Thrill Of The Hill (Farm Advisory Service)

Thrill of the Hill is back! Season 3 #5 – Natural Capital. In this episode, we are joined by Rachel Smillie and Paul Chapman of SAC Consulting to discuss what Natural Capital is, ecosystem services, and the opportunities for farmers and crofters around Scotland as we enter unchartered territory.

Related FAS Resources

Natural Capital | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

In the fourth Thrill of The Hill episode, Alex is joined by SAC Consultant Malcolm Macdonald to discuss virtual fencing technology and it's potential applications in Scotland and across the world.

The uptake of new and innovative technologies is an important factor when considering how to drive productivity in the hill environment. Virtual fencing is an up and coming technology that is gaining popularity, particularly in Australia and New Zealand and has great scope for use in Scotland. In episode three of the Thrill of the Hill series the Farm Advisory Service (FAS) talks to agricultural consultant, Malcolm Macdonald (SAC) who has been involved in a project investigating the potential uses of this technology, including cost and capability of equipment, the market for virtual fencing in Scotland, opportunities arising from the technology, things to watch out for and implications for traceability and policy.

Thrill of the Hill returns for season 5, with an exciting line-up on new and returning guest speakers and specialists in their fields and on their hills. 

As climate change, biodiversity decline and food security continue to build in our collective consciousnesses the drive to find a comprehensive solution intensifies. In this episode, Chris Clark from Nethergill Associates shares his opinions and approach to Maximum Sustainable Output (MSO), a concept that revolves the ideas of natural and industrial energy, reducing artificial inputs and allowing land to revert to a natural carrying capacity, whether that is livestock or crops. Chris provides a broad introductory discussion on the concept and shares his own opinions on how sustainable land management is measured and achieved. We cover mindset change, bring energy use to the forefront and unpick to what extent it compliments existing farming approaches like regenerative farming and organics. This is a great start to the conversation around MSO.   

Want to get in touch with Chris, he can be contacted at Nethergill Associates on 07969 018 324 or via email at chris.clark@nethergillassoc.co.uk.

**In January 2024 the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) published the ‘Harmonisation of Carbon Accounting Tools for Agriculture’ report, which discusses the different approaches and methodologies behind measuring carbon across six of the most commonly used tools in the UK - an overview and the findings can be accessed via the link provided.

Related Links

Harmonisation of Carbon Accounting Tools for Agriculture - SCF0129

Carbon Calculators - Farm Advisory Service | The Scottish Farmer

What is the Maximum Profit Potential for your Farm? (Youtube.com)

THRILL OF THE HILL | In a year two weather extremes the water environment has shot up the agenda for many, drought conditions put a lot of pressure on farmers and nature in the summer and heavy rains push many farmers and riverbanks to breaking point this autumn. While Scotland's rivers generally end up at the sea, they start in the uplands and catchment management with appropriate sensitivity to watercourses and riparian habitats can have huge impacts downstream and across the landscape. With recent developments, it makes sense to bring back some former contributors for a broad discussion on the challenging circumstances some species find themselves and reasons to be optimistic.

In this episode we welcome back Struan Candlish, two years since the Ayrshire Rivers Trust were on the podcast. We discuss the plight of species like Atlantic salmon, get an update on the Wellwood Project and other nature restoration work in Ayrshire.

Hosted by Alexander Pirie, Edited by Malcom MacDonald, Produced by Beth Errington, Executive Producer Kerry Hammond, in association with The Scottish Government.

Related FAS Resources

Thrill of The Hill - Spawning Success | Information helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

Protecting Atlantic Salmon | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

Water Margins | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

Other Resources

Ayrshire Rivers Trust | working to improve and preserve our rivers

Thrill of the Hill is back! Season 3 #2 – Spawning Success. In this episode we hear from Ayrshire River Trust’s Stuart Brabbs and Struan Candlish about the quality of Scotland’s water environment, factors impacting this quality, the successes of the Nature Restoration Fund and the need for a holistic approach to managing riparian habitats. 

Farming & Water Scotland is a joint initiative between SAC Consulting and SEPA, focusing on the provision of practical advice around the protection of the water environment that can be implemented at farm level. Resources vary from advice and information on how to manage water around the steading to field drainage, natural flood management and improving your farm for biodiversity. In this episode, Stuart references improvements in slurry storage and application and its impact on the farmed water environment, for more information on this, check out the Managing Slurry for Folks in a Hurry series here https://www.farmingandwaterscotland.org/livestock-arable/livestock-slurry-based-systems/managing-slurry-for-folks-in-a-hurry-webinar-series/ and for a summary of the most recent changes to regulations on slurry storage and handling here https://www.farmingandwaterscotland.org/know-the-rules/.

Water margins play a hugely important role in the farmed environment, a blue string tying together different farmland habitats and is massively important in terms of natural capital – think flood management, biodiversity value and even capacity for renewable energy production. In our autumn 2020 series, Water Margin Management in a Changing Climate, FAS explored water margins management for ecological and conservation benefit as well as provided practical advice of ditching and draining, all of which can be found here https://www.fas.scot/environment/water-management/water-margins-2/.

Thrill of the Hill returns for season 5, with an exciting line-up on new and returning guest speakers and specialists in their fields and on their hills.

With COP26 in Glasgow well in the rearview mirror and 2030 on the horizon, serious, measurable change has to be made in the fight against climate change. With Scottish Climate Week coming up, in this podcast we hear from Senior Carbon & Sustainability Consultant and returning guest to the podcast, Seamus Murphy on the progress made by Scottish farming to address climate change. We discuss changing perceptions on climate change in the industry, the reliability of carbon markets, the need for, not just individual action but a collective led campaign to keep global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius and talk candidly about the likely impacts of not doing so. 

Want to get in touch with Seamus, he can be contacted at SAC Consulting on 01292 525 145 or via email at seamus.murphy@sac.co.uk.

Related FAS Resources

Climate Change resources for farmers from Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

Managing Scotland’s landscapes sustainably is what all farmers, crofters and landowners seek to achieve. For years now there has been a steady increase in the number of land managers turning to organics, and regenerative practices are gathering momentum; at the same time the idea of farming holistically is also on the rise.

we talk to beef and business consultant, Robert Ramsay and head of the Farm Business Survey, Sascha Grierson about farming organically, using regenerative practices and taking a holistic view of your business. 

Also up for discussion is the role of ruminant livestock and their importance as conservation grazers.  

For many farmers, crofters and landowners in Scotland rewilding is a new and intimidating frontier, the prospect of rewilding and reintroduction of species previously native to Scotland presents challenges, concerns and opportunities.

We talk to rewilding advocate and Executive Director for Scotland: The Big Picture, Peter Cairns about how rewilding and reintroductions can be part of the answer to Scotland’s biodiversity crisis. We talk defining rewilding, success stories, managing conflicts.

Also up for discussion is the idea of rewilding people and the need for mindset change within the general public.

Woodland creation and management is only one of the many avenues Scotland is taking to tackle the climate emergency and woodland has a proven link to increasing carbon capture on the farm. Agroforestry allows farmers, crofters and landowners the chance to maintain agricultural output, with options for woodland grazing and intercropping, meaning productive activity can be promoted at the same time as tree planting.

We talk to Woodland Creation Officer, Virginia Harden Scott about agroforestry opportunities in Scotland and the progress made towards net zero emissions.

Also up for discussion is role of agroforestry in promoting natural capital and enhancing biodiversity.

Visit our Farm Woodland webpages to find out more about forestry opportunities, and for more information about the number of carbon units generated per hectare and the price per tonne for carbon units visit the Woodland Carbon Code webpage.

Thrill of the Hill returns for season 5, with an exciting line-up on new and returning guest speakers and specialists in their fields and on their hills.

Venison, an underappreciated meat in Scotland? Despite the abundance of deer in Scotland, farmed and wild, venison has never been a staple of the Scottish diet, certainly not in the same way as beef or lamb. Scottish Government reports that the amount of farmed venison in Scotland increased by around 4.9% on the last five year average, making up 16,000 animals. That figure might sound impressive, but the Venison Advisory Service suggests that accounts for only 3% of national production, with the remainder coming from wild venison. Scottish Government reports that around 3,500 tonnes of wild venison is produced in Scotland each year and The Times suggest that around two thirds of that is used in the domestic and wider UK markets. But with such plentiful supplies of venison on our hills, could we be making more of it? In this episode Anona Gow discusses the virtues of venison, its nutritional value, cooking options, perception of the sector and reflects on her new book, The Venison Kitchen. 

Want to get in touch with Anona? She can be contacted at The Venison Kitchen via email enquiries at hello@thevenisonkitchen.co.uk

Related FAS Resources

https://www.fas.scot/publication/podcast-the-thrill-of-the-hill-deer-farming-management/ 

https://www.fas.scot/publication/thinning-herds-thicken-forests/ 

Related External Resources

The Venison Kitchen by Anona Gow   Cook Book  

Events — Pitscandly Farm Venison     Events and Farmers Markets 

THRILL OF THE HILL | When people think of Scotland, at some point visions of a red deer ranging across an open hill must enter the mind. Deer have become synonymous with the farmed upland environment in Scotland, bringing huge interest and benefits, but these are not without their challenges. In Scotland's pursuit of a green, low carbon, high nature value future, deer have proven themselves obstacles to be overcome and without active management, the uplands cannot flourish. In this episode, Michael Skelly, Highland Habitats takes us through the considerations when determining if you have a deer problem and the appropriate actions required to promote a sustainable upland environment.

Hosted by Alexander Pirie, Edited by Malcom MacDonald, Produced by Beth Errington, Executive Producer Kerry Hammond, in association with The Scottish Government.

Linked FAS Resources

Alternative Livestock Factsheet

Stock Talk: Deer Farming – what you need to know | Information helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

Podcast: The Thrill of The Hill - Deer Farming & Management | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

Linked Other Resources

Practical land management for the future - Highland HabitatsHighland Habitats | Practical land management for the future

Scotland’s wild venison sector launches ‘statement of intent’ on greenhouse gas emissions in response to climate emergency | Scottish Venison (scottish-venison.info)

scottish-biodiversity-strategy-2045-tackling-nature-emergency-scotland.pdf (www.gov.scot)

The ability to improve your land is crucial at a time when productivity and efficiency are informing future policy and business resilience. The hills and uplands have a reputation for being difficult to improve, and declining agricultural activity means that these areas are reverting back to a less productive natural state. Liming and control of soil pH offers the opportunity to improve the condition of your soil and can be done sustainably. In this episode of the Thrill of the Hill series the Farm Advisory Service (FAS) talks to Prof Bill Crooks (SAC), about the current state of Scotland’s soils, the importance and need to apply lime, getting value for money and the implications of low pH, as well as the climate discussion about the impact of liming. 

In this episode of the Thrill of The Hill podcast, host Alex Pirie chats to Patrick Laurie from Working For Waders. They discuss the decline of waders in Scotland, the practical steps that farmers can take to counter the biodiversity crisis as well as reflect on good practice, the trees versus waders debate amongst other topics.

Find out more about how to manage farmland for waders on the FAS website at: https://www.fas.scot/environment/biodiversity/how-to-provide-for-wading-birds/

THRILL OF THE HILL | A Damming Conclusion: Part II with Davy McCracken

Thrill of the Hill returns for season 5, with an exciting line-up on new and returning guest speakers and specialists in their fields and on their hills. 

Beavers and their presence in Scotland continues to divide the agricultural community, for some they generate hope for a more nature-rich Scotland and more dynamic landscape, for others they cause damage and threaten the viability of various farm enterprises. Last year we heard a passionate take on the issue from Euan Walker-Munro who articulated the frustration felt by many in the industry. In this episode we hear from Professor Davy McCracken and cover the positives around beaver reintroduction, the ecology of the species and the opportunities brought by them. We also discuss what to do if the challenges caused by beavers are too much, what his experience was with getting a license and the need for collaboration and knowledge transfer on the issues faced.

Want to get in touch with Davy, he can be contacted at SRUC on 01292 525 299 or via email at Davy.McCracken@sruc.ac.uk. Those with questions for NatureScot can make contact via beaver@nature.scot.

Related FAS Resources

https://www.fas.scot/publication/thrill-of-the-hill-a-damming-conclusion/

https://www.fas.scot/publication/beavers-translocation-ecology-and-mitigation/ 

https://www.fas.scot/publication/living-alongside-beavers/

https://www.fas.scot/publication/accommodating-beaver-impacts-on-a-farm/

https://www.fas.scot/publication/mitigating-beavers-impacts-on-a-farm/ 

Related External Resources

https://www.nature.scot/professional-advice/protected-areas-and-species/protected-species/protected-species-z-guide/beaver/beaver-mitigation-scheme 

Thrill of the Hill returns for season 5, with an exciting line-up on new and returning guest speakers and specialists in their fields and on their hills.

Life as a cow is difficult and complicated, on the one hand there is a general acceptance that their non-selective grazing, trampling and dunging can contribute to diverse grassland swards, ideal habitat for ground-nesting birds etc. and promote healthy soils. On the other hand, the production of methane and relatively high carbon footprints in comparison to other enterprises can leave cattle exposed to climate criticism. In this episode we talk with conservation consultant Helen Bibby and host of the Stock Talk podcast and returning guest Robert Ramsay for a broad discussion on cattle, cattle grazing and what makes them Scotland's preferred grazing animal. 

Want to get in touch with Helen, she can be contacted at SAC Consulting Oban on 01631 563 093 or via email at Helen.Bibby@sac.co.uk. Alternatively, you can contact Robert at SAC Consulting Ayr on 01292 525 171 or via email at Robert.Ramsay@sac.co.uk. 

Related Materials

https://www.fas.scot/downloads/tn686-conservation-grazing-semi-natural-habitats/ 

https://www.fas.scot/downloads/grazing-for-profit-and-biodiversity-grazing-strategies/ 

Soil is a perennial topic, something that needs to be discussed on a recurring basis, and last time we did so was with Dr Bill Crooks some years ago now.

In this episode, we hear from agricultural consultant and soil management enthusiast Lorna Galloway and talk all manner of things, from improving the uplands, raising soil pH, integrating clover, managing drainage and highlighting the support available for soil sampling under Preparing for Sustainable Farming.

Soil forms the foundation of just about everything we do in agriculture, we like to think of our society as being at the cutting edge, but this is not a new idea. “To be a successful farmer one must first know the nature of the soil” – Xenophon, 400 B.C. More recently, Leonardo Di Vinci is attributed as saying “We know more about the movement of celestial bodies than about the soil underfoot”.

Want to get in touch with Lorna? She can be contacted at SAC Consulting Stranraer on

01776 702 649 or via email at Lorna.Galloway@sac.co.uk.

FAS Related Materials

https://www.fas.scot/publication/podcast-the-thrill-of-the-hill-lime-soil-health/

https://www.fas.scot/publication/technical-note-tn656-soils-information-texture-liming/

https://www.fas.scot/downloads/valuing-soils-practical-guidance-scottish-farmers/

https://www.fas.scot/downloads/practical-guide-soil-sampling-i-take-soil-sample/

https://www.fas.scot/downloads/farming-better-climate-practical-guide-field-drainage/

https://www.fas.scot/downloads/practical-guide-understanding-soil-carbon/

Beef finishing has long been seen as an inherently intensive activity, however finishing beef cattle at grass can be a productive use of time, while contributing to good habitat management and a lower input, more sustainable system.

This episode we speak to beef specialist Lesley Wylie (SAC Consulting) about the challenges faced by the beef sector and some of the practical steps that can be overcome them. Also up for discussion is the responsibility of the beef sector generally to tackle the issues of climate change and biodiversity decline.

THRILL OF THE HILL | Fire can be an effective management tool in the Scottish uplands, and if controlled and utilised responsibly, can be helpful in rejuvenating our upland heaths. However, fire can also be devastating for many rural businesses and with a number of factors at play, including, climate change, water scarcity, public access and total accidents, wildfires can and do happen, with ever greater intensity. In this episode of the podcast we are joined by Bruce Farquharson from Scottish Fire and Rescue and discuss prevention of wildfires, the role of muirburning and the benefits of having a fire action plan should the worst happen!

Related FAS Materials

Preventing Wildfires on Agricultural Land | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

THRILL OF THE HILL | Sheep are synonymous with the farmed upland environment in Scotland but in times of change and with external and policy pressures now on it, the sector cannot sit idle. Last season we discussed what the cow of the future looks like and now sheep get their time in the spotlight as we try and unpick some of the complexities in improving flock performance with help from returning guest speaker and SAC Consulting sheep specialist Kirsten Williams as we talk maximising productivity, cutting waste, a place for wool and advocate for grazing livestock in Scotland's changing landscape.   

Hosted by Alexander Pirie, Edited by Malcom MacDonald, Produced by Beth Errington, Executive Producer Kerry Hammond, in association with The Scottish Government.

Related FAS Links

Podcast: Thrill of The Hill - Flock Resilience | Information helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

THRILL OF THE HILL | Carbon and benchmarking carbon are here to stay, firmly embedded in the best practice for the farming community. With COP28 happening now, the need to decarbonise farming has never been clearer but how to do that in a sustainable manner remains a big question for many. Carbon calculators are designed to identify carbon emissions in a business, where they are happening, to provide insights for positive actions. Agrecalc has been one of Scotland's leading calculators and has seen widescale uptake since the days of the Beef Efficiency Scheme, but as the carbon story becomes more important, the ability to get reliable, detailed information on a farm's carbon footprint has never been more important and crucially, having confidence in the data to take steps to improve is hugely important. So regardless of which carbon calculator you are using, the time to count carbon is now.

In this episode, Scott Davies, CEO of Agrecalc discusses the uptake of carbon auditing, the need for a scientific consensus of emissions and how they are calculated, the move to the cloud and the increased functionality that will allow, better, more accurate interpretation of farm results and a clearer pathway forward. 

Hosted by Alexander Pirie, Edited by Malcolm MacDonald, Produced by Beth Errington, Executive Producer Kerry Hammond, in association with The Scottish Government.

Related FAS Resources

https://www.fas.scot/publication/thrill-of-the-hill-9-digging-deep-on-soil-carbon/

https://www.fas.scot/article/fundamentals-of-soil-carbon/

https://www.fas.scot/carbon-audits/

2017 saw the start of Scotland’s Pollinator Strategy, now in 2022 and half way through a ten-year plan, the role and importance of pollinators has only become more significant. Pollinators play an important role in the provision of ecosystem services across the country, impacting on biodiversity and productive farming in equal measure. 

We talk to The Bumblebee Conservation Trust’s Katy Malone about conservation efforts around the national priority species, great yellow bumblebee. We discuss the historic decline of the species, the current status of the species and the actions farmers can take to enhance their farms for biodiversity.

Also up for discussion is the return of the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS) and use of insecticides.

Episode #10 – A Cow for the Future. We all think we know a good cow when we see one, but how futureproof is she, and what are the traits the beef industry needs, at an individual cow and herd level to be productive and sustainable? In this episode we hear from agricultural consultant Robert Ramsay about the importance of a range of different features, from tail to temperament, hind legs to horns and how they all come together to form the cow of the future.   

The beef sector in Scotland has faced some difficult times in recent years and taking a longer view of history has seen dramatic declines since the 1974 when the head of cattle in the national head reached its all time high at 2.68 million cattle. More recently in 2020, we saw an all time low in cow numbers but looking at the most recent Scottish Agricultural Census results, numbers have increased by less than 1% to 1.72 million cattle. With all this in mind, is the sector on track for resurgence - here's hoping. 

Scotland’s land and topography presents challenges for upland farmers across the country, but in many ways, it is also a blessing in disguise. Peatland, while not conventionally productive, provides important habitat and ecosystem services for farmers and the wider general public, retaining water, capturing carbon and providing important niche habitat for national priority species. Sustainable management of peatland will contribute to Scotland’s climate goals and mitigate against biodiversity decline. In this episode of the Thrill of the Hill series the Farm Advisory Service (FAS) talks to the project coordinator for the Ayrshire Coalfield Environment Initiative, Daisy Whytock about a range of topics and issues, conflicts between woodlands and peatland, the importance of peatland as a carbon sink, responsible peatland utilisation and the role of peatland for pollinators.

Consider sooner rather than later where integrated farm forestry could benefit your agricultural business, and seek professional, impartial advice at the earliest opportunity- it takes time to develop a new woodland creation, and with high demand/limited resources in market at present, it’s worth starting this process as early as possible. 

Farm forestry doesn’t have to be about planting whole farms in trees, and it isn’t a bad thing- integrated farm forestry can improve the productivity of your land, improve resilience, offer new income opportunities, and protect your holding from a changing climate. 

Even if you are considering growing trees to offset your own emissions, absolutely consider registering your project with the Woodland Carbon Code (WCC) before planting starts. If you later have carbon units surplus to your needs, these can’t be sold via the WCC if the project has not been registered prior to planting. It doesn’t cost a lot to register/validate, but could cost you a fortune in lost opportunities if you miss the deadline to register before planting starts 

Thrill of the Hill is back! Season 3 #8 – Working for Waders Part II. In this episode we hear from returning guest, Working for Wader's Patrick Laurie, joined this time round by RSPB's Stephen Field, about the importance of our national priority ground nesting wading birds, life through a lense, the importance of predator control and promoting landscape scale conservation efforts.

Increasingly recognised for their conservation importance, Scotland's waders are under threat from all sides. Intensification of agriculture has played its part, yes but looming threats of habitat loss to forestry and destruction of nests and eggs from predators also places immense pressure on the species group. The podcast also sets out the need for data to inform decision making and how looking at small samples can skewed view of what is a more complicated story overall.

Linked FAS Resources

https://www.fas.scot/publication/podcast-thrill-of-the-hill-working-for-waders/

https://www.fas.scot/environment/biodiversity/how-to-provide-for-wading-birds/surveying-farmland-wading-birds/

https://www.fas.scot/environment/biodiversity/how-to-provide-for-wading-birds/farmland-wading-birds-information-note-snipe/

https://www.fas.scot/environment/biodiversity/how-to-provide-for-wading-birds/farmland-wading-birds-information-note-redshank-tringa-totanus/

https://www.fas.scot/environment/biodiversity/how-to-provide-for-wading-birds/farmland-wading-birds-information-note-oystercatcher-haematopus-ostralegus/

https://www.fas.scot/environment/biodiversity/how-to-provide-for-wading-birds/farmland-wading-birds-information-note-curlew-numenius-arquata/

https://www.fas.scot/environment/biodiversity/how-to-provide-for-wading-birds/farmland-wading-birds-information-note-lapwing-vanellus-vanellus/

External Materials

https://www.workingforwaders.com/

https://www.rspb.org.uk/about-the-rspb/at-home-and-abroad/scotland/

THRILL OF THE HILL | Farmland covers the Scottish landscape, between 70% and 80% of it, but farmers are not the only stakeholders in the countryside. Increasingly, the general public is interacting with farming and land management, encouraged by the prospects of adventure, points of interest, leisure, health, and well-being. The Scottish Outdoor Access Code (SOAC) makes provisions for responsible access to land and by and large that is achieved. In this episode, Bridget Jones, NatureScot, joins the podcast to discuss promoting sustainable, responsible access to the countryside, we discuss hidden gems, where people go and what they do when they get there, and mediating conflicts where they arise.    

Hosted by Alexander Pirie, Edited by Malcolm MacDonald, Produced by Beth Errington, Executive Producer Kerry Hammond, in association with The Scottish Government.

Related FAS Materials

https://www.fas.scot/publication/stock-talk-livestock-worrying-keeping-yourself-right-with-the-sheep-game/

THRILL OF THE HILL | For years now Scotland has sought to address climate change and habitat fragmentation with increased rates of tree planting, but often the end product, timber, is overlooked. Woodlands cover almost 19% of the landscape in Scotland and while not all of them are part of a productive timber rotation a significant chunk is. Timber production enriches our economy from the local to the national level, promotes employment and produces a sustainable, renewable end product. But timber processing can be detached for farming and a broader understanding of what goes on, when it does and how farmers can engage with the process can present opportunities for benefits on all sides. 

Hosted by Alexander Pirie, Edited by Malcom MacDonald, Produced by Beth Errington, Executive Producer Kerry Hammond, in association with The Scottish Government.

Related Resources

Technical Note (TN695): Pruning to Improve Timber Quality

Thrill of the Hill - Talking Timber | Information helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

Alex is joined by Iain Boyd to discuss the potential of renewables in farms across Scotland. The potential our landscape and geography have for different types of renewable energy, and what conditions are currently conducive to their addition to your business.

Renewables have an important part to play in the fight against climate change, allowing Scotland to transition from fossil fuels to greener alternatives. Generally, the uplands present the greatest opportunity for uptake of large scale renewable technology in the agricultural sector. At the same time there are real concerns over balancing the needs for energy production and protecting the environment. In episode five of the Thrill of the Hill series the Farm Advisory Service (FAS) talks to environmental consultant, Iain Boyd (SAC) about a range of topics and issues, including the current state of play for the Scottish renewables sector, evaluating the potential of your farm for renewables, the footprint of turbines, up and coming technologies and the potential threats of climate change on new and existing projects.

Common Grazings – and crofting counties more broadly – have a crucial and unique role to play in tackling the decline of biodiversity in Scotland. Because of the mosaic of small distinct habitats in close proximity, coupled with expansive rough grazings and heath, many crofts are microcosms of the habitats across Scotland. This in tandem with the typically more extensive, low input management systems makes crofts and Common Grazings hugely important for biodiversity. In this episode of the Thrill of the Hill series, the Farm Advisory Service (FAS) talks to agricultural and crofting consultant, Janette Sutherland (SAC), about a range of topics and issues, including the lessons conventional farms can take from crofting, grazing hill cattle, crofting as a public good and heritage value of traditional practices.

Thrill of the Hill is back! Episode #27 – Renewed Interest. In this episode we hear from Senior Renewables Consultant John Farquhar about the impacts of the Ukrainian conflict, how that is changing mindsets around energy security here in Scotland, including a discussion on the most popular renewable options for the uplands, costs around construction and some of the pitfalls to watch out for! 

Catch up on our previous renewables episode with Senior Consultant Iain Boyd here https://www.fas.scot/publication/podcast-the-thrill-of-the-hill-renewables/ and for more information on farm scale renewable options, check out Farming for a Better Climate here https://www.farmingforabetterclimate.org/improving-farm-profitability/developing-renewable-energy/. 

Thrill of the Hill is back! Season 3 #9 – COP26 One Year On. In this episode we hear from SAC Consulting's Seamus Murphy as we take a look back at Scotland's role in COP26 and review some of the highlights, shortcomings, commitments and missed opportunities from the conference. We also discuss the changing mindsets of farmers in Scotland and how to find common ground with climate marchers and protestors.

COP26, or the 26th meeting of the Conference of the Parties, was a watershed moment in international efforts to tackle climate change and its effects. COP26 was, at its time the latest meetings of the parties, meaning nations that had signed up to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which launched in 1992. It is a common phrase, "X is at the frontline of the fight against climate change" but here in Scotland, in the backdrop of one of the hottest summers on record the realities of climate change are becoming increasingly apparent and each year that passes without serious action is time society might not get back. One year on from the conference in Glasgow we take a look at the progress that has been made since.

Related FAS Resources

COP26 – What’s the big deal? (webinar) | Information helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

Other Related Resources

Farming for a Better Climate - Farming for a Better Climate

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 | With a lack of apex predators in Scotland, human intervention is often required to maintain a balance of nature, whether that is at the species, habitat or landscape scale. Predator control is an often unpleasant and more so important aspect of maintain equilibrium across different interests and in this episode, Paul Chapman, SAC Consulting sets out what the different options are for predator control, what species can be targeted, what protections exist and for what species and the non-lethal options available to protect vulnerable national priority species, as well as much more.

Hosted by Alexander Pirie, Edited by Malcom MacDonald, Produced by Alistair Trail, Executive Producer Kerry Hammond, in association with The Scottish Government.

Related FAS Resources

Technical Note (TN742): Predator Control for Conservation | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

Predator Control For the Conservation of Ground-Nesting Birds | Information helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

Other Related Resources

Codes of Practice - BASC

Predation control and conservation - Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (gwct.org.uk)

Scotland is host to the largest concentration of heather moorland in the world with huge biodiversity interest and carbon holding potential.

Alex Pirie from the Farm Advisory Service (FAS) talks to British Moorlands advisor, Dick Bartlett about the state of Scotland’s moorlands, with conversation ranging from hot topics like burning, as well as swiping and grazing for heather management, the carbon holding potential of peat and biodiversity value of these unique habitats.

Also up for discussion is the potential for rewilding and the outlook of gamekeepers and land managers at a time of transition.  

Consultant Alex Pirie speaks with Daniel Stout about Sheep Upland Grazing strategies and the broader Sheep industry in Scotland.

Episode #12 – A Damming Conclusion? Beavers are a keystone species and their presence in Scotland could go a long way to achieving land landscape scale nature restoration that Scottish Government want to achieve. They are, like humans, ecosystem engineers and the natural processes they encourage can bolster other vulnerable habitats and species. But beavers come with challenges, they will naturally be inclined to block ditches and watercourses, burrow into productive agricultural fields and will by design, leave areas flooded. Obviously there are places in Scotland where this could be and has been highly disruptive. After hundreds of years without them, can farming and beavers find common ground?

If you would like to see any of the press releases, journals, or further information that Euan referred to, please contact the FAS advice line who can provide you with this information.

THRILL OF THE HILL | Farm Business Survey: Part II with Sascha Grierson 

Thrill of the Hill returns for season 5, with an exciting line-up on new and returning guest speakers and specialists in their fields and on their hills.  

With change on the horizon, being on sure footing can be the difference between having a successful business and not. The Farm Business Survey is Scotland's way of establishing the state of our farming communities, benchmarking business performance and generating the data that drives decision-making at the policy level. It is a free service, not costing anything other than time and provides a participant with a set of management accounts, providing valuable insights into your business, it can also be a useful way of collecting the data for those increasingly important carbon audits! It's a win, win, win for those serious about data and keen to progress their business in an informed, measured way.

For those interested in participating in the survey, or if you have any questions for Sascha and the team, you can get them on 07557 661316 or alternatively you can email scottishfarmbusinesssurvey@sac.co.uk. 

Related FAS Resources

Thrill of the Hill - The Farm Business Survey | Information helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

Whole farm benchmarks | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

Research and development within Scottish agriculture will be key to a successful green recovery, building an efficient and sustainable rural economy and mitigating against the threats posed by climate change. In this special bonus episode of the Thrill of the Hill series the Farm Advisory Service (FAS) is fortunate to talk to Prof Davy McCracken, Head of the Hill & Mountain Research Centre about innovations in agriculture, as specifically the uplands. Topics include driving efficiency and better grazing in the uplands, balancing conservation and climate concerns, high nature value farming, threats of climate change and what the green recovery and future policy could look like and could target. 

In the shadow of COP26 Scotland prepares to host the world as we agree common targets and policies to combat climate change, equally important is the biodiversity crisis.

Alex Pirie from the Farm Advisory Service (FAS) talks to Nature Friendly Farming Network coordinator, Phil Knott about how Scotland is addressing biodiversity decline, the need for a conservation calculator and the effectiveness of the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS).

Also up for discussion is crofting’s contribution to biodiversity enhancement and our hopes for a future potential outcomes based environmental scheme.

Consultant Alex Pirie speaks with Consultant Robert Ramsay from SAC Consulting's livestock team about the current state of the Beef Sector in Scotland, and how to create synergy between your farmed upland and your improved grassland. 

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 Resources

Protected species: hares | NatureScot

Mountain hares - Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (gwct.org.uk)

THRILL OF THE HILL | Agroforestry is an increasingly popular prospect for many in Scotland and across the UK, allowing farmers and crofters the opportunity to increase carbon sequestration, nature value and allowing for the continuation and enhancement of productive activity. In this episode, Ben Raskin, Head of Horticulture and Agroforestry for the @Soil Association joins us for a broad discussion on the benefits of agroforestry, insights from their own trial farm and to promote the upcoming Agroforestry Show, the UK's first agroforestry show taking place this upcoming September. 

Hosted by Alexander Pirie, Edited by Cameron Waugh, Produced by Beth Errington, Executive Producer Kerry Hammond, in association with The Scottish Government.

Related FAS Materials

https://www.fas.scot/downloads/soil-association-scotlands-agroforestry-in-action-knowledge-transfer-programme/

https://www.fas.scot/publication/agroforestry-in-scotland/

https://www.fas.scot/article/agroforestry-farming-with-trees/

Related External Materials

Home | Agroforestry show

Agroforestry On Your Farm (soilassociation.org)

Thrill of the Hill returns for season 5, with an exciting line-up on new and returning guest speakers and specialists in their fields and on their hills.

We're all human, fragile and fallible, accidents can occur and mistakes can be made, people can be in danger, get hurt and when that happens, be in need of first aid. The National Farmers Union reports that despite accounting for only 1% of the working population, agriculture accounts for 20% of all deaths in the workplace. In this episode, qualified First Aid Trainer and practitioner, Sean Magee discusses the importance of first aid in the farm and rural environment, including what information to provide to emergency services and the processes of seeking help, how to assess the requirements of a casualty and top tips for dealing with agricultural related incidents when they occur.  

If you want to get in touch with Sean, he can be contacted at CPS Activities Ltd via email at enquiries@cpsactivities.com.

Related FAS Resources

Developing Safe Farming Practices - Lone Working

Other Related Resources

First Aid Training - CPS Activities Ltd

Thrill of the Hill is back! Season 3 #4 – Sea Eagle Management & Mitigation. In this episode we hear from SRUC Head of Research at Kirkton & Auchentyre, Dr Davy McCraken about the reintroduction of the white-tailed eagle to Scotland, how the species is adapting to the Scottish landscape, the case for rewilding in Scotland and managing conflicts when they occur. 

As Scotland endeavours to meet the challenges of biodiversity decline, the reintroduction of lost species is an enticing prospect, particularly when there are gaps in the biodiversity hierarchy. The reintroduction of species that were previously resident in Scotland offers economic benefits too, tourism and heritage interests can drive members of the general public to seek out these species and in doing so enrich themselves and rural economies. However it cannot all be positives and we must recognise that the reintroduction of species will place pressures on the farmed landscape, and in some cases and in some places, these species can threaten the viability of farming entirely. This is no doubt a contentious issue, with a lot of very invested parties on both sides – but hopefully Davy and I can highlight some positives, some negatives, some compromises and a way forward for all! 

THRILL OF THE HILL | An invasive species and a cause for concern among farmers and policymakers, bracken is a hot topic in the farmed upland environment. While the species has some habitat value and its presence can be indicative of land suitable for woodland regeneration, the plant can quickly spread, taking over areas of upland grass pasture and heather, cutting the area of land that can be utilised for farming. In this episode, Simon Thorp, coordinator for the Bracken Control Group shares his opinion on Scottish Government's recent decision on the use of Asulam, as well as discussing what he thinks the impact of a total ban will be and the alternatives to chemical control of bracken.  

The Scottish Government notes that the Health and Safety Executive advice to all four nations of the UK was not to authorise the emergency use of Asulox because of the risk it poses human, animal and environmental health. Independent advice from the SG Chief Scientific Adviser for Environment and Rural Affairs, and the Expert Committee on Pesticides supported this conclusion, and Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland consented to the HSE recommendation. The Scottish Government is committed to science based decision making, and have followed the same, well established and evidence based process we always follow for the authorisation of pesticides. The following link contains the Scottish Government Press Release on the decision, a Q&A document, an evidence review of the implications of not controlling bracken with asulam in Scotland commissioned by the SG, the advice from the SG CSA ENRA and from the ECP, and the HSE letter sent to the applicant outlining the reasons for refusal of the application. Use of Asulox for bracken control in Scotland in 2023 | SASA (Science & Advice for Scottish Agriculture)

Hosted by Alexander Pirie, Edited by Malcolm MacDonald, Produced by Beth Errington, Executive Producer Kerry Hammond, in association with The Scottish Government.

Related Materials

https://www.brackencontrol.co.uk/

Use of Asulox for bracken control in Scotland in 2023 | SASA (Science & Advice for Scottish Agriculture)

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot

Twitter: @FASScot

Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: advice@fas.scot

Farmers are custodians of the landscape in Scotland, and the farmed environment accounts for roughly 75% of all land in the country, but farmers need not take all that responsibility themselves. Agriculture adjacent, the game bird sector has a huge role to play in supporting the farmed upland environment and in this episode, Ross Macleod, Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust lays that all out, discussing the interplay between farming and the upland sectors, how we can work collaboratively, the role of gamekeeping, predator control and Muirburn, and crucially, the need for data driven decision making to deal effectively with biodiversity decline and climate change.

Hosted by Alexander Pirie, Edited by Malcolm MacDonald, Produced by Kerry Hammond, Executive Producer Kerry Hammond, in association with The Scottish Government.

Related Materials

https://www.fas.scot/environment/biodiversity/habitat-impact-assesment-best-practice-guidance-on-the-management-of-wild-deer-in-scotland/

https://www.fas.scot/environment/biodiversity/how-to-provide-for-wading-birds/surveying-farmland-wading-birds/

https://www.fas.scot/environment/biodiversity/muirburn-code/

https://www.gwct.org.uk/

https://www.bfbc.org.uk/

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 returns for season 5, with an exciting line-up on new and returning guest speakers and specialists in their fields and on their hills.

Technology is always progressing, and the same is true in the uplands. New innovations mean it has never been easier to collect, measure and interpret data for the benefit of farming, nature and climate change. In this episode, Environmental Consultant, Jack Zuill discusses the potential for and realities of measuring nature, using a range of technologies, from drones and LiDAR to audio capture, speculate on the future of data gathering and the importance of having specialist input in decision-making.

Want to get in touch with Jack, he can be contacted at SAC Consulting Ltd on 07584 526 926 or via email at jack.zuill@sac.co.uk.

Related FAS Resources

UAVs in Agriculture | Farm Advisory Service

Natural Capital - Drones, Data and Decision Making | Information helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service

Calving is one of the busiest times of the year for those in the beef sector and a crucial time for things to go right!

A successful calving has huge business and climate impacts as well as of health, welfare and farmer mindset.

The Farm Advisory Service (FAS) talks to returning contributor and beef specialist Robert Ramsay (SAC Consulting) about the sector’s state of play post Brexit, top tips for calving success and the importance of keeping safe while working with cattle. Also up for discussion is the successes in the SACGS comparing Scottish agriculture to international contemporaries.

Deer farming in Scotland and across Britain is a growing sector with huge potential, whether it is wild deer on the uplands or lowland domesticated units. In the face of threats like climate change and biodiversity decline deer offers a resilient alternative to beef and sheep. In this episode of the Thrill of the Hill series the Farm Advisory Service (FAS) talks to Dick Fairplay, John Fletcher and Allan Sneddon of the Venison Advisory Service. Topics covered include; a review of the domestic venison market, deer farming in a changing climate, deer as resilient livestock, differences between farmed and wild venison, the importance of upland game shooting, the practicalities of deer farming and uses for antlers.

Farming as with all other industries has been set the challenge of operating more efficiently and sustainably in the face of climate change.

To achieve a roadmap for the future Scottish Government and other special interest groups have been investigating and evaluating options to improve the green credentials of farming generally.

In this episode of the Thrill of the Hill series the Farm Advisory Service (FAS) talks to dairy farmer and contributor to the 1.5 Degrees in Agriculture report, John Smith about Scotland’s response to the climate crisis and the untapped potential of the farmed environment. Also up for discussion is biodiversity decline and public perception of farming as an industry.

Episode #9 – Digging Deep on Soil Carbon. In this episode we hear from Senior Scientific Lead Rachael Ramsay about the scientific consensus around soil carbon, its impact on farm carbon footprints, options to reduce atmospheric carbon and whether soil is the silver bullet in the fight against climate change. 

There is an increasing awareness of the role of soil, grassland, peatland and atmospheric carbon capture in the pursuit of net zero emissions. The Food & Agriculture Organization of the United Nations suggests that the soil around the world has the capacity to capture 20 gigaton of carbon over a period of 25 years, the equivalent of 10% of global emissions - demonstrating the power of improved soil management and building soil carbon reserves. 

Catch up on our previous soils episode with Dr Bill Crooks here https://www.fas.scot/publication/podcast-the-thrill-of-the-hill-renewables/ and for more information on improving soil management, check out Farming for a Better Climate here https://www.farmingforabetterclimate.org/improving-farm-profitability/soils-fertilisers-and-manures/.

While a Brexit trade deal has taken some pressure off the sheep sector the changing political and agricultural landscape means that it must adapt to the new challenges of climate change and biodiversity decline. In episode twelve of the Thrill of the Hill series the Farm Advisory Service (FAS) talks to sheep specialist Kirsten Williams (SAC Consulting) about flock resilience and what that actually means in the face of challenging and uncertain times. Also up for discussion is the importance of body condition scoring, nutrition on the run-up to lambing, sheep as conservation grazers and the impacts of the Sustainable Agriculture Capital Grant Scheme (SACGS).

Update Description

Episode #11 - The Farm Business Survey. On the podcast, we take two things more seriously than anything else - hills and thrills. But if there were a third place, that would go to data. Being able to produce figures to make informed decisions and justify your actions is at the heart of farming, more so now than ever. The Scottish Farm Business Survey offers a free, independent assessment of your business, producing a helpful set of management accounts and the all important carbon audit.

Related Materials

https://www.fas.scot/whole-farm-benchmarks/

https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-farm-business-income-annual-estimates-2020-2021/documents/

Listen to field manager, Keri Langridge about the new Saving Wildcats project when she chats with agricultural and conservation consultant, Alex Pirie in the sixth episode of our Thrill of The Hill series.

Functionally extinct in Scotland, the Scottish wildcat is an important species on several fronts, ecological, historical, and cultural. However, the species has seen decades of persecution which has led to population decline and now with the new threat of hybridisation the species is on the ropes. Other topics covered in this episode include; the state of play for the species, identifying the species in the wild, the benefits of farm habitat for wildcat, the steps farmers can take to improve farm habitats and the role of wildcats as beneficial predators.

A national priority species and apex predator, the hen harrier is a unique and important bird within the farmed upland environment. Despite this, historic bad practices, burning and lack of predator control have placed increased pressure on a vulnerable population.

We talk to RSPB officer Daniel Brown about the importance of hen harrier, their function within the uplands and the beneficial management practices farmers and landowners can take to improve and enhance habitat for them.

Also up for discussion is the role of livestock grazing and predator control in the uplands.

Thrill of the Hill is back! Season 3 #6 – Virtually Stockproof. In this episode we hear from SAC Consulting's Malcolm Macdonald & Robert Ramsay about the increasing opportunities for virtual fencing technology in Scotland, including; benefits to stock management, habitat grazing and ease of use for the farmer.

As an industry, we have repeatedly been told that a mix of innovation, sequestration and emissions reduction can solve the climate crisis. This is true, but it is a special kind of innovation that could also contribute to halting Scotland's dangerous nature declines. Virtual fencing could be that technology and in this episode we get an update from Malcolm Macdonald on uptake in Scotland and the progress that has been made since the first time we talked virtual fencing on the podcast. We also discuss the virtual fencing roadshow planned for autumn 2022 across the country and what to expect from the events.

Related FAS Resources

www.fas.scot/publication/the-thrill-of-the-hill-virtual-fencing/

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 returns for season 5, with an exciting line-up on new and returning guest speakers and specialists in their fields and on their hills.

Love them or hate them, geese are a recurring feature on farms across Scotland. Views differ on the benefits of having them, some see them as a pest species, others as a necessary component of a larger biodiversity network. In this episode we sit down with Rae Mackenzie for a broad discussion on geese and goose management in Scotland. We cover their ecology and nature value, look at the international efforts being made to promote the species and the ins and outs of Scotland's own goose management support scheme.  

Got questions on goose management, contact your local NatureScot office for advice and signposting in the first instance.

Related FAS Resources

Natural Capital - Islay Geese | Information helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service

Goose Management in Scotland | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service

Understanding Goose Control Law in Scotland | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service

Other Related Resources

Managing geese | NatureScot

Changes brought on by climate change will set new challenges for farmers and landowners, with periods of intense heat and dry conditions being followed by milder and wetter winters. At the same time, Scotland is renowned for its lochs and catchments, that contribute to Scotland’s natural capital.

We talk to Nature Scot advisor, Ian Cornforth about the state of Scotland’s water environment, the need for water retention, green engineering and nature-based solutions to aid good management of our watercourses. Also up for discussion is the introduction of beavers and managing their impacts on the farmed water environment.

Find out more: visit https://fas.scot and www.farmingandwaterscotland.org