OnFARM Scottish farming podcast

We all know Scottish soft fruits are good for us - but in this OnFARM, experts explain exactly how and why Scottish berries have such brilliant health benefits - including some we are still learning about. From potential to combat diabetes and dementia, to helping with obesity, researchers from the Rowett and John Hutton Institutes share some very exciting findings. There is also an update on new soft fruit varieties to help growers cope with the challenges of climate change, and tips for anyone looking to market soft fruit's health benefits to consumers. Joining Anna are: Dr Fiona Campbell from the University of Aberdeen's Rowett Institute Gordon McDougall, and Dr Valeria Montano, both of the John Hutton Institute

Barley, wheat, oilseed rape... Should hemp be considered alongside these as viable crops for Scottish growers? Researchers at the University of Aberdeen's Rowett Institute are championing hemp as a healthy and sustainable food crop. It's a rich source of protein, dietary fibre, and other healthy fats and minerals. So, should hemp be your next diversification? For this episode, Anna and producer Dave visit Barns of Airlie Farm near Kirriemuir to meet Hemp It Up! founders Alison and John Easson, alongside the Rowett Institute's Dr Madalina Neacsu and Dr Graham Horgan from BIOSS (Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland). =============== This is the first of a 4-part OnFARM mini-series in partnership with SEFARI (Scottish Environment, Food and Agriculture Research Institutions), a partnership of six globally renowned institutions providing research and expertise to Scotland's agriculture, environment and food communities.

Since we first aired this wonderful interview with Willie Logan from East Lothian, the 91-year old East Lothian farmer has been adopted as a 'poster boy' for RHASS's new 240 Years of Stories campaign. 240 Years of Stories aims to highlight and explore people's tales from living and working in the agricultural community. We will be working with RHASS through our OnRECORD Memories initiative which focuses on recording stories and memories from rural Scotland. In this episode, Willie shares memories of farming, horses and families, from his 91 years (so far!) living and working in Scottish agriculture. Get in touch if you’d like us to record with one of your family members, a long-serving staff member, or anyone else with a great story to tell or a voice to treasure. Those wishing to share other rural stories with RHASS are encouraged to get in touch at stories@rhass.org.uk Those looking to record private stories and memories from family members, outside of this project, can find out more at www.onrecordmemories.co.uk

Seven months after suffering a seizure, and being diagnosed with brain cancer, Monty and his wife Moira chat with Anna and producer Dave about how things have been. This episode has heaps of gratitude for helpful and supportive people, from Monty's friends, family and neighbours, to the wonderful rural charity RSABI - and even OnFARM's sponsors Scottish law firm Gillespie Macandrew. Mentioned in this episode: For more info on preserving precious memories via OnRECORD visit www.onrecordmemories.co.uk

Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones MBE, aka The Black Farmer, describes his difficult start to life in the UK, before starting work for the BBC and discovering a passion for food. He left TV to start a food and drink marketing company, which gave him the opportunity to realise his dream of owning a farm. 'The Black Farmer' is now a successful brand selling sausages, deli items and other produce. Wilfred tells Mary-Jane Lawrie from the Farm Advisory Service (FAS) about his life and his determination to become a farmer, and how the danger of playing it safe can hold us back. https://www.theblackfarmer.com/ FAS have kindly agreed to share episodes from their podcasts to help OnFARM out while Monty is receiving treatment for brain cancer. We are hugely grateful for their support. For more information, visit www.FAS.scot

Farmer Jim, AKA Jim Smith the Stand-up Farmer, welcomes Anna back to his home in the Perthshire hills. In this second part of their chat, recorded back in 2020, there's talk of Jim's ambitions in both farming and comedy. (Hands up who wants to see Jim on 'Live At The Apollo'?!) There is decent footballing promise shown by Floss the dog, advice from Anna on Jim's impending parenthood, and a general blether about life and farming. Thanks to rural business specialists Bell Ingram for support for this episode. Mentioned in this episode: For more info on preserving precious memories via OnRECORD visit www.onrecordmemories.co.uk

Jim Smith's comedy career has come on in leaps and bounds since Anna first spoke to him in the springtime of 2020. He is also a staunch supporter of Scottish farming charities particularly the RSABI's #keeptalking campaign. He says farming will always be his number one passion. When Anna went to visit him at his Perthshire farm, they talked about his comedy roots; trying to relieve the boredom of roguing tatties, then writing pantomime scripts for his beloved Bankfoot YFC. We only meant to record one episode with Jim, but he was such good craic, we split the chat into two parts. So this is part 1 of 2. Enjoy! Thanks to rural business specialists Bell Ingram for support for this episode. Mentioned in this episode: For more info on preserving precious memories via OnRECORD visit www.onrecordmemories.co.uk

Fly-tipping is something all too many farmers and landowners will be aware of. If "extreme" fly-tipping is new to you, we're talking about bigger things being dumped, like caravans or vehicles. Anna is joined by Elaine Kennedy-Walton and Conner McConnell from our wonderful sponsors, Gillespie MacAndrew to offer information and advice. Mentioned in this episode: For more info on preserving precious memories via OnRECORD visit www.onrecordmemories.co.uk

Thanks to the Farm Advisory Service (FAS) for sharing this Stock Talk episode on farming in Argentina. Argentinian farmer Allan Cameron talks with presenter Robert Ramsay about cropping and beef production, as well as the importance of soil health, and the need for increased production. The episode is produced by Kirsten Blackwood. FAS have kindly agreed to share episodes from their podcasts to help OnFARM out while Monty is receiving treatment for brain cancer. We are hugely grateful for their support.

After lots of lovely feedback on last week's episode with 91-year-old East Lothian farmer Willie Logan, and the launch of OnRECORD to capture memories of Scottish agriculture, we are re-sharing this chat from our archive. 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 over £100,000 for the RSABI with proceeds from his books. What's less well-known about Andrew is that he is also a champion pole vaulter... To find out more about OnRECORD, and how you can book the team to capture precious memories for posterity, please visit www.onrecordmemories.co.uk Mentioned in this episode: For more info on preserving precious memories via OnRECORD visit www.onrecordmemories.co.uk

Willie Logan from East Lothian shares memories of farming, horses and families, from his 91 years (so far!) living and working in Scottish agriculture. This conversation between Willie and Anna marks the launch of our exciting new OnRECORD project. With OnRECORD, you can book the OnFARM team to record and preserve precious voices and stories, that you can keep forever, with professionally captured and edited audio recordings. Get in touch if you’d like us to record with one of your family members, a long-serving staff member, or anyone else with a great story to tell, or a voice to treasure. Find out more at: www.onrecordmemories.co.uk Mentioned in this episode: For more info on preserving precious memories via OnRECORD visit www.onrecordmemories.co.uk

Introducing OnFARM's exciting new sister project - OnRECORD. Thanks to OnRECORD, you can book the OnFARM team to record and preserve precious voices and stories, that you can keep forever, with professionally captured and edited audio recordings. Perhaps you'd like us to record the memories and stories of one of your family members, a long serving member of your farm team, or an outgoing office-bearer in your organisation? Whatever stories and voices you want to be able to preserve, to treasure, and to return to in future, please just get in touch. Find out more at: www.onrecordmemories.co.uk

Nick Thomson and James Fairlie from the 'Farming Funny' podcast join Anna for a good blether about life, farming, and podcasting - and why James always has something, in every episode, to get angry about. Find Nick, Jim and Sandy on Farming Funny in podcast players here. Huge thanks to rural business specialists Bell Ingram for sponsoring this episode. Mentioned in this episode: For more info on preserving precious memories via OnRECORD visit www.onrecordmemories.co.uk

Carol McLaren chats with Anna about her time so far as CEO of Scottish farming support charity RSABI. There is some discussion of mental ill health - including feeling suicidal - in this episode. Find RSABI online at www.rsabi.org.uk or call them on 0808 1234 555. We are grateful to Scottish law firm Gillespie Macandrew for their support of this episode. Mentioned in this episode: For more info on preserving precious memories via OnRECORD visit www.onrecordmemories.co.uk

Jock Wilson is a busy guy! In this episode, producer Dave visits Jock to learn about the various projects and enterprises he's involved in - from beef and sheep farming at Edinvale Farm in Moray, to running Macbeth's butcher and game dealer. Jock is also leading on introducing wellbeing and resilience initiative FarmStrong in Scotland, and is about to embark on a Nuffield Farming Scholarship focused on meat eating quality. We are grateful to Scottish law firm Gillespie Macandrew for their support of this episode. Mentioned in this episode: For more info on preserving precious memories via OnRECORD visit www.onrecordmemories.co.uk

This short episode reflects on 4 years (so far) of the OnFARM podcast - and looks at ways businesses and organisations can come on board to sponsor or partner with OnFARM, to keep the podcast going into the future. We produce episodes in partnership with RHASS, the Moredun Research Institute, law firm Gillespie Macandrew, rural business specialists Bell Ingram, and others. We'd love to hear from you if you'd like to join that list. The OnFARM podcast is a great opportunity to get your messages out to people in rural Scotland, and to play a part in championing and sharing the sector's stories. Just get in touch to find out more: anna@sceneandherdpr.co.uk

Farmer-led charity Pickups For Peace collect farm trucks and 4x4 vehicles, pack them with aid, supplies, and equipment, and then drive them in convoy to Ukraine. The trucks are left to help in the war effort - moving people, recovering casualties, or transporting supplies. In this episode, Monty speaks with one of the founders of Pickups for Peace, Keith Dawson, as well, as charity supporter Nicola Alexander from Cupar in Fife. For more information, or to donate vehicles or supplies, contact pickupsforpeace@memus.com or make a donation on justgiving.com. We are repeating this episode as it's one of Monty's favourites from this year - to mark the midway point of his chemo and radiotherapy treatment. Mentioned in this episode: For more info on preserving precious memories via OnRECORD visit www.onrecordmemories.co.uk

A teaspoon of healthy soil can contain over 3 miles of fungus - if stretched out end-to-end. That's just one of the fascinating fungi facts shared in this episode - as Anna goes foraging with East Lothian mycologist Neville Kilkenny. Neville offers guided forays, talks and events, and teaches identification workshops at Edinburgh's Royal Botanic Gardens (RBGE). Find him online at the very aptly-named fungi.co.uk. Huge thanks to sponsors Bell Ingram for their support of this episode. Mentioned in this episode: For more info on preserving precious memories via OnRECORD visit www.onrecordmemories.co.uk

Behind the scenes insight, as Anna and producer Dave chat with Hayley Hayes, host of the Radio Academy podcast, about the making on OnFARM. The Radio Academy is the UK radio and audio industry charity. They promote excellence in UK radio and audio (so it is only natural they would want to speak to the makers of the very excellent OnFARM!). Truth be told, this is a wee bit of a stopgap while we make some changes in light of Monty's illness. We'll be back soon with more of the usual OnFARM fodder - but we thought you'd enjoy this in the meantime. Mentioned in this episode: For more info on preserving precious memories via OnRECORD visit www.onrecordmemories.co.uk

Elspeth and Paolo Berardelli farm the Great Glen Cattle Ranch at Spean Bridge. They have a wide spread of enterprises on the farm, ranging from sheep and cattle, to deer stalking, and renewable energy. They also are custodians of an important site of special scientific interest of species-rich Nardis grassland at Glencoe. Elspeth has also recently started welcoming children on to the farm from local schools, to help build their confidence and support their resilience and mental health. With thanks to episode sponsors Scottish law firm Gillespie Macandrew. Mentioned in this episode: For more info on preserving precious memories via OnRECORD visit www.onrecordmemories.co.uk