Business and Policy News Audio October 2025: Policy, cereal, beef, sheep and milk updates and a spotlight on farm-scale renewables.

Welcome back to the Rural Roundup. On today’s episode George Chalmers and Mary-Jane Lawrie discuss the aftermath of storm Amy, speak to Gilmour Lawrie ahead of the much-anticipated AgriScot 2025 and talk about upcoming deadlines including EFA green cover, PSF, SSBSS and SUSS. FAS Resources AgriScot 2025: https://agriscot.co.uk/ FAS Events: https://www.fas.scot/events/ Rural Payments, all scheme guidance https://www.ruralpayments.org/topics/all-schemes/ For more information, visit  www.FAS.scot Twitter: @FASScot Facebook: @FASScot National Advice Hub Phone: 0300 323 0161 Email: [email protected]

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.  On today’s episode Mary-Jane Lawrie is joined by Wallace Currie.  Wallace may be familiar to you as he runs his own podcast R2Kast as part of his brand Rural 2 Kitchen, which started during lockdown as a way to share his farming life.  Later he became a lecturer at SRUC and has since gone on to do a Nuffield Scholarship on pathways into agriculture through education, youth groups and consumer engagement.  He talks to us about his farming background, his thoughts on how agriculture should be woven into our education system, and his work with the Young Farmers and Farmstrong Scotland. Thanks for joining us for this episode of Agri Culture. If you’d like to get in touch or find out more about R2Kast, Young Farmers, Nuffield Scholarships, or Farmstrong Scotland 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. Resources: Rural2Kitchen - YouTube R2Kast - People in Food and Farming/All In - Hosted by Wallace Currie Rural2Kitchen | Facebook Wallace Currie MSc (@rural2kitchen) • Instagram photos and videos The Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs | SAYFC Agricultural Studies | Nuffield Farming Scholarships Farmstrong Scotland - Live Well, Farm & Croft Well For more information, visit  www.FAS.scot Twitter: @FASScot Facebook: @FASScot National Advice Hub Phone: 0300 323 0161 Email: [email protected] 

Along with our regular monthly updates on policy, cereals, beef, sheep and milk, in this edition we also have a spotlight on farm-scale renewables.&nbsp;&nbsp;Show Notes&nbsp;&nbsp;00:32 News in Brief&nbsp;&nbsp;05:15 Policy Briefs – Scottish Upland Sheep Support Scheme, New rules for applying waste to land, Improving Biosecurity on Pig Farms, Compulsory Purchase Reform, Bluetongue BVT-3 - Changes to restrictions in Scotland, Muirburn Licence, Key dates&nbsp;15:21 Cereals – latest arable news and market update&nbsp;&nbsp;22:46 Beef – Finished beef prices, Store Cattle Trade, Dairy Beef calf numbers rising&nbsp;28:44 Sheep – September Trade Round-Up, New Zealand Outlook 2025-26, Australian Lamb, Global Prices&nbsp;32:56 Milk – Milk production data, Farm-gate prices, Dairy commodities and market indicators, UK sexed semen use, Global milk outlook &nbsp;&nbsp;39:32 Sector focus – Viability and profitability of farm-scale renewables&nbsp;&nbsp;45:06 Further articles – Renewable Energy, Sheep records and tagging, Benefits of whole milk for calves, New regulations for the application of waste to land, Talking Turkey, NFUS Policy Manager Lucy McGillvary&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Links and Resources:&nbsp;Newsletters - Business &amp; Policy Edition - Farm Advisory Service&nbsp;&nbsp;Farming Profitability Review&nbsp;Cows painted with zebra-like striping can avoid biting fly attack&nbsp;&nbsp;PF22 - Scottish Upland Sheep Support Scheme claim form&nbsp;Scottish Upland Sheep Support Scheme full guidance&nbsp;Soil improvement using waste | Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)&nbsp;Compulsory Purchase Reform in Scotland - Scottish Government consultations - Citizen Space&nbsp;Bluetongue Movement checker&nbsp;DEFRA - General licence for the movement of animals from a bluetongue restricted zone - General licence EXD662 (E)&nbsp;Bluetongue movement restrictions for animals - Bluetongue: how to spot and report the disease - gov.scot&nbsp;The Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nature.scot/professional-advice/protected-areas-and-species/licensing/muirburn-licensing" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

Welcome to Stock Talk hosted by Kirsten Williams.&nbsp; On today’s episode Kirsten is joined by Jilly Duncan Grant, Founder &amp; CEO of Herd Advance Ltd.&nbsp; Jilly has a real love for agriculture and her varied career led to a focus on data driven decision making and developing Herd Advance with her husband to improve herd performance, profitability and wellbeing. &nbsp;&nbsp;Episode Timestamps&nbsp;&nbsp;00.42 Introducing Jilly Duncan Grant – a Jill of all trades!&nbsp;09.18 What is Herd Advance?&nbsp;23.49 The family farm – managing ‘boom and bust’ fluctuation in the marketplace&nbsp;27.55 QMS board member role&nbsp;31.03 What motivates Jilly to keep pushing forward&nbsp;&nbsp;FAS Resources&nbsp;Data Driven Decision Making for Finishing Cattle | Helping farmers in Scotland&nbsp;Data Driven Decision Making for Suckler Herds | Helping farmers in Scotland&nbsp;FFBC_Case_Study_Improving_weight_data_capture_Glenkilrie_&nbsp;Other Resources&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Herd Advance&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;For more information, visit www.FAS.scot&nbsp;Facebook: @FASScot&nbsp;&nbsp;National Advice Hub&nbsp;Phone: 0300 323 0161&nbsp;Email: [email protected]&nbsp;

In this episode, we sit down with Angus Buchanan-Smith, Co-Founder and Director of The Free Company, an organic farm and restaurant guided by regenerative methods, at the foot of the Pentland Hills. We explore the history of the business, the transition to organic farming and the various complimentary enterprises they operate, from their onsite restaurant, to veg boxes, pigs and engaging with their local community.&nbsp;&nbsp;With a deep respect for the land and experimenting with what works for them to ensure a resilient future, they share their ethos, the practices they use and how they are producing food that feeds both their local community and their on-site restaurant. We explore how they create meaningful links between food and place, and the challenges and benefits of transitioning to organic.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Whether you're a grower, eater, or someone curious about the future of food, this episode offers an honest, grounded look at how farming with nature can nourish people, planet, and community&nbsp;&nbsp;Host Harry Fisher, Producer Iain Boyd, Editor Kieron Sim, Executive Producers Kerry Hammond &amp; Kirstyn Blackwood&nbsp;Timestamps:&nbsp;0:56 – 15:29 Intro to the Free Company, transitioning to organic farming and finding out what worked for them.&nbsp;15:30 – 27:06 Getting the most out of the land, a regenerative approach and benefits to biodiversity, soil and carbon.&nbsp;&nbsp;27:07 –40:24 Local food production, customer experiences and their various enterprises.&nbsp;&nbsp;40:25 – end. Challenges, recommendations for others and future plans.&nbsp;&nbsp;Related FAS resources:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Natural Capital: https://www.fas.scot/sounds/natural-capital/&nbsp;&nbsp;Organics: https://www.fas.scot/organics/&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Other Related Resources:&nbsp;The Free Company: https://www.the-free-company.com/&nbsp;&nbsp;Pasture for Life: https://www.pastureforlife.org/&nbsp;&nbsp;

Welcome back to Crofting Matters. On today’s episode, Siobhan is joined by Graham Fraser (SAC Lerwick) to discuss an often asked question – how to start up a croft, smallholding or farming business. The Farm Advisory Service has an Advice Line – free to call or email for advice.&nbsp; Every year the team receives lots of questions about starting up a farming business.&nbsp; It can be tricky to get a croft, but tenancies and purchases do come up so if you are looking for an opportunity, then this will help you understand the process when it happens.Graham and Siobhan talk about setting up an agricultural business with particular emphasis on crofting and chat through some of the questions they have received through the advice line.Timestamps: 01.07&nbsp;&nbsp; Starting up in crofting – things to consider03.09&nbsp;&nbsp; Owner occupier, tenancy and assignation explained 05.14&nbsp; Land that goes with a croft08.39&nbsp; Common grazing shares10.05&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The 3 duties of a crofter12.39&nbsp;&nbsp; Common grazing responsibilities13.45&nbsp;&nbsp; Subsidies and grants that a new crofter could be eligible for 18.13&nbsp;&nbsp; Preparing for Sustainable Farming (PSF)19.33&nbsp; Applying for BPS (Basic payment Scheme) &amp; LFASS (Less Favoured Area Support Scheme)20.31&nbsp; Getting a BRN (Business Refence Number)27.36&nbsp;&nbsp; Numbers of livestock on a common grazing 29.23&nbsp; Keeping livestock for the first time30.56&nbsp; Getting your own flock/herd number33.01&nbsp;&nbsp; Getting registered and set up – the order of eventsFAS ResourcesFAS - New Entrants -Getting StartedFAS Introduction to crofting - Gaelic FAS -Introduction to crofting - English Other Resources Highlands and Islands Enterprise(business support)Scottish Enterprise(business support) &nbsp;CroftingRegister Welcome| Crofting CommissionRuralPayments and ServicesAnimaland Plant Health Agency - GOV.UKPreparingfor Sustainable Farming For more information, visit&nbsp;www.FAS.scotFacebook:&nbsp;@FASScotNational Advice HubPhone:&nbsp;0300 323 0161Email:&nbsp;[email protected]

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.&nbsp;The water environment is one of the defining features of the Scottish landscape, shaping both its character and its ecological richness. Rivers, lochs, wetlands and coastal waters weave through glens and straths, carving valleys, feeding fertile soils and sustaining a remarkable variety of wildlife. They provide vital habitats for species such as salmon, trout and eels, which have long been part of Scotland’s natural and cultural heritage, while also supporting birds, mammals and plants that thrive in and around freshwater. But historic practices meant to improve productive activity and improve our management of water has proven detrimental some species, obstructive them from travel up and downstream, meaning that overtime, our rivers have become less dynamic and alive. In this episode Struan Candlish from the Ayrshire Rivers Trust talks us through the actions needed to restore our rivers and the benefits and incentives for farmers, crofters and land managers.&nbsp;Want to get in touch with Struan? He can be contacted at Ayrshire Rivers Trust via email enquiries at [email protected] FAS ResourcesScotland's Priority Catchments | Helping farmers in ScotlandAlternative watering for field grazed livestock | Helping farmers in ScotlandWater Margins | Helping farmers in Scotland

Welcome back to the Rural Roundup. On today’s episode George Chalmers and Mary-Jane Lawrie highlight what’s happening in Scottish agriculture and are then joined by Peter Lang from SEPA to discuss new regulations for the application of waste to land, which will come into effect on 1st November 2025.&nbsp;FAS Resources&nbsp;Preparing For The Future | Helping farmers in Scotland&nbsp;Other Resources&nbsp;&nbsp;Use of waste on land - changes to regulations | SEPA&nbsp;Contact us - SEPA (Scottish Environment Protection Agency)&nbsp;Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme (Mainland and Islands) full guidance&nbsp;Scottish Upland Sheep Support Scheme full guidance&nbsp;&nbsp;For more information, visit  www.FAS.scot&nbsp;Twitter: @FASScot&nbsp;Facebook: @FASScot&nbsp;National Advice Hub&nbsp;Phone: 0300 323 0161&nbsp;Email: [email protected]

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.&nbsp;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.&nbsp;Producer George Gauley, Editor Cameron Waugh, Executive Producer Kirstyn Blackwood, in association with the Scottish Government.&nbsp;Related FAS ResourcesGetting Started In Arable Agriculture - Machinery Appraisal | Information helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory ServiceOther Related ResourcesRobert Meadley LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-meadley-85652223/?originalSubdomain=uk&nbsp;Machinery costing calculator | AHDB

Content Warning: The following episode mentions pregnancy loss.&nbsp;&nbsp;Mary-Jane Lawrie is joined by Eilidh Verstage from Arngask Home Farm. Eilidh and her husband Lloyd are new entrants, who purchased Arngask 4 years ago.&nbsp; They have rare breed pigs and this year have just started growing chemical free vegetables to sell wholesale, at markets and locally in weekly veg boxes.&nbsp; They have also branched out into running events with a neighbouring farm.&nbsp; Community is at the heart of what they do, and this evident from the volunteers who support the veg enterprise, the local community, frequenting their honesty horse box, and the vibrant digital community that Arngask Home Farm have built on social media.&nbsp;&nbsp;Thanks for joining us for this episode of Agri Culture. If you’d like to get in touch or find out more about Arngask Home Farm, the Oxford sandy and black pig foundation, or the rare breed survival trust, you can find links in the show notes.&nbsp; This episode was presented by Mary-Jane Lawrie, produced by Kerry Hammond and edited by Cameron Waugh, in association with the Scottish Government.&nbsp;Resources:&nbsp;ABOUT | Arngask Home Farm&nbsp;Arngask Home Farm (@arngaskhomefarm) • Instagram photos and videos&nbsp;Arngask Home Farm - Facebook&nbsp;Oxford Sandy and Black Pigs - Oxford Sandy and Black Pig Foundation Charity&nbsp;Ooooby | Ecommerce for small farms, veg boxes, food hubs, CSA's and craft food.&nbsp;&nbsp;For more information, visit  www.FAS.scot&nbsp;Twitter: @FASScot&nbsp;Facebook: @FASScot&nbsp;National Advice Hub&nbsp;Phone: 0300 323 0161&nbsp;Email: [email protected]&nbsp;