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 Resources

Getting Started In Arable Agriculture - Machinery Appraisal | Information helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service

Other Related Resources

Robert 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: grant.james@pelagia.com, 07976 879646

Soil First Farming

Steve Townsend: steve.townsend@soilfirstfarming.co.uk, 07989 402112

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 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 Resources

AHDB – 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

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