OnFARM Scottish farming podcast
Episodes
Kelso 2022: preparing for Europe's largest tup sale
05 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As final preparations are made for Europe's biggest tup sale at Kelso in the Borders, Monty revisits 23-year-old Andrew Hutcheson, a young auctioneer ...
Domhnall 'Sweeny' MacSween on Western Isles crofting (2 of 2)
29 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We return to Ness, on the north tip of the Hebridean island of Lewis, with crofter and TV presenter Domhnall Macsween, - known to most as Sweeny. We j...
Domhnall 'Sweeny' MacSween on Western Isles crofting (1 of 2)
22 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Lewis crofter and presenter of BBC Alba's An Lot (The Croft) Domhnall Macsween - known to most as 'Sweeny' - takes OnFARM producer Dave Howard on a to...
Carbon audits and soil sampling: Preparing for Sustainable Farming with ScotGov
04 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Borders beef farmer Giles Henry regularly does soil sampling and carbon testing on his farm, and has done for many years. He tells Monty what he gets ...
RHET at the Royal Highland Show
30 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The 200th anniversary Royal Highland Show was also a welcome return to the RHET Discovery Centre at Ingliston. In this episode, Anna chats with RHET e...
Back with a flourish! The 2022 Royal Highland Show
27 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Were you there? Did you have fun? After a long wait, the 200th anniversary Royal Highland Show arrived with gusto - and what a weekend it was. The per...
Go Rural from Inverness
20 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Our latest 'Days Out On Your Doorstep', takes in farm visitor experiences within easy reach of Inverness, with Go Rural Scotland. Go Rural encourage p...
Organic conversion on the Rattray Estate: Calum Clark
13 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Calum Clark has been farm manager of the Rattray Estate near Peterhead for six years, working closely with estate owner James. The farm has recently c...
Michael Medlock: From oil to oats, from Dubai to ducklings
06 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Michael Medlock recently returned from Dubai - where he had a lucrative career in oil and gas – to run his family’s organic farm near Laurencekirk...
The 200th Royal Highland Show - coming soon!
30 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
"If we had lost this show, I would have presumed I was jinxed - but, all being well, we're looking at a barnstormer". RHASS chairman Bill Gray has bee...
Helping It Happen from SLE - celebrating rural champions
23 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The Helping It Happen awards from Scottish Land and Estates are now open to nominations - with a deadline of 18th July 2022. The awards recognise the...
Go Rural from Glasgow
16 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Our latest 'Days Out On Your Doorstep', takes in farm visitor experiences within easy reach of Glasgow, with Go Rural Scotland. Go Rural encourage peo...
Gearing Up for the Highland Show (From the archive)
09 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As we gear up for the 2022 Royal Highland Show - the first to take place in-person since the start of Covid - we are resharing an episode, created in ...
Gareth Baird, 2022 Ed Rainy Brown Memorial Award winner
02 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Gareth Baird was visibly emotional on receiving the 2022 SAOS Ed Rainy Brown Memorial Award. He was given the honour after a career of exceptional ser...
Edinburgh days out with Go Rural Scotland
25 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Our latest 'Days Out On Your Doorstep', takes in farm visitor experiences within easy reach of Edinburgh, with Go Rural Scotland. Go Rural encourage p...
SAYFC and Cabinet Secretary Mairi Gougeon
11 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
How can more younger farmers get involved in shaping Scotland’s future agricultural policy? What more can be done to tackle rural housing problems, ...
Drone precision weed-control with Kore from SoilEssentials
04 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When Gloucestershire-based arable farmer James Wilson of H.A. Day and Sons needed to tackle a bad case of black-grass, he turned to innovative dr...
NFU Scotland’s legal helpline – with Gillespie Macandrew
28 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A focus on one of the benefits available to NFU Scotland members who are entitled to 20 minutes of free legal advice (helpline number 0131 271 8585). ...
Enjoying the countryside responsibly - with Go Rural
21 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Go Rural Scotland are seeking to get more people engaged in visits and experiences on Scottish farms, which inevitably means more people being out and...
Virginia Osborne
14 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Virgina Osborne runs a sustainable organic mixed farm near Kirriemuir in Angus, with her parents and siblings. They breed organic pure-bred Aberdeen A...
Champion pole vaulter Andrew Arbuckle
07 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Andrew Arbuckle is a well kent name in Scottish farming. The former Scotsman and Dundee Courier farming editor, ex MSP, author and farmer has raised o...
Dundee days out with Go Rural Scotland
28 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A whistle-stop tour of farm visitor experiences within easy reach of Dundee, with Go Rural Scotland. Go Rural's 'Days Out on Your Doorstep' campaign ...
OnFARM's big farming chat (part 2 of 2)
21 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What are the challenges and opportunities facing Scottish agriculture, in today's uncertain business environment? To help fill the void left by the ab...
OnFARM's big farming chat (part 1 of 2)
14 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What are the challenges and opportunities facing Scottish agriculture, in today's uncertain business environment? To help fill the void left by the ab...
Lynbreck Croft's Lynn Cassells
07 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Lynn Cassells and Sandra Baer run Lynbreck Croft in the Cairngorm National Park. The pair took on Lynbreck Croft when it was semi-derelict in March 20...
Farm Ness, as seen on BBC This Farming Life
31 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Joanna MacGregor and Donald Fraser are tenant farmers at Farm Ness, on the Dochfour Estate, outside Inverness. Joanna left behind a geography teaching...
Paralympian Sammi Kinghorn and Bruce Aitchison on DoddieAid 2022
24 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Doddie Aid 2022 is in full swing, with folk all across Scotland and beyond walking, running, and cycling en masse, to raise funds to help cure Motor N...
Rising to the challenge of 2022
17 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
2022 already looks like being a challenging year for farming. There are huge unanswered questions over support policies and mechanisms, and concerns o...
Farm to Fork author Joe Stanley
20 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Leicestershire mixed farmer and Farm To Fork author Joe Stanley wants more consumers and householders to better understand where their food comes from...
SAYFC visit to Learielaw Farm
13 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
SAYFC members undertook a series of farm visits at the start of December, as part of the organisation's 7th agriculture and rural affairs conference. ...
AgriScot coming soon
06 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
An in-person AgriScot event is coming soon! The farm business event is returning to the Royal Highland Showground on Weds 9th Feb. In this episode Mon...
Organic veg and cereal farming in East Lothian
29 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Angus Elder is a third-generation organic veg and cereals farmer at Chapel Organics in East Lothian. Anna visited Angus at his farm for a tour and a c...
Cooperation in Scottish apples, cheese, and flowers
22 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Anna explores the benefits of collaboration in Scottish food and farming - meeting representatives from cheese producers, flower growers, and apple gr...
Scottish agritourism can “become world renowned"
15 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Scottish agritourism faces “the opportunity to become world renowned”, according to Visit Scotland’s Vicki Millar. In this episode, Monty also m...
Introducing OnFARM Academy rural learning hub
08 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Anna and Monty are sharing exciting news! The OnFARM family is expanding. In January 2022, we launch the OnFARM Academy, offering training programmes ...
Farming's response to COP26
01 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What should be Scottish farming's response to COP26? As the summit gets underway in Glasgow, Anna is spending time with SAOS chairman John Hutcheson,...
Women in Agriculture - levelling the field
25 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A farmhouse kitchen blether between Anna and three brilliant women, each with perspectives as women in agriculture. Amy Geddes is a 4th-generation far...
Tebay Services farm shop and kitchen
18 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Tebay services and farm shop in Westmorland is a staple of many people's north-south car journeys, with food and facilities several cuts above most mo...
Luing cattle and the Cadzow brothers
11 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Agriculture faces many profitability and sustainability challenges, not least in suckler beef production where margins are tight and environmental imp...
Learning and psychotherapy with horses: Equi-Scotia
04 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Equi-Scotia have, since the start of the pandemic, been running horse-facilitated learning and psychotherapy - to groups, individuals, businesses and ...
Be Your Best Self – personal development for women in agriculture
27 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Anna and Monty discuss the incredible response to last week's episode - when Monty spoke with Jamie Brand, the brother of East Lothian farmer Grant Br...
Remembering Grant Brand, and 'We All Need a Farmer'
19 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Content Warning: Suicide, Mental Health The news in February that East Lothian farmer Grant Brand had taken his own life left many in Scottish farmin...
Europe's largest ram sale in the Scottish Borders
13 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Monty goes in search of a new breeding tup at Europe's largest ram auction - while OnFARM producer Dave nearly buys one by accident. We also follow a ...
Food writer Christopher Trotter on sustainable Scottish fish
06 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Christopher Trotter, the food writer who once ran a Michelin-starred kitchen, and Fife food ambassador, wants us all to eat more varied and sustainabl...
Grain Emergency: searching for solutions
21 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Malting barley producers face a difficult and uncertain summer, after one of Scotland's biggest grain merchants fell into administration. Many fear th...
SAOS on climate and collaboration - overview episode
16 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A summary of the themes discussed more indepth in 5 recent OnFARM episodes with SAOS, discussing themes around climate change, farming, and the value ...
Highland Showcase and SAYFC in lockdown
14 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In what should be Royal Highland Show week 2021, Monty speaks with SAYFC's Hamish Logan on how Young Farmers have made the best of a difficult and iso...
Fighting back against rural crime
07 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Highly organised criminal gangs are targeting Scotland's farms, and using the latest technology including overhead drones to overcome security measure...
Farm Safety - learn from others' near misses
30 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
You’re 18 times more likely to lose your life farming than in the average UK workplace. Cutting out farm-related deaths and life-changing accidents ...
Scottish salmon's innovation and sustainability
24 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
How Scottish salmon has innovated and used technology to become the UK's biggest food export. Monty and producer Jac Phillimore also how the industry ...
50 years of Scottish salmon farming
16 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
2021 marks 50 years since the start of Scottish commercial salmon farming. It's a half century that has seen the industry rise from very humble beginn...
Nature and Mental Health Awareness Week
10 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The theme for 2021's Mental Health Awareness Week (Monday 10th May to Sunday 16th May) is 'nature'. Whether it's Anna’s own passion of sea-swimming,...
AgriScot Farm of the Year awards launch
03 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Monty is looking ahead to the 2021 AgriScot event this autumn with event chairman Robert Neill. This episode also marks the official launch of AgriSco...
A Rural Heritage - agritourism with Scotland Starts Here
26 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Sheep farmers like Monty have finished lambing, and we are all - thankfully - slowly coming out of COVID lockdown. We can start to think about getting...
Planning for the agritourism boom
19 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Thanks to COVID, bookings for UK holidays went up 300% in 2020. It's led many farm businesses to consider new agritourism enterprises. But what do you...
LEADER funding legacy in rural Scotland
12 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We look back on 30 years of LEADER grants and funding for development projects in rural Scotland. Anna speaks with Peter Ross, who has been involved w...
SAOS 5: Co-ops, leadership, and climate
05 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
How effective leadership can encourage those with a stake in rural sustainability to engage with mitigating climate change. In this fifth and final ep...
Will Evans from Rock and Roll Farming
29 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Will Evans of the Rock and Roll Farming podcast passes on tips to Anna, a relative newcomer on the rural podcast scene. The pair also discuss mental ...
SAOS 4: Climate, farming and the weather
22 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Climate change has brought with it more unpredictable weather patterns which, in turn, has meant significant upheaval for Scottish farmers. For episo...
Attending the virtual Scottish Rural Parliament
15 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The fourth Scottish Rural Parliament is in full swing as we publish this episode. Previous gatherings have taken place in different parts of Scotland ...
Carbon capture on farm with Rock on Soils and SOPA
08 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Rock on Soils is a project exploring whether spreading crushed rock onto agricultural land can capture large quantities of carbon in the ground. Takin...
Gordon Davidson of the Scottish Farmer newspaper
01 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Gordon Davidson is the Scottish Farmer news and online editor. He joins Anna to share stories of his years at the paper, and to give tips on how best ...
Princess Royal launches Equine Grass Sickness research drive
22 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal officially launches a research drive to study Equine Grass Sickness, an often fatal disease of horses. The Mored...
Equine Grass Sickness: Her Majesty's Balmoral losses and a push for a cure
15 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Her Majesty the Queen's Balmoral estate lost 5 Highland ponies in less than a year to Equine Grass Sickness. The disease is almost always fatal to hor...
SAOS 3: Climate-friendly can be profit-friendly
08 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Climate-friendly farming can be a more efficient and profitable way to run your business. That's the key message of episode 3 of our series with agri-...
Securing OnFARM's future: how you can help
01 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We're asking for your help. Simply by listening to OnFARM and telling others about us, you can help secure our future. As we approach our 50th podcast...
Rob Wainwright and SAYFC on rugby, farming, and #DoddieAid
25 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Rob Wainwright is the Doddie Gump fundraising founder, former Scotland Rugby captain and British Lion, and now a beef and cattle farmer on the Hebride...
SAOS 2: climate-friendly supply chains
18 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
How can the supply chains to Scottish food and drink businesses be made more climate-friendly? Scotland's target is to have net zero carbon emissions ...
"Fury" over Brexit's food and farming impacts
11 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Brexit "fury" among fish landers, a "frustrating" seed potato export ban, and costly red tape for businesses that rely on immigrant labour. Monty part...
Revisiting RHET - for OnFARM's first birthday!
04 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It is exactly one year since we published our first ever OnFARM episode - a recording with kids on a (pre-Covid) farm visit with the food and farming ...
Passing the baton: the Moredun chairmen chat
28 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We're rounding off 2020 by eavesdropping on a chat between the Moredun Foundation's outgoing chairman Ian Duncan Millar, and his successor Gareth Bair...
Moredun's Centenary: you're invited to a celebration
21 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
You're on the guest list for a (virtual) drinks reception to celebrate 100 years of Scotland's Moredun Research Institute. Just press play to attend, ...
Farm succession: plan while you can
14 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Succession planning is a nettle that all farming families need to grasp. You just never know what is around the corner. But it's a sensitive subject, ...
Moredun on the cutting edge
07 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Moredun Research Institute has come a long way since it was set up by Scottish farmers in 1920, in a bid to cut devastating livestock losses. Mont...
Moredun's 100 years of livestock health
30 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In 1920, a visionary group of Scottish farmers came together to work out how to cut alarmingly high rates of livestock losses. Together, they formed A...
SAOS 1: Farming's climate change challenge
23 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
All too often, farmers and food producers are portrayed as villains on climate change. While there is work to do, the industry's positive stories too ...
Be a price-maker not a price-taker, with dairy farmer Rory Christie
16 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Rory Christie farms in Wigtownshire alongside his brother, and is on the boards of both the Milk Suppliers Association (MSA) and the co-op umbrella or...
Converting from conventional to organic farming with SOPA
09 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What does it take to convert from conventional to organic farming? What are the benefits and pitfalls of making the switch, and what really captures p...
Organic oilseed rape production in Aberdeenshire
02 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Organic oilseed rape is often said to be impossible to grow. Aberdeenshire feed manufacturer Norvite are at the centre of trials hoping to prove that...
SAOS and Scottish Farm co-ops (repeat)
28 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Anna is munching delicious broccoli crisps this week! She's in Cupar in Fife, at the headquarters of Growers Garden. They make crisps from vegetables ...
The Batch Lady (2 of 2, repeat)
21 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Social media star Suzanne Mulholland AKA The Batch Lady shows Anna her methods for making the most of your freezer and kitchen storage. Her online vid...
#ONFARMHELPS: Gail from Greenburn returns with HR advice
14 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As COVID-19 continues to impact lives and businesses, and new lockdown rules are implemented across Scotland, Gail Ellis from rural HR specialists Gre...
Scotland Food and Drink CEO James Withers
07 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Scottish Food & Drink Fortnight is an annual celebration, running from 5th to 20th September 2020. It shines a light on the incredible work of Scotlan...
The Batch Lady part 1 (1 of 2, repeat)
31 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Batch Lady, aka Suzanne Mulholland, is a global social media sensation, publishing regular videos sharing her method of modern batch cooking. Her ...
Stand up Farmer Jim Smith (2 of 2, repeat)
24 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Farmer Jim, AKA Jim Smith the Stand-up Farmer, welcomes Anna back to his home in the Perthshire hills. This time, the pair take Jim's truck up to the ...
Would you benefit from sponsoring OnFARM? Talk to us
19 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The OnFARM podcast is a positive voice for farming, agri-food, and rural enterprise, both in Scotland and the wider UK. We give rural areas, people, o...
Stand up Farmer Jim Smith (1 of 2, repeat)
17 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Perthshire's Jim Smith is Scotland's Stand Up Farmer. His Back to the Teuchter live show and his social media Farm Diaries have earned him worldwide s...
RHASS 14: 'Moving Heaven and Earth' for 2021 Highland Show
10 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Bill Gray and Alan Laidlaw say they will "move heaven and earth" to put on a 2021 Royal Highland Show despite ongoing Covid uncertainty. The RHASS cha...
RHASS 13: Rural Scotland's Covid Unsung Heroes
03 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is one big THANK YOU to those people across rural Scotland, and the food and drink economy, who’ve gone above and beyond during Covid l...
RHASS 12: History and Heritage of The Highland Society
27 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We look back at the Highland Society’s history all the way back to 1784, on a tour of Ingliston House with RHASS chairman Bill Gray. It's Bill's fir...
RHASS 11: Equestrianism and the Love of Horses
20 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Equestrian events attract some of the biggest crowds at the Royal Highland Show, with top show jumpers, displays of Clydesdales, Shetlands and other b...
RHASS 10: The Livestock Ring and the Trophy Room
13 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
There is so much time, passion, and painstaking commitment that goes into getting a beast ready for the ring at the Royal Highland Show. It can be the...
RHASS 9: Heritage Skills in the Countryside Area
06 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Countryside Area is the section of the Royal Highland Show reserved for heritage crafts and traditional skills. It is quieter, and slightly apart ...
RHASS 8: How RHASS Helps - Awards and Support
29 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ever since it got its Royal Charter in 1784, the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS) has been committed to helping individuals...
RHASS 7: Fergus Ewing in conversation with Alan Laidlaw
18 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We are marking the start of what would have been the 2020 Royal Highland Show by hearing from Scotland's Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Touri...
RHASS 6: The View From Town
15 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It is Royal Highland Show week! Or it would be in more normal times. In The View From Town, OnFARM explores ways people not directly connected to agr...
RHASS 5: The Very Best of Food and Drink
08 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
If you are looking for the very best in food and drink, from the finest Scottish producers, the Royal Highland Show is clearly the place to be. The fo...
RHASS 4: Taking Care of Business
01 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Is there any feeling quite like seeing the gates open on day one of the Royal Highland Show? As a visitor, you have so many trade stands, businesses a...
RHASS 3: Home schooling with RHET
25 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Anna speaks with Katrina Barclay from the Royal Highland Education Trust. Since the start of COVID-19, RHET's work has quickly adapted, to focus on su...
RHASS 2: Meet You In the Usual Place
18 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
For many, the Royal Highland Show is their one big chance each year to get together with friends, and to re-connect with people they don't otherwise m...