Farming For a Better Climate

Hosted by Farming For a Better Climate

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Latest episode

Mar 2024

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About the show

Farming For a Better Climate (FFBC) ran from 2009 to 2024 and has now come to an end. It was a Scottish Government initiative delivered by SAC Consulting, providing practical support to farmers across Scotland. Working with farmers, farm consultants and the latest scientific advice, the project identified and shared practical and realistic ways to improve farm efficiency, increase profitability and at the same time reduce the carbon footprint through practical actions. From working with Climate Change Focus Farms, a Soil Regenerative Agriculture Group and latterly conducting on farm trials, findings from Farming for a Better Climate have been shared widely so as other farmers can benefit. Learn more about how to reduce your farm carbon footprint by visiting Scotland's Farm Advisory Service using the weblink below.

Listen to episodes

27 recent

March 29, 2024Episode 645 min

S3 Ep6: Improving weight data capture and utilisation to drive suckler herd efficiency

Interested in hearing more about the benefits of weighing cattle? In this podcast, SAC Consultants Lorna MacPherson and Lorna Shaw are joined by beef farmers Andrew Houstoun of Glenkilrie Farm and Iain Wilkinson of Balgay Farm. The discussion focuses on the use of technology to improve the ease of collecting weight data and how that data can be used to help drive improvements in efficiency. We hear about cow efficiency, with the aim of breeding smaller cows, using data to select heifers for replacements, weaning strategies, creep feeding and growth performance.

March 26, 2024Episode 538 min

S3 Ep5: Feed efficiency in beef cattle

Feed efficiency is a term that is being increasingly used and discussed in the cattle industry in the UK as well as globally. In this podcast, Dr David Bell (SAC Consulting) talks with Robert Gilchrist (Aberdeen Angus Cattle Society) and Seth Wareing (Stabiliser Cattle Company) and takes an in depth look at this topic and what it means to the beef industry.

October 27, 2023Episode 450 min

S3 Ep4: Improving efficiency in sheep flocks, part 3: Maximising productivity at Glensaugh

This is the final of our Improving efficiency in sheep flocks podcast series. In this episode we hear SAC Consulting's Senior Beef & Sheep Specialist Kirsten Williams chat with Donald Barrie, Farm manager at Glensaugh, one of the research farms run by the James Hutton Institute. Donald explains how the farm is operated and the key areas of management for the sheep flocks - health, nutrition and genetics, to ensure maximum productivity.

October 27, 2023Episode 332 min

S3 Ep3: Improving efficiency in sheep flocks, part 2: Methane emissions and Genetics

In the second of our Improving efficiency in sheep flocks podcast series, we hear Nicola Lambe, a researcher with SRUC chat with SAC Consulting's Senior Beef & Sheep Consultant Kirsten Williams. They discuss how exactly research is tracking greenhouse gas emissions from sheep and the role of genetics within that.

October 27, 2023Episode 245 min

S3 Ep2: Improving efficiencies in the sheep flock, part 1: Health

This is the first in a 3 part mini series focusing on improving efficiencies in the sheep flock. We hear from SAC Consulting's Senior beef & Sheep specialist, Kirsten Williams, and SRUC Vet, Fiona Crowden discussing a range of common health problems that can be found within any sheep flock.

July 28, 2023Episode 148 min

S3 Ep1: Fertiliser and Soils at Woodhead

In this podcast you will hear from SAC Consulting's Lorna Galloway and Robert Ramsay, who discuss recent Farming for a Better Climate trial work being undertaken at Woodhead Farm around soils, manures and fertilisers. This practical podcast will give you hints and tips to make better use of your farm resources and improve your profitability.

March 31, 2023Episode 1228 min

S2 Ep12: Shifting towards Net Zero

Here Séamus Murphy and SAC Consulting’s Iain Boyd discuss the wider picture around our journey towards net zero and some of the drivers encouraging action towards environmental targets.

March 31, 2023Episode 1132 min

S2 Ep11: Carbon sequestration schemes; verifying climate benefits

With carbon sequestration schemes around woodland planting and peatland restoration being viable options for some farms, how do you know your scheme is having an impact and worth the claims they are making? Here Séamus Murphy talks to SAC Consulting’s Jack Zuill to find out more.

March 31, 2023Episode 932 min

S2 Ep9: Sector focus - Dairy

SAC Specialist Lorna MacPherson joins regular hosts Séamus Murphy and Robert Ramsay to take a look at the dairy sector, and how marginal gains across the business can help to improve both climate and financial performance.

March 31, 2023Episode 1046 min

S2 Ep10: Beyond the farm gate

Here Séamus Murphy and Robert Ramsay speak to SAC Consulting’s energy and carbon specialist John Farquhar to look at the additional carbon emissions accrued through the wider supply chain, and how suppliers may be looking to minimise some of these emissions.