
Field Talk: A Monitor Farm Scotland Podcast
Welcome to Field Talk, the Monitor Farm Scotland Podcast. Each episode will follow one of the nine farms chosen to take part in the four-year programme. The Monitor Farm Scotland programme is farmer led and farmer driven, with support from specialists and experts to assess farm performance, explore opportunities, and develop solutions to the challenges farmers face. Our host, Wallace Currie, will speak with farmers about what they've been implementing on their farms, sharing both their successes and the challenges they've faced. We’ll also bring in industry experts to dive deep into key topics and offer valuable insights.
Episodes
11 episodes
Series 1 Episode 11 - Farming on an Island
Islay has been a strong farming island, known particularly for cattle, for many years. However, it's not without its challenges – namely 47,000 geese and cost and logistics of haulage onto and off the island. Craig Archibald of Craigens Farm di...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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39:27

Series 1 Episode 10 - Optimising Inputs for Marginal Gains
The Andrews of Rowanston Farm are a busy multi-enterprise business with cattle, sheep and cropping. David Andrew joins the podcast to discuss how the Monitor Farm Programme has helped them put some data behind the decision making with the ultim...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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40:08

Series 1 Episode 9 - The role of cover crops when assessing technical and financial arable performance
The McNicol Family have diversified their business portfolio into Agritourism over the years. Through the Monitor Farm programme they have refocussed on the technical and financial performance of the core arable enterprise. Cover crops have bee...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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53:24

Series 1 Episode 8: Evolving a Multigenerational Business
The Stirling Monitor Farm is a real family affair with 3 generations involved in the business. The family have been looking closely at business figures to optimise marketing of stock and making management changes to boost performance and allow ...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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52:15

Series 1 Episode 7: Suckler Cow production in a National Park
Auchernack is an 800ac farm in Strathspey. The family have farmed here since 1936. Today, it is run by Malcolm Smith. He farms alongside his sons Calum, who is employed full-time, and Hamish, who works part-time. Sammie, Malcolm’s wife is...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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44:55

Series 1 Episode 6: Field Talk Special - Get Ready for Lambing!
At the Dumfries Monitor Farm we have been investigating into lamb survival and we are bringing you the headlines! This episode, Wallace chats to Katie Denholm, University of Glasgow and Ali Haggerty, Stewartry Vets about best practice in the le...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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52:38

Series 1 Episode 5: Planning for Success
Richard McCornick farms at Barnbackle Farm, Lochfoot and is the Dumfries Monitor Farm. During the Monitor Farm programme, the family have transitioned through succession and now looking to fine tune the system to optimise grass growth and have ...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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48:25

Series 1 Episode 4: Finding the Sweet Spot
Robert Wilson is a tenant farmer at Cowbog Farm in the Borders. Farming in partnership with his father Ron, the Wilson's have been looking at balancing productivity with profitability to find that 'sweet spot' in their business. Listen to hear ...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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42:25

Series 1 Episode 3: Lamb Health and Productivity
The Irvine Family are steeped in history at Sauchentree with nine generations farming there for 250 years.Bruce Irvine discusses how during the Monitor Farm Programme he has focussed on the productivity of the sheep flock and boosted per...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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41:08

Series 1 Episode 2: Making Data Driven Decision Making
Meet Duncan Morrison, the Deeside Monitor Farm, who farms at Meikle Maldron near Torphins. Alongside wife Claire, the young couple are described as fourth generation farmers with a first generation business. They have built up a spring calving ...
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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41:57

Series 1 Episode 1: Introducing 'Field Talk': The New Farmer Led, Farmer Driven Podcast 🎙️🔥
Series 1 Episode 1: Introducing 'Field Talk': The New Farmer Led, Farmer Driven Podcast 🎙️🔥 At AgriScot 2024, Monitor Farm Scotland supported by QMS, proudly launches Field Talk, a brand-new podcast series dedicated ...
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Season 1
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Episode 1
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35:43
