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

jbolesworth@crm-group.co.uk

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot

Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: advice@fas.scot

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 Resources

Crops and Soils Bulletin June 2023 - Grain Store Hygiene Ahead of Harvest | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service

Ensuring Safe Storage for Wet Malting Barley | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service

Other Resources

AHDB (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 Scotland

Other 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: advice@fas.scot

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 Screen

Find your local Bayer technical manager

FAS - 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 Resources

Strategic 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 Resources

The Yield Enhancement Network | YEN

Nutri-Check Network