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 Resources

Crops and soils | Helping farmers in Scotland

Other Related Resources

Farmbench - a farm business comparison tool | AHDB

Agricultural Reform Route Map

Welcome back to the Rural Round-up. On today’s episode George Chalmers and Mary-Jane Lawrie discuss the upcoming FAS Women in Agriculture Conference, which takes place on the 11th February. They are also joined by Siobhan Macdonald to discuss the agenda for the upcoming FAS Conference, which takes place on the 19th February.

Time Stamps:

05:45 NVZ reminder

12:54 PSF reminder

15:25 AECS reminder

16:03 Inheritance tax update

19:12 Women In Agriculture conference

24:52 FAS Conference

FAS Resources

FAS Events

https://www.fas.scot/events/

NVZ Rules Refresher

https://www.fas.scot/publication/nvz-rules-refresher/

NFUS: Summary of IHT changes (23rd Dec 2025) https://www.nfus.org.uk/policy/campaigns/inheritance-tax-iht.aspx#:~:text=After%2014%20months%20of%20relentless,and%20business%20property%20per%20individual.

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot

Twitter: @FASScot

Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: advice@fas.scot

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.

Reducing carbon emissions is becoming an increasingly important consideration for upland and hill farmers across Scotland. As climate targets, evolving support schemes and market expectations continue to shape the future of agriculture, farmers are being asked not only to produce food from some of the country’s most challenging landscapes, but to do so in ways that recognise and enhance their role in climate mitigation. In these extensive systems, decisions around livestock management, soils, grassland and habitats all influence a farm’s overall carbon footprint and long-term resilience.

Upland and hill farms are often characterised by low inputs, permanent pasture and semi-natural habitats, meaning they already deliver significant environmental value. However, understanding where emissions arise — and where carbon can be stored — is key to making informed, practical changes. From improving animal efficiency and grazing management to protecting peatland and making targeted investments, there are opportunities for farmers to reduce emissions while strengthening business performance.

In this episode, we sit down with Senior Consultant and Lead on the Carbon Dynamics Knowledge Network, James Orr from SAC Consulting to explore what carbon reduction really looks like in upland and hill farming systems. James shares his perspective on the actions farmers can take now, the investments most likely to deliver benefits, and how measuring and understanding carbon footprints can support better decision-making. He also speaks passionately about the impacts of peer-to-peer learning and knowledge exchange and together, we discuss how hill farmers can work with their land, build resilience into their businesses, and ensure they are recognised as a vital part of Scotland’s climate solution.

Want to get in touch with James? You can get a hold of him via telephone on 01292 525010 or by email at james.orr@sac.co.uk.

Related FAS Resources

Rural Roundup - 1. Unsung Heroes – Littleton Farm - Biodiversity (Weeds) | FAS

Rural Roundup - 2. Unsung Heroes - Temples Farm – Data (Genomics) | FAS

Rural Roundup - 3. Unsung Heroes – Park Farm - Dairy Technology (Robots & Solar PV) | FAS

Rural Roundup - 4. Unsung Heroes – Birks Farm - Efficiency (Calving at Two) | FAS

Rural Roundup - 5. Unsung Heroes – Haggs Farm – Machinery (Slurry Separator) | FAS

Rural Roundup - 6. Unsung Heroes - Agriculture’s Position in the Climate Change Conversation | FAS

FAS Connect | Helping farmers in Scotland

You are listening to Agri Culture, a podcast that aims to explore the stories of the people that make up our agricultural industry and culture of farming, in Scotland and beyond.

Welcome to part two of a two-part episode series about Steading and Co and the family. Mary-Jane Lawrie is joined by Phillip, Konrad, Symone and Alex, a multigenerational family running a regenerative farming business in Fife. They talked about their journey from a dairy farm in Ireland to an arable farm in Canada, and now building a life of health from the ground up on their farm in Scotland. The family have come together after time spent working in different careers, with the common goal of running a sustainable farming business. They are focussed on the benefit of regenerative practices to improve soil health, food quality, nutrition and health.

If you missed the first part of this episode series, you can catch it right now, wherever you normally listen. If you’d like to get in touch or find out more about Steading and Co, you can find links in the show notes.

This episode was presented by Mary-Jane Lawrie, produced by Kerry Hammond and edited by Cameron Waugh, in association with the Scottish Government.

Part 1: Agri Culture - Building A Life Of Health From The Ground Up: Steading & Co Family (Part 1) | FAS

Resources:

Discover Sustainable Farming Practices at Steading & Co. - Enhance Soil Health & Wellness

Steading&Co (@steadingandco) • Instagram photos and videos

About - Soil Food Web School - Regenerating Soil

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot

Twitter: @FASScot

Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: advice@fas.scot

You are listening to Agri Culture, a podcast that aims to explore the stories of the people that make up our agricultural industry and culture of farming, in Scotland and beyond.

Welcome to part one of a two-part episode series about Steading and Co and the family. Mary-Jane Lawrie is joined by Phillip, Konrad, Symone and Alex, a multigenerational family running a regenerative farming business in Fife. They talked about their journey from a dairy farm in Ireland to an arable farm in Canada, and now building a life of health from the ground up on their farm in Scotland. The family have come together after time spent working in different careers, with the common goal of running a sustainable farming business. They are focussed on the benefit of regenerative practices to improve soil health, food quality, nutrition and health.

Make sure you catch the second part of this episode series right now wherever you normally listen. If you’d like to get in touch or find out more about Steading and Co, you can find links in the show notes.

This episode was presented by Mary-Jane Lawrie, produced by Kerry Hammond and edited by Cameron Waugh, in association with the Scottish Government.

Part 2: Agri Culture - Building A Life Of Health From The Ground Up: Steading & Co Family (Part 2) | FAS

Resources:

Discover Sustainable Farming Practices at Steading & Co. - Enhance Soil Health & Wellness

Steading&Co (@steadingandco) • Instagram photos and videos

About - Soil Food Web School - Regenerating Soil

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot

Twitter: @FASScot

Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: advice@fas.scot

Along with our regular monthly updates on policy, cereals, beef, sheep and milk, in this edition we also have a spotlight on geopolitics and global agricultural trends.

Show Notes

00:36 News in Brief

03:24 Policy Briefs – Muirburn licencing, Sheep and Goat Inventory, PSF claims, slurry storage regulations, visitor levies, key dates, newly released publications.

13:47 Cereals – Review of 2025 and looking ahead to 2026

20:13 Beef – Review of 2025 and looking ahead to 2026

31:20 Sheep – Review of 2025 and looking ahead to 2026

36:06 Milk – Review of 2025 and looking ahead to 2026

42:54 Sector focus – Geopolitics and global agricultural trends

50:21 Further articles – Ledmacoy free-range bronze turkeys (FAS TV), Organics at Bowhouse (FAS TV) and Agronomy Past, Present & Future (FAS Podcast)

FAS Links and Resources:

Newsletters - Business & Policy Edition - Farm Advisory Service

Other Links and Resources:

National Flood Advisory Service

Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill

Glyphosate Renewal Group

Next Generation Practical Training Fund

Peatland Training Fund

Environmental Authorisation (Scotland) Regulations (EASR) 2018

Wildlife Management & Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024

Sheep and Goat Inventory

Farming and Water Scotland - Slurry and Manure Storage

Antimicrobial resistance

Rural Scotland data dashboard 2025: data tables

Livestock identification and traceability: guidance

The First National Good Food Nation Plan

Welcome to Stock Talk hosted by Kirsten Williams. On today’s episode Kirsten is joined by Dr Basil Lowman who has been a beef specialist with SAC Consulting for 55 years. Kirsten describes Basil as a legend in the beef industry. We hear about Basil’s varied career, his passion for the industry, how he thrives on challenge and is a pioneer of new ideas.

Episode Timestamps

01.37 Let’s go back in time

09.13 Body condition scoring of cattle

16.38 The development of silage and straw-based rations

24.24 The Green Shed

29.43 Beef farming in 10 years’ time

Related FAS Resources

Cattle resources for farmers from Farm Advisory Service | FAS

Body Condition Scoring - Maintaining condition (FAS)

Other Related Resources

The Benefits of Cow Condition Scoring - Part 1 (QMS)

The Benefits of Cow Condition Scoring - Part 2

Greenshed Graphic - SRUC

GreenShed video - SRUC - YouTube

For more information, visit  www.FAS.scot

Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: advice@fas.scot

Welcome to this special episode of the Rural Roundup, one of a six-part series called “Unsung Heroes”. In this episode Calum Johnston sits down one on one with James Orr an Agricultural Advisor with a special interest in the carbon footprint of livestock systems. In the previous five episodes we heard from Farmers from five different beef and dairy farms in South West Scotland about their “Unsung Heroes”. Technology, Data, Biodiversity, Machinery and Efficiency. These Farmers and their Farms evidence that livestock farming in Scotland, has been constantly evolving, improving their practices not only for better profitability, better resilience, better output and better lives, but by doing these things, and making changes big or small, they are reducing their impact on the planet day, by day.

James is going to tell us more about some of his other “Unsung Heroes” not just for Beef & Dairy Farms, but applicable to any agricultural system, and also give us his view on Agriculture’s current position in the climate change conversation.

Thanks for joining us for this special episode of the Rural Roundup. Check out the other five episodes of the Unsung Heroes series, all available to listen wherever you normally do, right now!

If you’d like to get in touch or find out more about anything we discussed in the Podcast, head to the show notes.

This episode was presented by Calum Johnston, produced by Kerry Hammond and edited by Cameron Waugh, in association with the Scottish Government.

Related FAS Resources

Climate Change resources for farmers from Farm Advisory Service

Farming for a Better Climate | Helping farmers in Scotland

For more information, visit  www.FAS.scot

Twitter: @FASScot

Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: advice@fas.scot