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

https://feeds.captivate.fm/fas-in-conversation-with/

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

Welcome back to the Rural Round-up hosted by me, Kerry Hammond. This show is produced in association with the Scottish Government. On today’s episode I’m joined by George Chalmers, Robert Ramsay and Tiffany Stephenson who discuss the recent bout of wet weather, and the implications of this on our agricultural businesses. We also talk about beef enterprise efficiencies. I’m later joined by Sascha Grierson, Principal Consultant at SAC Consulting and Project Lead for the Scottish Farm Business Survey, commissioned by the Scottish Government. Sascha tells us the latest findings from the Scottish & Farm Business Survey, and provides some figures for industry performance.

If you want to sign up for the farm business survey please email Sascha.grierson@sac.co.uk

FAS Resources

Stock Talk - Performance in Beef Herds | Information helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

CropCast - Spring Fertiliser Applications | Information helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

Whole Farm Benchmarks Tool 2022-23 | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

Other Resources

Agricultural Reform Route Map (ruralpayments.org)

Supporting documents - Scottish farm business income: annual estimates 2022-2023 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

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 briefs, arable, beef, sheep and milk, In this edition we are also bringing you sector overviews on straw & muck and Scottish sheep meat. We will also be bringing you news on why you should invest in your vet and future proofing your retirement.

Show Notes

00.45:- News in Brief

02.43:- Policy Briefs - Spring Budget, New Bills, Farm Business Survey results 2022/23

07.00:- Arable- Will crops be keeping us cozy in the future?

14.17:- Wet weather tempering demand for grazing store cattle

16.16:- Sheep - Global events bolstering UK lamb price.

19.22:- Sector Focus – Straw & muck star players in an increasingly cyclical economy.

22.22 :-Milk - Volumes rising but demand remains sluggish.

27.11:- Sector focus – Scottish sheep meat – simply Baa-rilliant !

32.29:- Inputs - Why you should invest in your vet

38.21:- Management Matters - Future Proofing your Retirement

FAS Resources

Agribusiness News April 2024 | Information helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

Other Links:

Land Maintenance Form

Rural Payments and Services website

The new Land Reform (Scotland) Bill

Scottish Farm Business Survey

New Agricultural Wages Order

Bioenergy 12 week consultation period

Tolerable and Repairing Standards

Energy Performance Certificate

Jennifer Galloway on Jennifer.galloway@sac.co.uk and Tel 01776 702649

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot

Twitter: @FASScot

Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: advice@fas.scot