Welcome to Stock Talk hosted by Principal Consultant Kirsten Williams. On today’s episode Kirsten is joined by farmers Ben and Harriet Lowe. HB Farms in Aberdeenshire consists of Newseat of Dumbreck, an arable farm on tenancy and Pitmillan Farm which is home to 450 breeding sows and a finishing unit. In addition to grass, forestry and land for environmental schemes, they grow 397ha of crops, with the grain used as feed for the pigs whilst manure is recycled back onto the fields. Soil health, circular agriculture and long-term biodiversity are priorities for HB Farms.

Episode Timestamps

01:05 Introducing Ben and Harriet Lowe

05:38 Farm stats

06:38 Pigs, from breeding to finishing and managing a weekly system

09:15 Knowledgeable staff

10:46 Creating a circular farm

11:36 Saving on inputs due to pig FYM

14:04 Ration changes throughout the cycle

15:53 Data driven decision making

19:19 Genetics and feed conversion

21:14 Target carcase weight and spec

23:36 Processing pig meat

26:13 Managing cashflow

27:31 Protein in the pig diet

33:18 Nuffield: closing the loop in pig production: the 5-mile pig

39:30 LEAF demonstration farm

41:09 Resilience in the business

47:35 Advice for New Entrants

FAS Resources

FAS Case Studies - Gaining A Tenancy As A New Entrant

Other Resources

Instagram - HB Farms

Nuffield scholar - Ben Lowe

Leaf demonstration farms - HB Farms

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot

Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: advice@fas.scot

The Future Farming Investment Scheme (FFIS) grant scheme is a new scheme in 2025, allowing crofters and farmers to invest to improve business efficiency, nature and climate friendly farming. The FFIS offers flexible capital grants to support investments with tiered levels of funding available. There are other changes affecting crofters, such as a simplified Crofting Agricultural Grants Scheme, which offers grants towards infrastructure; and changes to Greening rules which will affect crofters with more than 15ha of arable land. The Preparing for Sustainable Farming scheme is available this year, for the last time, and can help with the Carbon audit and Soil elements of the Whole Farm Plan. For 2026, the Whole Farm Plan requirements are for 2 elements out of the five choices: Carbon Audit, Animal Health Plan, Biodiversity audit, Soil Analysis and Integrated Pest Management.

This episode covers many schemes! For background, have a listen to the previous podcasts on Subsidy and Support Changes for Crofting, and Subsidy Future and Current Schemes, to find out more about the structure of support for the agricultural sector.

Related FAS Resources

Preparing For The Future | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service

Crofting Agricultural Grant Scheme (CAGS) | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service

Welcome back to the Rural Roundup. On today’s episode George Chalmers & Tiffany Stephenson talk to Professor Steven Thomson about the Enhanced Greening conditional changes which will come into effect from 1st January 2026.

This show is produced in association with the Scottish Government.

FAS Resources

Events | Events helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service

Greening Guidance 2026 (ruralpayments.org)

Preparing For The Future | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service

Other Resources

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot

Twitter: @FASScot

Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: advice@fas.scot

Measuring and accounting for biodiversity across farmlands is becoming increasingly important. Environmental DNA (eDNA) involves collecting genetic material from environmental samples like water and soil to detect what species are present. It is a tool that is growing in popularity, that can give insights into the range and distribution of species found across a landscape, assess ecosystem health, and track biodiversity changes over time.

We discuss the role this technology can have in biodiversity baselining with Kevin Fennelly and George Muscatt from NatureMetrics. NatureMetrics is a global nature intelligence technology company who pioneer the use of innovative methods for biodiversity monitoring. We assess how eDNA works and the role this technology could have across diverse landscapes, including its benefits and limitations, and how it can help understand and manage biodiversity.

Host Harry Fisher, Producer Iain Boyd, Editor Kieron Sim, Executive Producer Kirstyn Blackwood

Timestamps:

1:11 – 7:55 intros to speakers and what is eDNA

7:56 – 25:38 what can it discover and how does it work

21:37 – 36:18 what is driving demand and nature based risks

36:19 – 47:46 benefits for farms, companies and food production

Related FAS resources:

Biodiversity On Your Farm | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service

Habitat And Landscape Management | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service

FAS Sounds | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service

Other Related Resources:

eDNA Biodiversity Monitoring Case Studies

eDNA & Biodiversity Monitoring for Regenerative Agriculture

Kevin Fennelly - kevin.fennelly@naturemetrics.co.uk

Thrill of the Hill is back for season 6! Armed with a new team, new ideas and a range of new speakers, Alex takes on the hot topics impacting the farmed upland environment.

In this episode outreach adviser Charlie Owen from the Woodland Trust discusses the MOREwoods scheme set up by the Woodland Trust. The scheme is there to allow land owners to access partial funding and advice which may will lead to planting trees on their land. Set up in 2010 the MOREwoods Scheme has supported 3000 landowners achieve their goal of planting more trees.

Feeling inspired and want more info please visit the Woodland trust website and head to the Plant trees section to find out more. Plant Trees on Your Land with MOREwoods - Woodland Trust

Related FAS Resources

Farm Woodland resources for farmers from Farm Advisory Service

Other Related Resources

Plant Trees on Your Land with MOREwoods - Woodland Trust

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

Welcome to Business & Policy News Audio, formerly Agribusiness News.

Along with our regular monthly updates on policy, cereals, beef, sheep and milk, in this edition we also have a spotlight on farm business diversification.

Show Notes

00:33 News in Brief

05:08 Policy Briefs – Programme for Government 2025-2026, 2025 Climate Change Committee Report, Next Generation Farming – Apprenticeships, Bluetongue (BTV) Virus Vaccine, Scottish Upland Sheep Support Scheme (SUSSS), Key Dates.

15:33 Cereals – Global Supply Risks Mount, Demand-Side Developments, Malting Barley & Feed Barley, Rapeseed Mixed Market, Oats, Overall Outlook.

22:13 Beef – Young bull numbers impacting on prices, Strong demand for manufacturing beef, Store Cattle Trade Back, Room for more?

29:02 Sheep – UK EU Strategic Partnership, Sheep Trade, Export Market, Protein Consumption

33:18 Milk – Production data, Farm-gate prices, Dairy commodities and market indicators, Antimicrobial resistance in calves, Rabobank global outlook 

39:22 Sector focus – Farm Diversification.

51:05 Further articles – Croft Diversification, Reducing Antimicrobial Use in Scottish Dairy Farms, A couple more cows per herd each year would realise Scotland’s economic potential by 2030, Grain Marketing Podcast, Bluetongue, Bee Health Awareness Day

FAS Resources:

Newsletters - Business & Policy Edition - FAS

Other Links:

The Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill

The Land Reform (Scotland) Bill

Scotland's Carbon Budgets Report 2025

Lantra Scotland - land based pre-apprenticeship

scotland@lantra.co.uk

Report your use of the bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3) vaccine - GOV.UK

GOV.uk - Bluetongue: news, information and guidance for livestock keepers

GOV.WALES

The Scottish Government - gov.scot

QMS article: two more cows per herd per year

The Cargill 2025 Protein Profile Report

Scottish Farm Business