfiting from Reducing Tillage and Lowering Emissions - Hew Hunter, Broachrigg Farm - YouTubeProfiting from Reducing Tillage and Lowering Emissions - John Davidson, Penicuik Estate (youtube.com)Profiting from Reducing Tillage and Lowering Emissions - John McCluskey, Lea Farm (youtube.com)Technical Note (TH553): Minimum Tillage

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 SAC Agricultural Consultant’s Donald Dunbar, Mark Bowsher–Gibbs and Iain Riddell to discuss the potential for alternative crops such as Rye, Hemp and Sugar beet in the Scottish arable rotation.  Linked FAS Resources Rye Growing winter Rye in Scotland Growing Winter Rye in Scotland | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)   Recommended Lists for cereals and oilseeds (RL) | AHDBSouth of Scotland Enterprise Report - Alternative Crops Case Study Hemp & Sugar beet South of Scotland Enterprise Report - Alternative Crops Case Study Hemp -30 

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/   

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 John Skea, an organic farmer based at East Mains Farm, Auchterhouse to find out, what makes his organic system work. During his conversation with Tiffany, John covers a range of important discussion points including crop rotation, building soil fertility, weed control, and organic markets.  This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in understanding more about what makes a successful organic system work. Linked FAS Resources Organic video series looking at three different organic businesses https://www.fas.scot/organics-in-scotland-series/ Getting started with organic farming https://www.fas.scot/article/getting-started-with-organic-farming-is-organic-for-me/ Organic farming Technical notes https://www.sruc.ac.uk/business-services/sac-consulting/agricultural-production/technical-notes/#organic 

Subscribe to the Crops & Soils Bulletin here.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 Iain Wilson from Stracathro estates who is a strong advocate for the using sheep to graze cereals.  Tiffany is also joined by Dr Robin Walker, a senior researcher focusing on low input cropping systems to discuss trials he has been involved in and the potential benefits of winter grazing cereals for both the arable farmer and the livestock farmer. Related ResourcesMixed Project – (4th year of the project) – Winter grazing cereals with sheep Home (au.dk) Farmers Guardian article Grazing sheep on cereals does not reduce yields, Scottish trials find | Farm News | Farmers Guardian Whitriggs – Winter grazing of crops Whitriggs - Winter Grazing of Crops | Information helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot) 

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 Donald Dunbar, a senior agricultural consultant at SAC consulting, along with Dr Steve Hoad, a team leader in agronomy, physiology & genetics at SRUC, to discuss the latest Scottish variety trial results, which will help growers to choose the best winter and spring barley varieties for harvest 2024. Linked ResourcesFor the most recent Scottish Recommended list 23/24 https://pure.sruc.ac.uk/en/publications/scottish-recommended-lists-for-cereals-202324 

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 Donald Dunbar, a senior agricultural consultant at SAC consulting, along with Dr Steve Hoad, a team leader in agronomy, physiology & genetics at SRUC, to discuss the latest Scottish variety trial results, which will help growers to choose the best winter wheat varieties for harvest 2024. Linked FAS Resources For the most recent Scottish Recommended list 23/24 https://pure.sruc.ac.uk/en/publications/scottish-recommended-lists-for-cereals-202324 

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 Julie Clark, senior knowledge exchange manager at AHDB, to discuss the importance of benchmarking and how it can ultimately allow you to make better decisions. Tiffany is also joined by Olivia Bonser, a Market intelligence analyst at AHDB, to discuss current and longer-term market forces and how these are likely to impact cost of production going forward. Linked FAS ResourcesFarmbench - a farm business comparison tool | AHDBFarmbench results: past, present and future | AHDB Tools | AHDB Cereals and Oilseeds markets | AHDB GB fertiliser prices | AHDB 

Welcome to CropCast, your go to podcast for all the latest information on arable crops. Each month, SAC advisor, Tiffany Mactaggart 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 Mactaggart is joined by Dr Henry Creissan an applied plant pathologist at SRUC and Professor Adrian Newton, a cereal pathologist/ Agroecologist at the James Hutton Institute, to discuss their work, which is looking at the impact of reduced tillage on integrated pest management (IPM) and how farmers can practically incorporate IPM into their own businesses. Linked FAS Resources The Centre for Sustainable Cropping is: https://csc.hutton.ac.uk/  Hutton’s IPM website: https://ipm.hutton.ac.uk/ Grieve’s House Tillage Platform: https://ghplatform.hutton.ac.uk/ and virtual tour: https://virtualtours.hutton.ac.uk/grieveshousetour/ Arable Scotland: https://www.arablescotland.org.uk/ Groundswell Scotland is this: https://www.fwi.co.uk/regenerative-agriculture/falkland-estate-to-host-new-regenerative-farming-event-in-scotland  Bayer open day at Boghall trial site. https://cropscience.bayer.co.uk/events/bayer-field-day-edinburgh/ 

Welcome to CropCast, your go to podcast for all the latest information on arable crops. Each month, SAC advisor, Tiffany Mactaggart 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 Mactaggart is joined by Iain Lindsay, area Manager at Syngenta UK to discuss low drift nozzles & closed transfer systems. Related ResourcesSpray Assist App to aid application on target | SyngentaCollaborative closed transfer system for UK evaluation | Syngenta

Welcome to CropCast, your go to podcast for all the latest information on arable crops. Each month, SAC advisor, Tiffany Mactaggart 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 Mactaggart is joined by Adam Christie, Managing Director at Scottish Agronomy and Professor Fiona Burnett to discuss winter and spring barley disease management (For winter wheat, please see episode 11).  We also discuss T0,T1, T2 & T3 spray timings and what you need to consider for this year's spray programme. Linked FAS Resources SRUC Crop protection report Crops | SRUC Scottish Agronomy Homepage - Visit Scottish Agronomy For More Information Scottish Recommended lists for cereals 2023/24 SAC RL centre pages 2010 (sruc.ac.uk) AHDB – Fungicide programmes for Barley https://ahdb.org.uk/knowledge-library/fungicide-programmes-for-barley 

Welcome to CropCast, your go to podcast for all the latest information on arable crops. Each month, SAC advisor, Tiffany Mactaggart 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 Mactaggart is joined by Adam Christie, Managing Director at Scottish Agronomy and Professor Fiona Burnett to discuss crop disease management in winter wheat.We also discuss T0,T1, T2 & T3 spray timings and what you need to consider for this year's spray programme.    Linked FAS Resources SRUC Crop protection report Crops | SRUC Scottish Agronomy Homepage - Visit Scottish Agronomy For More Information Scottish Recommended lists for cereals 2023/24 SAC RL centre pages 2010 (sruc.ac.uk) AHDB – Fungicide programmes for Wheat Fungicide programmes for wheat | AHDB   

Welcome to CropCast, your go to podcast for all the latest information on arable crops. Each month, SAC advisor, Tiffany Mactaggart 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 Mactaggart is joined by Natalie Wood, agronomy operations manager at YARA UK & Ireland along with George Chalmers, a senior agricultural consultant at SAC Consulting, to discuss best practice for applying nitrogen efficiently this coming season. Related FAS ResourcesTechnical Note (TN731) Nitrogen for Cereals, Rapeseed & Potatoes (fas.scot)Other Related ResourcesFertiliser application and spreading advice | Yara UKAgronomy podcasts | Grow the future | Yara UKNitrogen-Use Efficiency | Grow the Future | Yara UKYara UK on Twitter: "Our latest podcast is available! 🎧✔️ Yara agronomist Natalie Wood talks to Ken Rundle about the role micronutrients play in crop establishment and how they are no less important than macronutrients.🌱💧 Listen here 👉 https://t.co/S8cvADqc3T https://t.co/Bs0V9sI5Fe" / TwitterNatalie Wood - Agronomy Operations Manager - Yara International | LinkedIn

Welcome to CropCast, your go to podcast for all the latest information on arable crops. Each month, SAC advisor, Tiffany Mactaggart 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 Mactaggart is joined by Gordon Whiteford from Lower Mill of Tynet farm, who uses intercropping as a technique to produce crops to produce feed for his Banffshire based business, Highland Eggs. Tiffany is also joined by Dr Robin Walker, a senior researcher focusing on low input cropping systems to discuss his research and the potential benefits of intercropping to both arable and mixed farmers.  If you are in Scotland and interested in taking part of the intercrop VALUES project, which Robin is involved in, please contact Robin  [email protected] ResourcesThe current intercropping project SRUC and SAOS are involved with is the EU funded Intercrop VALUES project.  (https://twitter.com/IntercropVALUES; https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088203159247; https://www.linkedin.com/company/intercropvalues/posts/?feedView=all) If you are a farmer, maltster or craft brewer in Scotland and are interested in being a part of the Intercrop VALUES project, Robin would be keen to hear from you. Robin & team plan to explore potential problems and solutions within the value chain of high-quality craft beer made from barley that has been produced using intercrops, e.g., barley undersown with grass-clover, or barley grown in a mixture with a grain legume such as pea. Please contact [email protected].  There is a range of intercropping information already available from some of SRUC’s previous projects, such as the ReMIX brochure (PDF) and the YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRxVldHWHJAoU8xHNZ0efCQ/videos). These will soon be transferred across to the Intercrop VALUES YouTube channel (IntercropVALUES - YouTube) and website once fully up and running as the project progresses. For further information, please contact [email protected]. 

In this episode Tiffany Mactaggart is joined by David Mathewson from the Scottish government land inspections team, along with Neil Melville, senior Consultant with SAC Consulting, to discuss ecological focus areas (EFA’s). What is the purpose of them? what are the options and how can you make the most of them? Related ResourcesGreening guidance  https://www.ruralpayments.org/topics/all-schemes/basic-payment-scheme/ Local SGRPID office https://www.ruralpayments.org/topics/contact-us/ For more information, visit www.FAS.scotTwitter: @FASScotFacebook: @FASScotNational Advice Hub:Phone: 0300 323 0161Email: [email protected]