Agribusiness News Audio May 2024: A spotlight on pigs, Scottish hemp production for fibre products, straw alternatives and managing winter forages

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 sector overviews on pigs and Scottish hemp production for fibre products. We will also be bringing you news on straw alternatives and managing winter forages. Show Notes  00:43 - News in Brief 02:45 Policy Briefs - Agricultural Reform Route Map update 08: 19 Arable- Wet weather leaves 2024 crop yield uncertain. 13:33 Beef - Finished price rising; dairy-beef trends. 17:50 Sheep - Gap widens between import prices & record UK prices. 20:49 Sector Focus – Pig update. 26:42 Milk - Volumes down and grass growth poor. 31:58 Sector focus – Scottish hemp production for fibre products  36:35 Management Matters - Straw alternatives 41:41 Inputs - Managing winter forages FAS Resources Agribusiness News May 2024 | Information helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)  Other Links: Plant Health Centre website The consultation on cattle identification and traceability in Scotland  Progressing to Net Zero Mark Bowsher-Gibbs [email protected]. https://www.fas.scot/downloads/alternative-bedding-materials/  Feed and forage calculator | AHDB.  For more information, visit www.FAS.scot Twitter: @FASScot Facebook: @FASScot  National Advice Hub Phone: 0300 323 0161 Email: [email protected] 

Mary-Jane Lawrie is joined by Jenn Stewart.  Jenn Stewart, partner & Head of Rural and Landed Estates at Johnston Carmichael, joined the company in 2019. Jenn has extensive experience in advising owner managed businesses and provides counsel to a wide-ranging portfolio of clients across multiple sectors. Jenn was brought up in her own family farming business and is now involved in her husband’s farming business. Jenn talks to us about the topic and theme of succession. A succession plan provides a level of certainty for everyone to ensure the ongoing sustainability and financial sustainability of the business, therefore the earlier this topic is brought to the table the better.   Related FAS Resources  You can get funding for succession planning through FAS.  See Specialist Advice | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)  Other Resources  Johnston Carmichael | Chartered Accountants  Jenn Stewart LinkedIn  Jenn Stewart - Partner, Head of Rural & Landed Estates & Dundee Office Head - Johnston Carmichael Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers | LinkedIn  For more information, visit www.FAS.scot Twitter: @FASScot Facebook: @FASScot National Advice Hub Phone: 0300 323 0161 Email: [email protected]  

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: [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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: [email protected]

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 [email protected] and Tel 01776 702649  For more information, visit www.FAS.scot Twitter: @FASScot Facebook: @FASScot  National Advice Hub Phone: 0300 323 0161 Email: [email protected] 

THRILL OF THE HILL | An iconic Scottish species and of high conservation interest, the mountain hare has a lot going for it. Years of hard work to create the managed uplands we know have also contributed to the betterment of the species and a combination of predator control and careful heather management means that it has found a home in our hill expanses. In this episode of the podcast we are joined by Robert Raynor from NatureScot and Scott Newey from the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust for a discussion on the species, its place in the uplands, conservation initiatives and the outlook for the uplands in general.Related ResourcesProtected species: hares | NatureScotMountain hares - Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (gwct.org.uk)

In this podcast we hear from SRUC Veterinary Investigation Officers Megan Fergusson and Tim Geraghty. They talk about the importance of good husbandry and top tips to save time and to prevent disease spreading at lambing and calving time. They also talk about health planning and how recording lamb and calf losses can help when reviewing these losses and how to improve survival rates in the future.Linked FAS resources:Lambing | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)Calving Heifers Vlog Series | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)Losses at Calving – should I investigate? | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)Maximising Calf Survival | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is an approach that ensures habitats for wildlife are left in ameasurably better state than they were before development. In England, BNG is mandatory;developers must demonstrate and deliver an increase in biodiversity followingtheir development of 10%. In the last episode of this series, we hear from ecological consultant and future host ofthis podcast, Harry Fisher. We discuss his experience of BNG and how it works,including biodiversity metrics, valuing nature, opportunities for Scotland and whathe is looking forward to as the future host of Natural Capital. If you have an idea for future episodes, or want to provide feedback on the series, we wouldlove to hear from you. Visit: https://www.fas.scot/sounds-comments-and-suggestions/ Host Rachel Smillie, Producer Iain Boyd, Executive Producer Kerry Hammond, Editor RossMackenzie.Related FAS resources:  FAS Biodiversity: https://www.fas.scot/environment/biodiversity/ Previous Natural Capital episodes: https://www.fas.scot/sounds/natural-capital/ Emerging biodiversity markets in Scotland, a source of alternative funding: https://www.fas.scot/article/emerging-biodiversity-markets-in-scotland-a-source-of-alternative-funding/ Other Related Resources:Understanding biodiversity net gain: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/understanding-biodiversity-net-gain Defra statutory biodiversity metric tools and guides: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statutory-biodiversity-metric-tools-and-guides Research into approaches to measuring biodiversity in Scotland: https://www.gov.scot/publications/research-approaches-measuring-biodiversity-scotland/ Timestamps:Intro to episode and our new host Harry: 0:00 – 5:10What is BNG and its use: 5:11 – 13:13Actions to increase biodiversity: 13:14 – 19:12Impact and use of BNG on farms:  19:13 – 25:10Defra tool, metrics and valuing nature: 25:11 – 33:43

In this episode Tiffany Stephenson is joined by Andy Cunningham, a Field Technical Manager at Syngenta to discuss Vixeran, a new biostimulant which is now available to growers in the UK. Cropcast is 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 Kerry Hammond, in association with the Scottish Government. Related ResourcesVIXERAN - Biostimulant | SyngentaThe Role of Biostimulants in IPM | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)Click here to listen to CropCast Natural Products Part 1 - Elicitors

In this episode Tiffany Stephenson is joined by Dr Neil Havis, a Senior Plant Pathologist at SRUC to discuss natural products with a focus on elicitors.  Cropcast is 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 Kerry Hammond, in association with the Scottish Government.Related ResourcesStrategic Cereal Farms | AHDBTechnical note (TN725): Integrated pest management | Information helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)Click here to listen to CropCast Natural Products Part 2 - VIXERAN (Biostimulant)