Welcome to In Conversation With… hosted this month by Mark Bowsher-Gibbs (Principal Consultant) and Kirsten Williams (Senior Sheep and Beef Consultant). On today’s episode Mark and Kirsten reflect on their highlights from 2024 and are joined by David Ross (Principal Consultant, SAC Consulting) to discuss integrating livestock and arable. They explore options for integrating livestock, share top tips and farmers experience as well as the benefits this can bring to both the arable and livestock farmer.

Episode Timestamps

00.45 Kirsten’s 2024 highlights

01.24 Mark’s 2024 highlights

05.15 Integrating sheep into arable systems

06.42 Grazing cover crops and catch crops

09.09 Pest management and drawing moisture out of the soil

12.20 Biodiversity benefits

16.58 Soil compaction and deep rooting crops

21.00 Opportunities and new entrants

22.35 Things to be aware of (possible issues)

27.50 Temporary grass leys

31.55 Farmers’ experience

34.46 Grazing winter cereals

42.48 Marks top tips

44.05 Kirsten's closing thoughts

FAS Resources

Sheep grazing winter crop - what you need to know

Winter grazing cereals - an alternative forage source

Whitriggs - winter grazing of crops

Practical guide - use of cover crops

Regenerative agriculture integrating livestock

The benefits of grass leys in arable rotations

Other Resources

Grass leys for the arable rotation - AHDB

An introduction to cover crops - AHDB

Cover crops for additional forage | AHDB

Outwintering Strategies

The benefits of sheep in arable...

Welcome to In Conversation With… hosted this month by Senior Sheep and Beef Consultant Kirsten Williams. On today’s episode Kirsten is joined by Willie Budge (Senior Consultant, SAC Consulting) and Kythe Mackenzie (Veterinary Investigation Officer, SRUC). They will discuss trends from the year, what’s coming into the labs, tips on preparing for sheep inspections and how to keep meaningful records. This show is produced in association with the Scottish Government.

Episode Timestamps

01.42 2024 health highlights – using them to plan for next year

04.14 Top tips for sheep inspections

08.20 Tagging records

14.00 Using records to review performance

15.19 What’s coming into the vet labs

21.16 Funded Animal Health and Welfare interventions (PSF)

24.00 Notifiable diseases and the risks to Scottish flocks

28.08 Biosecurity and quarantine

30.58 Nutrition, winter budgeting and housing

34.48 Kythe’s top tip for winter stocktake

35.58 Willie – Animal Health and Welfare Plan and benefits of up to date records

FAS Resources

Record Keeping

Growing and finishing lambs in autumn and winter

Preparing for Sustainable Farming full guidance (Animal Health and Welfare Interventions)

Cull Ewe Screening

Ice-berg Diseases in Sheep - Caseous Lymphadenitis (CLA) (youtube.com)

Ice-berg Diseases in Sheep - Maedi Visna (MV) (youtube.com)

Ice-berg Diseases in Sheep - Ovine Johnes Disease (OJD) (youtube.com)

Ice-berg Diseases in Sheep – Ovine Pulmonary Adenocarcinoma (OPA) (youtube.com)

Ice-berg Diseases in Sheep - Border Disease (BD) (youtube.com)

Iceberg Diseases In Sheep | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot) Iceberg diseases of ewes | AHDB

Other Resources

Livestock identification and traceability guidance pages sheep and goats (gov.Scot)

Ruminant Health & Welfare

Bluetongue Virus - RuminanHealth & Welfare

Iceberg diseases of ewes |...

Welcome to the October episode of In Conversation With… hosted this month by Principal Consultant Mark Bowsher-Gibbs. On today’s episode Mark is joined by Sebastien Mallet, CEO at ODA (Offre & Demande Agricole). They discuss the UK and European harvest, how UK grain prices have changed and what drives price change, the best time to sell into the market and selling strategies going forward.

Timestamps:

03.17 Harvest 2024 in Europe

04.40 Getting market messages/analysis to farmers

06.05 Where the UK sits in the global supply and demand picture

06.45 “The world market is a village” (freight costs)

10.24 US influence on wheat market (record yields and surplus export volumes)

14.28 Factors influencing UK market ex-farm prices

21.55 Malting premium

23.10 Where might wheat market prices go next

25.36 Selling strategies

28.05 Weather effects on the market

29.24 Oilseed Rape – UK a net importer

FAS Resources

Agribusiness News September 2024 - Cereals and Oilseeds | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

Other Related Resources

ODA Connect - The independent grain marketing consultancy for Farmers

Corn Returns: Ex-farm prices and volumes | AHDB

Cereals and Oilseeds markets | AHDB