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Food, farming and rural life from Scotland and beyond. OnFARM showcases rural enterprise, community, creativity, and so much more. We champion the producers, grafters, and innovators who put food on our tables and keep our countryside green and beautiful for all. OnFARM: Food, Agricultural and Rural Matters in Scotland. New episodes every Monday, presented by Anna Davies and Ross Montague.
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In advance of COP26, Climate Conversations invites environmental scientists, community representatives and decision-makers to discuss the climate crisis and how changes are impacting the lives of people around the world. This five-part series is supported by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), and produced by Glasgow Science Centre and Bespoken Media.
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Conversations about parental mental illness, with Dr Pamela Jenkins. Pamela's mum Irene had a schizo-affective disorder. In each of these episodes, she shares memories and experiences with someone else who also grew up as the child of a parent with mental illness. My Family, Mental Illness, and Me is a podcast from Our Time, a charity that supports and advocates for the estimated 3 million UK young people living with or caring for a parent with a mental illness. It is supported by the Mental ...
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Children's Commissioner at 18
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Children's Commissioner at 18
Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland
The office of Children and Young People’s Commissioner for Scotland office turns 18 on 26 April 2022. We’ve championed children’s human rights for the length of an entire childhood! The first Commissioner, from April 2004, was Professor Kathleen Marshall. Tam Baillie held the post from 2009, and was followed by Bruce Adamson in 2017. In this series, guided by questions from children and young people, all three Children's Commissioners discuss their work, the progress of children's rights in ...
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In 2019, Scottish fiddle player Isla Ratcliff spent four wonderful months in Cape Breton, an island in Nova Scotia, on Canada's east coast, with a rich traditional music culture. Isla fell in love with the music, the people and the place. Her experiences there, and in neighbouring New Brunswick inspired her to release The Castalia, her debut album of traditional and self-composed fiddle music. In this series to accompany the album, Isla introduces us to the people she met in Nova Scotia and ...
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OnFARM Scotland's rural podcast
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Ringside at Fife Show with the Gillespie McAndrew team
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24:24
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We are alongside the main arena at Fife Show, courtesy of OnFARM partners and sponsors Gillespie McAndrew. Guest co-presenters are Carol McQuillan and Sam Connington from GM's Land and Rural Business Team. They check in with RSABI's Carol MacLaren about their upcoming fundraiser The Great Glen Challenge. We also hear from Jenn Stewart at Johnston C…
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OnFARM Scotland's rural podcast
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Heather thatching at Braemar Castle - with Bell Ingram
25:51
25:51
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A follow-up to our episode on the restoration of Braemar Castle in Royal Deeside. We are with Bell Ingram team volunteers, senior architect Iain Cram, and expert Scottish thatcher Brian Wilson, as they gather sheaves of heather to redo the roof of a folly - or 'fog house' - in the castle grounds.By Scene and Herd PR and Marketing
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OnFARM Scotland's rural podcast
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Braemar Castle community restoration project - with Bell Ingram
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37:39
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Braemar Castle in Royal Deeside has been under scaffolding for many months - as it is being lovingly restored by a team led by the local community, with architecture support from specialists at Bell Ingram. In this episode - the first of two recorded at Braemar Castle - Monty meets vice chair of Braemar Community Ltd. Doreen Wood, director of stone…
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OnFARM Scotland's rural podcast
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Helping It Happen awards from SLE: what it means to win (2 of 3)
40:52
40:52
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The 2023 Helping It Happen awards from Scottish Land and Estates are open for nominations here. In this mini-series in partnership with SLE, Anna meets the 2022 winners, to find out how the recognition has helped them or given their work a boost. We also hear in each episode from SLE chief executive Sarah-Jane Laing. Helping it Happen 2022 award-wi…
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OnFARM Scotland's rural podcast
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Helping It Happen awards from SLE: what it means to win (1 of 3)
33:09
33:09
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33:09
The 2023 Helping It Happen awards from Scottish Land and Estates are now open for nominations here. In this mini-series in partnership with SLE, Anna meets the 2022 winners, to find out how the recognition has helped them or given their work a boost. We also hear in each episode from SLE chief executive Sarah-Jane Laing. Helping it Happen 2022 awar…
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The first ever SAOS Growing Tomorrow's Leaders cohort have recently completed their training. Growing Tomorrow’s Leaders programme has been designed to help Scotland's rural sector cope better with its many and growing challenges, including climate change, sustainability and supply chain issues. OnFARM's Anna took part in the training herself - and…
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There has never been more sheep scab in Scotland than there is at the moment, according to advisors at the Moredun animal health research institute. Monty visits one farm struck by its first ever scab outbreak, and hears about the welfare, economic and mental anguish of dealing with the aftermath. There is also expert advice from the Moredun's Stew…
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OnFARM Scotland's rural podcast
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ADHD in farming: Will Evans and Domhnall Macsween
37:17
37:17
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Will Evans and Domhnall Macsween have both recently been diagnosed with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). Will, who is chair of the Oxford Farming Conference and host of the Rock and Roll Farming podcast, shares thoughts with BBC Alba presenter Domhnall and OnFARM host Anna Davies. Both men believe that undiagnosed ADHD may be preval…
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Horse racing will make a welcome return to the hills above Galashiels next month (Sunday 16th April) when the Lauderdale point-to-point takes place at Mosshouses. The race meeting, the first since 2019, will celebrate 75 years of racing at the scenic course. Monty caught up with two members of the organising committee, Charlotte Dun and Tony Hogart…
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OnFARM Scotland's rural podcast
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Highland fresh flowers from Corrimony Farm: Mother's Day sorted!
28:38
28:38
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Barbara Girvan sells fresh seasonal flowers grown on her family's Highland farm in the heart of Glenurquhart, near Inverness. You can set up a subscription to get monthly bouquets delivered direct to your door. Something to think about with Mother's Day just around the corner! Barbara's flower business 'The Wild Acre': https://corrimonyfarm.co.uk/c…
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OnFARM Scotland's rural podcast
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James Oswald, Fife farmer and best-selling crime writer (2 of 2)
36:21
36:21
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A second visit to the home of farmer and Sunday Times-bestselling author James Oswald. Monty's a big fan of James' supernatural crime books, especially the Edinburgh-based Inspector Tony McLean series. This is the second of two episodes recorded at James' home. (Episode photo credit: David Cruickshanks)…
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OnFARM Scotland's rural podcast
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James Oswald, Fife farmer and best-selling crime writer (1 of 2)
43:55
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James Oswald is the Sunday Times-bestselling author of dozens of books including the Edinburgh-based Inspector Tony McLean series of supernatural crime novels. He's also a Fife farmer, and particularly proud of his breeding herd of Highland cattle. Monty's a big fan of James' books, and jumped at the chance to pay him a visit for the podcast. This …
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OnFARM Scotland's rural podcast
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Showcase: Agri Culture podcast from FAS Sounds
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46:34
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Something a bit different this week: Anna was recently interviewed by Mary Jane Lawrie for the FAS Sounds Agri Culture podcast, so we thought we'd bring you that interview in full as a behind-the-scenes peek at life at Scene and Herd and OnFARM. If you enjoy what you hear, do go and check out the FAS Sounds stable of podcasts at fas.scot/sounds Agr…
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OnFARM Scotland's rural podcast
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Dynescan's innovative semen analyser: a livestock vet's view
22:05
22:05
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Following last week's episode when Monty got to try a Dynescan portable semen quality analyser, we're hearing from a livestock vet who offers Dynescan tests to clients. Tom Oxtoby is from the George Farm Vets practice in Malmesbury in Wiltshire. The Dynescan ensures that vets can provide speedy and reliable advice to farmers looking to improve prod…
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OnFARM Scotland's rural podcast
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Dynescan penside livestock semen analysis
30:19
30:19
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Created in Scotland: a game-changing portable pen-side semen quality analyser for livestock industries. The Dynescan was developed at Edinburgh University's Roslin Innovation Centre and provides accurate semen quality results within minutes. Its developers say anyone can use it. It helps farms to be more profitable, improving fertility management a…
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OnFARM Scotland's rural podcast
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Equine Grass Sickness: updating The Moredun's search for a cure
42:08
42:08
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In February 2021, Her Royal Highness, Princess Anne, was a guest on OnFARM, launching a fundraising drive to find a cure for Equine Grass Sickness. The mysterious disease is almost always fatal to horses, and, in recent years, had killed 5 prized Highland ponies on Her Majesty the Queen's Balmoral estate. Efforts to find a treatment are being led b…
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OnFARM Scotland's rural podcast
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The Red Shepherdess and Danny the Farrier
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45:11
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Hannah and Danny Gallagher - better known to many on social media as The Red Shepherdess and Danny the Farrier - share their delight and excitement at not one but two pieces of life-changing news; they have just taken on their first farm in their own names, and - after three miscarriages - have their first baby on the way. The couple talk to Monty …
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OnFARM Scotland's rural podcast
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Happy Christmas and New Year from all at OnFARM
31:30
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For our final episode of 2022, Monty, Anna and Dave look back on the year's highlights. Huge thanks to everyone who's been involved in helping make OnFARM a success this year - especially our series sponsors Scottish legal firm Gillespie Macandrew. Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and we'll be back with new episodes on 2023.…
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OnFARM Scotland's rural podcast
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"Full blown crisis" for Scottish fruit growers: James Porter
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25:32
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Rising costs, increasing uncertainty and a squeeze on prices are all contributing to a "full blown crisis" for Scottish fruit growers, according to Angus Soft Fruit's James Porter. James has been speaking to OnFARM's Dave Howard - and has issued a plea for greater support from UK and Scottish governments, farming unions, and anyone else with influe…
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OnFARM Scotland's rural podcast
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Scottish Agritourism's "opportunity to become world renowned" (first published 2021)
44:33
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Scottish agritourism faces “the opportunity to become world renowned”, according to Visit Scotland’s Vicki Millar. Monty also meets Cabinet Secretary Mairi Gougeon, Scottish Agritourism lead Caroline Millar and many others, in this episode recorded at the 2021 Scottish Agritourism conference. Contributors: Cabinet Secretary Mairi Gougeon Scottish A…
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OnFARM Scotland's rural podcast
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Doddie Weir: "we'll continue until we win the game" (first published Feb 2020)
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31:37
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We are all adjusting to life without Doddie Weir - Scotland and Lions rugby legend, Motor Neuron Disease campaigner, and Borders farmer. In this OnFARM edition, recorded around Christmas 2019, Monty visited his friend and farming neighbour for a coffee and blether. The pair recall Doddie's early days in eventing and his time at the SAC agricultural…
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OnFARM Scotland's rural podcast
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What3Words: Free easy-to-use app that can save your life
30:18
30:18
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Midlothian mum Rachel Moyes broke her back in four places after being flung from a horse's back in a remote location. Ambulance workers used the What3Words app to find quickly Rachel, and take her to hospital for treatment. Monty hears Rachel's story, and also speaks with What3Words' Albe Pereira. If you spend time in remote areas, whether for work…
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OnFARM Scotland's rural podcast
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Peelham Farm's Denise Walton: Nature-friendly farming
53:31
53:31
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Denise Walton trained as an ecologist, but has spent 30 years alongside family and business partners building up Peelham Farm, and expanding into butchery and charcuterie. Denise is Scotland chair of the Nature Friendly Farming Network, and is passionate about how farming can be part of solutions to both climate change and biodiversity - while stil…
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OnFARM Scotland's rural podcast
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Scottish farming, food prices, and climate change: a view from SAOS
34:59
34:59
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What needs to happen to prices and ways of working, to enable farming and food production to meet carbon reduction targets? A year on from world leaders amassing in Glasgow to discuss climate change action, and with COP27 underway in Egypt, we're revisiting Anna's chat from this time last year with SAOS chairman John Hutcheson, and Emma Patterson-T…
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OnFARM Scotland's rural podcast
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Natural farming: Savory-accredited William Houstoun
29:40
29:40
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A chat with Scotland's only Savory Institute-trained holistic management educator. Anna spends time with William Houstoun, who works with farms, estates and other organisations to support transitions to becoming more holistically-managed and regenerative. William's website is here: https://www.land.scot/ Find out more about the work of the Savory I…
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Amanda Owen, 'The Yorkshire Shepherdess', is one of the UK’s most famous famers. She chats with Anna about her hill farm, and her life as a shepherd, sheepdog trainer, mum-of-9, and best-selling author. Find Amanda's latest book 'Celebrating the Seasons' at her website here: https://www.yorkshireshepherdess.com/books/…
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Anna speaks with some of the shortlisted teams and winners at the recent Scottish Land and Estates 'Helping It Happen' awards. The awards recognise the role of estates, farms, rural businesses and individuals who are helping rural Scotland thrive. More here: https://scottishlandandestates.co.uk/helping-it-happen…
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OnFARM Scotland's rural podcast
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Funding rural Scotland's climate change solutions - with First Port
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25:08
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Four rural communities from around Scotland have been shortlisted for up to £50,000 of Scottish Government funding to support climate change solutions - administered by Firstport, Scotland's agency for start-up social entrepreneurs. Anna speaks with Firstport's Carmen Paputa-Dutu about the shortlisted projects, and funding for similar projects in y…
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A wander around the 2022 Tillage Live event held at Dunbar in East Lothian, and organised by the Agricultural Engineers Association. Monty and producer Dave talk to exhibitors and punters, and narrowly avoid getting run over by some big shiny kit. Episode kindly supported by Cefetra.By Scene and Herd PR and Marketing
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OnFARM Scotland's rural podcast
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OnFARM Helps: Social media and your rural business
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44:28
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Advice and support for anyone looking to maximise the impact of social media to support your rural business. Anna is joined by social media expert Pam Newby, to make sense of the sometimes intimidating world of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and more. Pam is a farmer's daughter, and passionate about helping rural businesses. Pam has created some fan…
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OnFARM Scotland's rural podcast
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Rural Scotland's two moving tributes to Her Majesty the Queen
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Rodney Blackhall and Emma Cheape describe how they both - independently of each other - organised moving rural tributes to Her Majesty the Queen as she was carried by cortège from Balmoral to Edinburgh. Rodney brought together over 40 tractors to stand guard as the convoy passed through Aberdeenshire. Down the road in Perthshire, Emma was standing …
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OnFARM Scotland's rural podcast
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Kelso 2022: preparing for Europe's largest tup sale
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25:20
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As final preparations are made for Europe's biggest tup sale at Kelso in the Borders, Monty revisits 23-year-old Andrew Hutcheson, a young auctioneer who first stepped up to the big league at Kelso this time last year. While the sale itself is a frenetic day, Monty hears how Andrew and others spend the weeks ahead of Kelso 'canvassing' farmers to w…
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OnFARM Scotland's rural podcast
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Domhnall 'Sweeny' MacSween on Western Isles crofting (2 of 2)
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We return to Ness, on the north tip of the Hebridean island of Lewis, with crofter and TV presenter Domhnall Macsween, - known to most as Sweeny. We join Sweeny and OnFARM's Dave Howard up on the peat moors, amongst eagles, corn crakes, and Sweeny's herd of cattle. This is the second of two episodes featuring Sweeny, and is kindly supported by the …
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OnFARM Scotland's rural podcast
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Domhnall 'Sweeny' MacSween on Western Isles crofting (1 of 2)
33:34
33:34
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Lewis crofter and presenter of BBC Alba's An Lot (The Croft) Domhnall Macsween - known to most as 'Sweeny' - takes OnFARM producer Dave Howard on a tour of his community of Ness, on the island’s most northerly tip. Just don't call it 'remote' (as Dave learns the hard way!) This is the first of two episodes featuring Sweeny, and is kindly supported …
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The UK Government has committed to installing 50GW of offshore wind energy by 2030. How feasible is that as a target, and what can be done to ensure there is a community benefit? Fraser, Becky and (newly minted Professor!) Matt are joined by Grace Millman, Energy Analyst at Regen, and Dr Claire Haggett, Senior Lecturer of Sustainability at the Univ…
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OnFARM Scotland's rural podcast
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Carbon audits and soil sampling: Preparing for Sustainable Farming with ScotGov
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37:37
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Borders beef farmer Giles Henry regularly does soil sampling and carbon testing on his farm, and has done for many years. He tells Monty what he gets out of it, and how it feeds in to his business planning. In April 2022, a Scottish Government incentive scheme was launched - to provide farmers and crofters with funds to support carbon audits and so…
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The 200th anniversary Royal Highland Show was also a welcome return to the RHET Discovery Centre at Ingliston. In this episode, Anna chats with RHET education manager Katrina Barclay, and a host of volunteers and supporters helping children to learn more about the working Scottish countryside. We also hear from Alan White and Amy Eakin from law fir…
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OnFARM Scotland's rural podcast
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Back with a flourish! The 2022 Royal Highland Show
40:48
40:48
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Were you there? Did you have fun? After a long wait, the 200th anniversary Royal Highland Show arrived with gusto - and what a weekend it was. The perfect blend of work and pleasure, there’s no doubting the Highland Show is a world-beating event, that most of us would be lost without. In this episode Anna, Monty, and producer Dave are joining in th…
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Our latest 'Days Out On Your Doorstep', takes in farm visitor experiences within easy reach of Inverness, with Go Rural Scotland. Go Rural encourage people in Scotland’s towns and cities to get out into nearby countryside for farm experiences, short breaks, and food and drink days out. This time, Emily Esson visits Edinvale Farm, Fearn Farm, Castle…
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OnFARM Scotland's rural podcast
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Organic conversion on the Rattray Estate: Calum Clark
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56:30
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Calum Clark has been farm manager of the Rattray Estate near Peterhead for six years, working closely with estate owner James. The farm has recently converted to organic. Calum describes how that transition has taken place, and shares his enthusiasm for farming in general, and particularly for his herd of Beef Shorthorn cattle. On a glorious sunny …
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OnFARM Scotland's rural podcast
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Michael Medlock: From oil to oats, from Dubai to ducklings
51:27
51:27
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Michael Medlock recently returned from Dubai - where he had a lucrative career in oil and gas – to run his family’s organic farm near Laurencekirk in Aberdeenshire. The enterprise is primarily organic gluten-free oats, but they are building up a business rearing chicken and ducks. For an episode in partnership with SOPA (the Scottish Organic Produc…
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OnFARM Scotland's rural podcast
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The 200th Royal Highland Show - coming soon!
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46:33
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"If we had lost this show, I would have presumed I was jinxed - but, all being well, we're looking at a barnstormer". RHASS chairman Bill Gray has been sharing his thoughts and feelings ahead of the 200th Royal Highland Show this June. Bill's chairmanship has been a rollercoaster ride through the Covid period, but he looks set to end his tenure on …
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OnFARM Scotland's rural podcast
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Helping It Happen from SLE - celebrating rural champions
33:15
33:15
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The Helping It Happen awards from Scottish Land and Estates are now open to nominations - with a deadline of 18th July 2022. The awards recognise the role of estates, farms, rural businesses and individuals in helping rural Scotland to thrive - whether that's through providing affordable rural housing, supporting local businesses, or working with s…
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Our latest 'Days Out On Your Doorstep', takes in farm visitor experiences within easy reach of Glasgow, with Go Rural Scotland. Go Rural encourage people in Scotland’s towns and cities to get out into nearby countryside for farm experiences, short breaks, and food and drink days out. This time, Leeanne Coyle visits Kilmacolm Farm Tours, the Round H…
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Màiri Britton is a stepdancer, Gaelic singer and Gaelic cultural educator from Edinburgh, who now lives in Cape Breton. Isla and Màiri first met in Scotland many years ago and reconnected with each other during Isla’s time in Cape Breton. Find Isla’s music at www.islaratcliff.com/the-castalia.By Isla Ratcliff
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Guided by questions from children and young people, the three people to have held the role of Children and Young People's Commissioner for Scotland discuss their experiences in the post. The CYPCS role has turned 18 - so Professor Kathleen Marshall, Tam Baillie and current commissioner Bruce Adamson have come together to discuss their shared challe…
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OnFARM Scotland's rural podcast
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Gearing Up for the Highland Show (From the archive)
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As we gear up for the 2022 Royal Highland Show - the first to take place in-person since the start of Covid - we are resharing an episode, created in partnership with RHASS in 2020. It is all about the value of the Show for supporting social connection and supporting our mental wellbeing. Anna is joined by Nina Clancy from RSABI, and Professor Sara…
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Mairi Rankin is a fiddle player and step dancer who has grown up immersed in Cape Breton musical traditions. She has toured internationally as a member of the Cape Breton super-group Beòlach, the highly acclaimed Celtic folk band The Outside Track, and in her duo with cellist Eric Wright. Find Isla’s music at www.islaratcliff.com/the-castalia.…
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As the post of Children and Young People's Commissioner for Scotland turns 18, the three people to have held the role discuss their shared experiences. Guided by questions from children and young people, Professor Kathleen Marshall, Tam Baillie and current commissioner Bruce Adamson discuss the unique challenges of the Commissioner role, and its st…
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OnFARM Scotland's rural podcast
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Gareth Baird, 2022 Ed Rainy Brown Memorial Award winner
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Gareth Baird was visibly emotional on receiving the 2022 SAOS Ed Rainy Brown Memorial Award. He was given the honour after a career of exceptional service to co-operation and collaboration in farming, food, and rural Scotland. Moredun Foundation chairman Gareth has been described as “quite simply one of the greatest co-operators of our age". We fin…
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