CropCast – Details, episodes & analysis

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CropCast

Farm Advisory Service

News

Science

Frequency: 1 episode/29d. Total Eps: 57

Welcome to CropCast, your go to podcast for all the latest information on arable crops. Each month, SAC advisors Tiffany Stephenson and Mark Bowsher-Gibbs will be joined by a range of industry experts, bringing you timely updates to help you make decisions in the field. The CropCast series alternates monthly between regular technical updates with host Tiffany Stephenson and CropCast Conversations with host Mark Bowsher-Gibbs. Producers George Gauley and Heather Stuart, Editor Cameron Waugh, Executive Producer Kerry Hammond, in association with the Scottish Government. Scotland’s Farm Advisory Service is funded by the Scottish Government. Our podcast covers a range of topics which help support your farm or croft to be more profitable and sustainable.

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http://www.fas.scot/
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https://www.fas.scot/crops-soils/
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https://ahdb.org.uk/farmbench
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RSS feed quality

Good

Score global : 73%

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Sowing, Growing & Milling at Mungoswells

Season 5 · Episode 6

Tuesday, September 15, 2026 • Duration 32:24

On today’s episode Mark is joined by Angus McDowall from Mongoswells Farm. Mungoswells flour begins in the fields of the family farm in East Lothian, a region known as the ‘Breadbasket of Scotland’. What started as a passion project has since evolved into a unique field-to-flour operation. They sow, grow, harvest, mill, and package on-site, offering both organic and non-organic flour, with the aim of keeping the entire process as local as possible. The farm has been in the family for 100 years and began selling flour in 2015.

Timestamps

01.27 Introducing Angus McDowall

05.00 Diversifying into malting and milling

11.38 The farm rotation

15.16 Wheat protein content

17.17 Wheat varieties

21.29 Grain qualities that make a good flour

23.00 A family operation

26.18 Seasonality of sales

27.10 Rye and spelt

28.08 Award winning flour

29.48 Angus’s take home message

Resources

Organic Information | Helping farmers in Scotland

Organics In Scotland Series | Helping farmers in Scotland

Winter Wheat Choices 2025/26 | Helping farmers in Scotland

Website: www.mungoswells.co.uk

Contact Mungoswells: orders@mungoswells.co.uk

Get in touch with our host: Mark.Bowsher-Gibbs@sac.co.uk

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot

Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: advice@fas.scot

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Using Insects to make Fertiliser

Season 5 · Episode 5

Tuesday, August 18, 2026 • Duration 34:02

In this episode Tiffany is joined by Arthy Surendran a Lecturer from Queens University Belfast to discuss her post-doctoral research, which looks at feeding food waste to insects with the aim of producing high value protein and fertiliser (Frass) as a by-product. Tiffany is also joined by Lachlan Jones, an Agricultural consultant from SAC Consulting, who is using Frass in SRUC crop field trials.

Listen to this episode to learn about using insects to produce protein and the potential benefits of using the by-product (Frass) as a potential fertiliser and biostimulant.

This episode was presented by Tiffany Stephenson, produced by George Gauley, edited by Cameron Waugh, with executive producers Kirstyn Blackwood & Kerry Hammond.

Timestamps

00:49 Introduction to Arthy

01:06 Introduction to Lachlan

01:32 Introduction to FRASS

03:00 What is FRASS?

04:57 What is chitin?

07:50 How can chitin prime a plant against disease?

09:37 Micronutrient value of FRASS?

14:54 What is the organic matter value of FRASS?

15:41 How much protein is produced alongside the FRASS?

19:14 What is the pH of FRASS?

22:00 Potential negatives of using FRASS?

24:00 SRUC Field trials using FRASS

30:00 Where does it fit into Agriculture?

Resources

Positive early results in Sustainable control of clubroot https://www.fas.scot/article/positive-early-results-in-sustainable-control-of-clubroot-using-chitinous-food-waste/

Field to Fork with Kettle Produce

Season 5 · Episode 4

Tuesday, July 21, 2026 • Duration 46:17

Field to Fork with Kettle Produce: in this episode Mark is joined by Finlay Ross (Crop Manager) and Andrew Orr (Head of Agriculture) from Kettle Produce Ltd.

Kettle Produce are a market leader for the provision of fresh and prepared vegetables, with over 5,000 hectares of crops grown in Scotland and around the world.

Listen to this episode to hear about the background to Kettle Produce, regions farmed, crops grown, rotational demands, agronomic and climatic challenges, technical innovations in the field, labour and market trends.

This episode was presented by Mark Bowsher-Gibbs, produced by Heather Stuart, edited by Cameron Waugh, with executive producers Kirstyn Blackwood & Kerry Hammond.

Timestamps

02.08 Introducing Andrew Orr (Head of Agriculture at Kettle Produce)

04.18 Introducing Finlay Ross (Crop Manager at Kettle Produce)

06.51 Scale, set up of the business and crops grown

10.06 Crop rotation and working with a pool of growers

12.42 Cover crops

14.18 Farming calendar for broccoli and cauliflower

18.08 Vegetable agronomy

27.18 Adapting to extreme weather conditions

33.46 Crop trials

34.46 Labour requirements and graduate scheme

39.20 Market trends and demand for vegetables

42.28 Andrews take home message

43.50 Finlays take home message

Resources

Kettle Produce Ltd

Crop Trials & Innovation

Season 5 · Episode 3

Tuesday, June 16, 2026 • Duration 37:30

In this episode Tiffany Stevenson is joined by Simon Oxley to discuss Arable innovation along with Dr Neil Havis to discuss what growers can expect to see at the upcoming SRUC Crop trial events, which take place on the 23rd & 25th June 2026.

With increasing pressure on margins, rising input costs and more challenging growing conditions, arable innovation and making the right variety and crop protection decisions has never been more important.

The upcoming crop trial events provide a valuable opportunity to see current and upcoming Winter Wheat and Spring Barley varieties performing under local conditions and hear directly from researchers, industry specialists and fellow farmers about what is looking promising for the seasons ahead.

Timestamps

0:10 Introduction to Neil & Simon

2:32 What does Innovation mean?

6:27 Where is the most potential for innovation?

10:48 How are crops looking this season?

15:14 Changes to crop varieties?

17:28 What to expect at the upcoming crop trial events?

26:14 Impact of climate change on arable production?

27:50 How can growers make the best decisions?

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot

Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: advice@fas.scot

Scottish Quality Crops - Under The Bonnet of SQC

Season 5 · Episode 2

Monday, May 18, 2026 • Duration 42:37

Welcome to Cropcast Conversations. On today’s episode Mark is joined by Teresa Dougall (Managing Director SQC) & John Hutcheson (Chair, SQC).

Scottish Quality Crops is the quality assurance body that sets the standards for food safety and good practice for crops grown in Scotland. This gives confidence to buyers across the world and creates market opportunities for Scotland’s growers.

SQC has 3,100 voluntary members, covering more than 90% of Scotland’s crops.

The board is a cooperative of eight organisations from across the supply chain. Audits are carried out by an independent certification body, Food Integrity Assurance, who conduct assessments and certification.

SQC standards are formed by and for growers and grain buyers.

Listen to this episode to hear how SQC works with the supply chain to place Scotland’s combinable crops at the premium end of the UK and European markets.

Time Stamps

01.16 Introducing Teresa Dougall and John Hutcheson (SQC)

05.32 SQC as a cooperative organisation

08.18 SQC history and where it all began

14.41 Annual review structure & what the market wants in terms of assured products

25.19 Interaction with Scottish Government

29.36 Recognising our unique and diverse landscape in Scotland

31.14 Representing a high standard product

34.05 Importing / exporting grain

40.11 Closing thoughts from Teresa and John

Resources

https://www.sqcrops.co.uk/

PCN & Water Scarcity

Season 5 · Episode 1

Tuesday, April 21, 2026 • Duration 43:21

In this episode George Chalmers is joined by SAC Consultants Kerry Leslie & Gavin Prentice, to discuss results from PCN Action Scotland along with the new CREW water scarcity guidance.

Welcome to Cropcast, your go to podcast for all the latest information on arable crops. Each month, SAC advisor, George Chalmers 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 Kirstyn Blackwood, in association with the Scottish Government.

Timestamps

01:42 Introduction to Kerry Leslie

02:27 Who does PCN impact?

03:32 What is PCN?

06:08 What is the PCN yield penalty?

09:43 How do we know if there is PCN in a field?

12:27 Variety choice

16:42 The impact of other crops on PCN

18:40 The impact of ground keepers

20:50 PCN Action Scotland

24:50 Next steps for PCN action Scotland

28:50 Introduction to Gavin Prentice

31:19 Water scarcity project

33:20 Key project outcomes

34:40 Identifying water scarcity risks

37:50 Easy wins for farmers

Related FAS Resources

Technical Note (TN30): Potato Cyst Nematodes (PCN)

Conversations - Hemp - The Crop in Waiting?

Season 4 · Episode 16

Tuesday, February 17, 2026 • Duration 39:56

Welcome to CropCast Conversations. On today’s episode Mark is joined by Iain Riddell. Iain was a consultant and project manager with SAC Consulting for 45 years, before becoming self-employed and operating under Graystones Consulting. Iain’s work focuses on agricultural supply chains and his main interest is industrial hemp, which will be the focus of this episode. The global market for hemp is expected to quadruple by 2030 and as markets here evolve, there is great potential for Scotland’s farmers to reap the benefits.

Hemp was actually grown in Scotland in the Middle Ages for rope and textile production, before it became more economic to import, to make ropes and sails for ships. It has recently attracted interest as a new arable crop as more uses for hemp become viable, including fibre/shiv for insulation and boarding in house construction and seeds used for cold pressed oil and food health products, plus many other uses. Hemp has also been shown to improve soil structure and quality, store CO2 and improve biodiversity and could play an important role in reducing Scotland’s greenhouse gas emissions. There is potential for this highly versatile crop to be a profitable break crop for farmers as demand increases for biobased materials to replace products derived from fossil fuels.

Industrial hemp is used across sectors such as agriculture, automotives, bio-energy, construction, food and beverages, furniture, paper, personal care, recycling and textiles. Several years field crop experience in Angus and the Borders, and hemp crop trials in Scotland in 2024 has confirmed that the crop grows well in our climate.

Episode Timestamps

01.23 Introducing Iain Riddell

02.50 Potential uses for hemp as an industrial crop

03.46 What do we mean by ‘industrial hemp’

05.45 Historical context

10.45 Growing hemp for fibre

12.17 Hemp – what’s currently going on in the UK

17.09 What we learned from growing hemp in the rotation

22.48 Retting process

Knowing Your Numbers

Season 4 · Episode 15

Wednesday, January 21, 2026 • Duration 57:53

In this episode George Chalmers is joined by SAC Consultant David Ross, to discuss crop margins from 2025 and predictions for 2026.

Welcome to CropCast, your go to podcast for all the latest information on arable crops. Each month, SAC advisor, George Chalmers 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 Kirstyn Blackwood, in association with the Scottish Government.

Time Stamps

1:12 Introduction to David Ross

5:00 Impact of weather on 2025 yields

11:12 AHDB Farmbench

13:44 2025 Winter Wheat

19:20 2025 Oilseed Rape

24:50 2025 Spring Barley

28:32 2025 Winter Barley

30:58 Variations between farm

32:55 Projections for Winter Wheat

38:27 Projections for Oilseed Rape 2026

42:04 Projections for Barley 2026

45:35 Alternative crops for 2026

53:30 Key messages

Related FAS Resources

Crops and soils | Helping farmers in Scotland

Other Related Resources

Farmbench - a farm business comparison tool | AHDB

Conversations - United Oilseeds

Season 4 · Episode 14

Tuesday, December 16, 2025 • Duration 49:31

Welcome to Cropcast Conversations hosted by Mark Bowsher-Gibbs. On today’s episode Mark is joined by Andrew Milne and Nick Hobson of United Oilseeds. We hear how the co-operative is structured, review 2025 OSR harvest and look ahead to prospects for 2026. They also discuss physical movements of the crop and market pricing mechanisms, so for all things OSR, enjoy listening to this very interesting conversation.

Andrew Milne – United Oilseeds Area Manager (Scotland)

Nick Hobson – United Oilseeds Trading Manager

Timestamps

00.55 Introducing Andrew and Nick from United Oilseeds

02.39 United Oilseeds – the company, it’s history and the area it covers

09.52 Varieties

12.15 Harvest 2025

18.43 Looking ahead to 2026

23.47 Movement of rape beyond the store

30.07 Different contract options and storage options

37.44 Key market watchpoints

41.43 Independent analysis of oil content

43.51 OSR Reboot

47.33 Andrews take home message

Related FAS Resources

Crops and soils | Helping farmers in Scotland

How to Get Oilseed Rape off to a Good Start | Helping farmers in Scotland

Related FAS Resources

Agronomy Past, Present & Future

Season 4 · Episode 13

Tuesday, December 16, 2025 • Duration 45:59

In this episode George Chalmers is joined by Professor Fiona Burnett to look back at some of the key developments in agronomy which have taken place over her 33-year career, along with discussion about those which will shape the future.

Welcome to CropCast, your go to podcast for all the latest information on arable crops. Each month, SAC adviser, George Chalmers 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 Kirstyn Blackwood, in association with the Scottish Government.

Timestamps

02:00 Fiona Background

05:00 Developments in crop rotation

07:00 Yield (change in mindset)

10:29 Using multi-site chemistry

16:28 New technology & Chemistry

18:00 Biostimulants

20:40 IPM Planning

24:14 Changes in regulations

29:30 BASIS training

31:50 Quality Assurance

33:45 The future of agronomy

35:40 Managing inputs for the season ahead

38:05 Seed dressings

39:50 Reducing application rates

41:30 The challenge of resistance

43:40 Three top tips

Related FAS Resources

FAS Crops & Soils https://www.fas.scot/crops-soils/

CropCast – Details, episodes & analysis

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CropCast – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

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Apple Podcasts

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