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

United Oilseeds | Oilseed Rape | Buy Seed | Sell crops

OSR-Reboot | United Oilseeds | Oilseed Rape

Winter oilseed rape recommended and candidate lists | AHDB

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot

Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: advice@fas.scot

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/

In this episode George Chalmers is joined by Edward Jones, who is a Sustainable Farming Advisor at Frontier Agriculture to discuss cover crops.

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 codes

04:13 Definitions of green manure, cover crops & catch crops

09:14 Potential benefits

12:24 New species available

14:15 Different species for different areas

20:03 Considerations when choosing a crop

24:14 Greening 2026

28:40 Establishment

33:46 Potential uses with livestock

36:00 Seeds suitable for broadcasting

39:19 Three top tips

Linked FAS Resources

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

EFA Greening 2026 https://www.fas.scot/preparing-for-the-future/

Other Linked Resources

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ed-jones-931725133?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=android_app

Clinkstone – Companion Crops & autumn cover crops in a min-till system https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uw5xnHdsaEw

Cover Crop Guide: https://covercropsguide.co.uk/

Welcome to Cropcast Conversations hosted by Mark Bowsher-Gibbs. On today’s episode Mark is joined by Julian South, Executive Director of The Maltsters’ Association of Great Britain (MAGB). MAGB are the trade association of the UK malting industry and represent over 98% of UK malt production, buying around 2 million tonnes of UK malting barley, to make about 1.6 million tonnes of malt. Mark and Julian discuss harvest 2025, barley varieties, tariffs and trade deals and opportunities for the industry.

Episode Timestamps

01.38 Background and structure of MAGB

04.43 What is malt?

06.59 Distilling malts and brewing malts

07.50 Harvest 2025 round up

16.12 Evaluating and approving new barley varieties for malting

23.31 International Barley Hub

26.00 Biggest challenges for the malting barley industry

29.47 International trade

33.25 Tariffs and trade deals

35.04 Peat as a flavouring for malt

37.10 Finding out more: www.ukmalt.com

38.25 The malt industry in 10 years time

Resources

The Maltsters’ Association of Great Britain

Malting Barley Committee - The Maltsters’ Association of Great Britain

Contact: Julian South: 07967452838, julian@magb.org.uk

SRUC - Soils & plants - Recommended lists

SAC Recommended Lists for Cereals 2025-26

International Barley Hub - The James Hutton Institute

Mycotoxins - The Maltsters’ Association of Great Britain

For more information, visit  www.FAS.scot

Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: advice@fas.scot

In this episode George Chalmers is joined by SAC Senior Consultant and Chartered Accountant Andrew Coalter to discuss Arable Farm Finances, particularly cash flow challenges, investment and capital allowances for arable farms.

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.

Related FAS Resources

Cash Flow Forecasting: https://www.fas.scot/article/building-good-financial-habits-with-cash-flow-forecasting/

Budgeting & Financial Planning https://www.fas.scot/rural-business/business-tools/budgeting-and-financial-planning/

Finance & Funding https://www.fas.scot/whats-stopping-you-finance-funding/

In this episode Tiffany Stephenson is joined by Robert Meadley to discuss some of the considerations which should be made when deciding to replace or invest in a piece of machinery.

Welcome to Cropcast, your go to podcast for all the latest information on arable crops. Each month, SAC advisor, Tiffany Stephenson 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.

Related FAS Resources

Getting Started In Arable Agriculture - Machinery Appraisal | Information helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service

Other Related Resources

Robert Meadley LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-meadley-85652223/?originalSubdomain=uk

Machinery costing calculator | AHDB

Welcome to CropCast Conversations hosted by Mark Bowsher-Gibbs. On today’s episode Mark is joined by two guests. Grant James (Business Development Manager at Sea2Soil) discusses an organic soil improver product from Sea2Soil. Grant provides an explanation of the biological mechanisms at play in the product, how it works on-farm and what to expect from applications. Steve Townsend brings a wealth of knowledge and experience of Regenerative Agriculture. Steve advises farmers all over the UK and Europe on how No-Till can improve their business. Steve is passionate about helping farmers reduce their fixed costs, increase their crop yields and weed control whilst repairing their soils.

Episode Timestamps

00.55 Harvest 2025 feedback

03.03 Steve & Soil First Farming

04.04 Grant & Sea2Soil

06.01 What is fish hydrolysate?

06.46 Feeding the soil biology

11.04 Practices to build up soil biology

20.20 Measuring soil biology

27.47 How different crop sectors are responding to regenerative agriculture

32.04 Nitrogen use efficiency

34.56 Albrecht theory

38.40 Getting the magnesium ratio right

41.15 Grant’s take home message

42.00 Steve’s take home message

FAS Resources

Regenerative Agriculture | Helping farmers in Scotland

Other Resources

Organic Soil Improver - Make soil healthier & more productive | Sea2Soil

Grant James: grant.james@pelagia.com, 07976 879646

Soil First Farming

Steve Townsend: steve.townsend@soilfirstfarming.co.uk, 07989 402112

For more information, visit  www.FAS.scot

Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: advice@fas.scot

In this episode Tiffany Stephenson is joined by Kristina Grenz, Senior Cereal Product Quality Scientist at AHDB, to discuss ergot, which proved to be a significant problem for many growers during harvest 2024. In this episode we discuss the ergot life cycle, symptoms as well as top management tips.

Welcome to Cropcast, your go to podcast for all the latest information on arable crops. Each month, SAC advisor, Tiffany Stephenson 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.

Related Resources

AHDB – Ergot management guidance for cereals - https://ahdb.org.uk/news/ergot-management-guidance-for-cereals-strengthened-by-review

AHDB – An introduction to Ergot & its management in cereals https://ahdb.org.uk/knowledge-library/an-introduction-to-ergot-and-its-management-in-cereals

FAS – Ergot – What is it and how to prevent it? https://www.fas.scot/article/ergot-what-it-is-and-how-to-prevent-it/

AHDB- Ergot in harvest 2024 https://ahdb.org.uk/news/ergot-in-harvest-2024-cereals-a-pathologist-s-paradise-a-supply-chain-challenge

AIC – Ergot in cereal crops https://www.agindustries.org.uk/resource/ergot-in-cereal-crops-contracts-legislation-and-effective-management-frequently-asked-questions-faqs.html