Welcome to the third episode of In Conversation With… hosted this month by Principal Consultant Mark Bowsher-Gibbs. On today’s episode Mark is joined by John Stirling (Director at Arbikie Distilling Limited). They discuss how John draws on different strengths within the family business to sustainably produce a premium brand spirit, controlling the whole production process, starting with quality home-grown ingredients. Mark and John explore how to add value to the crops grown on farm, marketing of products and how to remain competitive in the marketplace. To finish, John outlines his vision for the future of Arbikie. This show is produced in association with the Scottish Government.

Episode Timestamps

03.34 Arbikie – a historical family business

07.00 Drawing on family skill sets

10.23 Lightbulb moment!

12.34 Varietal resilience

14.35 Different crops and the processing calendar

18.20 The world’s first climate positive spirits

20.34 Intercropping

22.57 The premium market – quality over quantity

25.06 Producing base spirit at Arbikie

28.51 Unique selling points – locality, short supply chain, sustainability

29.43 Emissions – sequestering more than emitting

34.00 World’s first green hydrogen distillery

35.40 Water – conserving a valuable resource

FAS Resources

www.fas.scot/crops-soils/soils/regenerative-agriculture/

www.fas.scot/news/legumes-in-rotations-benefits-for-the-environment-and-your-budget/

www.fas.scot/news/grant-funding-to-help-scottish-agri-businesses-reduce-emissions-and-improve-sustainability/

Other Resources

www.arbikie.com

www.hutton.ac.uk

sustainable creds SINGLE PAGES).pdf

Elsevier Science Article Nadar .pdf

Arbikie_Nadar_G&V_A5 Brochure_Jan21_WEB.pdf

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot

Twitter: @FASScot

Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: 

Welcome to the second episode of In Conversation With… hosted this month by Senior Sheep and Beef Consultant Kirsten Williams. This show is produced in association with the Scottish Government. On today’s episode Kirsten is joined by Poppy Frater (Senior Consultant, SAC Consulting) and Kerr Adams (Research Scientist, The James Hutton Institute). They discuss grass and water management and look at how to build resilience into a system. Also, the wet winter, late spring and how to manage grass growth and maximise productivity. To round off the discussion, our panel look ahead to the summer months, trends and how to plan for possible drought problems.

Episode Timestamps

00.00 Introduction

01.29 Making best use of pasture

02.35 Three leaf rule

04.19 Grass target heights – hitting the sweet spot

05.45 Value of rest

10.30 Effect of a changing climate on water availability

11:55 Climatic water balance projections

15.23 Water footprint

18.52 Strategies to increase water holding capacity

21.59 Sheep are the solution!

22.15 Building resilience into the system

25.45 Learning from others

28.18 Software to help manage supply and demand. Scenario planning.

32.42 Forage crops

33.16 Cashflow

34.35 Change one little thing

38.50 Key message for managing grass supplies

39.34 Key message for managing water supplies

41.17 Kirsten's take home message

FAS Resources

www.fas.scot/publication/resilient-technology-options-for-water-management-on-farm/

www.fas.scot/article/water-scarcity-and-rising-temperatures/

www.fas.scot/publication/feast-or-famine-water-on-your-farm-water-scarcity-video/

Other Resources

www.hutton.ac.uk

www.crew.ac.uk/

www.sruc.ac.uk/business-services/sac-consulting/agricultural-production/grassland-management/grazeup/

www.farmingandwaterscotland.org

www.rsabi.org.uk

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot

Twitter: @FASScot

Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: advice@fas.scot

Welcome to the first episode of In Conversation With… hosted this month by Principal Consultant Mark Bowsher-Gibbs. This show is produced in association with the Scottish Government. On today’s episode Mark is joined by Gary Catto (Head of Merchanting at Scotgrain Agriculture, part of Bairds Malt Ltd) and Robin Barron (General Manager at East of Scotland Farmers). They provide business insights and discuss grain marketplace, how the last 12 months have been, grain quality, supply and demand and what does 2024 look like as a trading environment.  

Episode Timestamps

00.00 Introduction – background and business operations

04:26 Increasing demand for malting barley

05:15 Steps in the supply chain

06:29 Global whisky sales and investment at malting level

08:29 Procuring grain and how a cooperative works

09:52 Grain varieties

10:33 Current planting situation and growers aommitments

11:30 Grain storage and movement throughout the year

15:10 Do end users drive when processing occurs and tonnage targets?

17:39 Dealing with variable grain quality

20:42 Expectations for 2024

23:14 New varieties on the horizon

26:33 Supply chain – priorities for the next 24 months

30:29 Lower carbon barley

33.01 Next month – Kirsten Williams discusses sheep health and welfare

FAS Resources

https://www.fas.scot/crops-soils/

www.fas.scot/problem-solver/all-arable/

https://www.fas.scot/article/agribusiness-news-april-2023-cereals-and-oilseeds/

Other Resources

www.scotgrain.co.uk

www.bairds-malt.co.uk

www.eosf.co.uk

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot

Twitter: @FASScot

Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: advice@fas.scot

Credits:

Hosted by Mark Bowsher-Gibbs

Guests; Gary Catto (Bairds Malt) & Robin Barron (East of Scotland Farmers)

Produced by Heather Stuart

Edited by Cameron Waugh

Executive Producer Kerry Hammond