Agri Culture

Mary-Jane Lawrie is joined by some of the team at Glenrinnes Estate at the foot of Ben Rinnes in Moray.  Estate manager Ali Laing tells us about the estate as a whole, and we are joined by head keeper Gordon Aitchison, distillery manager Martin Peroni, trainee farm worker Alex Shearer and head gardener Damon Powell.  They all share their stories of working on Glenrinnes Estate and how their skills and enthusiasm come together to help run a successful community focused Scottish Estate.     

Other Resources  

Glenrinnes Organic Estate 

Eight Lands Organic Spirits (eight-lands.com)  

Pre-Apprenticeship | Ringlink Scotland 

 For more information, visit www.FAS.scot 

Twitter: @FASScot 

Facebook: @FASScot 

National Advice Hub 

Phone: 0300 323 0161 

Email: advice@fas.scot 

Mary-Jane Lawrie talks to John Scott and Jock Gibson from Farmstrong Scotland.  Farmstrong Scotland is a new initiative which is inspired by Farmstrong New Zealand and Doug Avery’s visit to Scotland a couple of years ago.  John and Jock tell us what Farmstrong is, why they want to be involved in it, what wellbeing means to them, and give examples of how they implement Farmstrong’s five steps to wellbeing in their own lives.   

FAS Resources  

Mental Health and Wellbeing in Agriculture | Information helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot) 

What's Stopping You - Wellbeing | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot) 

Other Resources  

Farmstrong Scotland - Live Well, Farm & Croft Well 

Step-Guide.pdf (farmstrongscotland.org.uk) 

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot 

Twitter: @FASScot 

Facebook: @FASScot 

National Advice Hub 

Phone: 0300 323 0161 

Email: advice@fas.scot 

Mary-Jane Lawrie talks to Lawrence Martin who was a new entrant to farming. After doing an HNC in agriculture at college, he started an apprenticeship with Lantra and SRUC. The apprenticeship gave him the opportunity to get out on farm and ultimately became a farm manager. He tells us of his farming journey, how the apprenticeship scheme works and how you can get involved in the scheme. 

FAS Resources  

Managing People | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot) 

Other Resources  

Carbeth Home Farm – an an adventure in ecology, agriculture and tourism 

From apprentice with no farming background to farm manager | The Scottish Farmer 

Apprenticeships - Lantra 

Study at SRUC | Apprenticeships 

Modern Apprentice Lawrence Martin tells us how much he enjoys his career in farming - YouTube 

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot 

Twitter: @FASScot 

Facebook: @FASScot 

National Advice Hub 

Phone: 0300 323 0161 

Email: advice@fas.scot 

Mary-Jane Lawrie talks to Lucy Mitchell.  Lucy was an active member of Young Farmers from her early twenties and went on to become national chair of SAYFC from 2022 to 2023.  Lucy has recently handed over this role, and she tells us about what Young Farmers is, what sort of opportunities it gives young people, and what her year as national chair was like. 

Related Resources: 

Lucy Mitchell | LinkedIn 

The Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs | SAYFC 

You searched for lucy mitchell - Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs (sayfc.org) 

Scottish Rural Leadership Programme | Elevator UK 

Challenge of Rural Leadership - Worshipful Company of Farmers (farmerslivery.org.uk) 

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot 

Twitter: @FASScot 

Facebook: @FASScot 

National Advice Hub 

Phone: 0300 323 0161 

Email: advice@fas.scot 

Mary-Jane Lawrie talks to Ana Allamand. Ana grew up in Chile before moving to Scotland. She tells us about agriculture in Chile and her work over here with the Soil Association. Ana works to bring farmers together to learn from each other and foster innovation, and has great knowledge about how culture and agriculture fit together.

FAS Resources

FAS Connect | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service

Other Resources

Agreocology project series:

Facilitating the Transition; Enabling the Transition; Strengthening Livelihoods.

Soil Association Scotland

Our Work In Scotland (soilassociation.org)

Twitter: Soil Association Scotland (@SoilAssocScot) / X (twitter.com)

Soil Association (UK wide)

Soil Association

Twitter: Soil Association (@SoilAssociation) / X (twitter.com)

Other organisations Ana mentioned:

Nourish

Nature Friendly Farming Network

Landworkers Alliance

Pasture Fed Livestock Association

Scottish Crofting Federation

Parkhill Farm

Aipple cider

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot

Twitter: @FASScot

Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: advice@fas.scot

Mary-Jane Lawrie talks to Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones MBE, aka The Black Farmer.  Wilfred is of the Windrush Generation and describes his difficult start to life in the UK, before he eventually found his chance working at the BBC, where he found his passion for food.  He left television to start his own food and drink marketing company which gave him the opportunity to finally realise his dream of owning his own farm.  The Black Farmer is now a successful brand which sells a range of products including sausages and deli products.  Wilfred tells us about his life and his determination to become a farmer, and how the danger of playing it safe can hold us back from success.   

 https://www.theblackfarmer.com/  

 For more information, visit www.FAS.scot 

Twitter: @FASScot 

Facebook: @FASScot 

National Advice Hub 

Phone: 0300 323 0161 

Email: advice@fas.scot 

Mary-Jane Lawrie talks to Charlie Burrell, a farmer and environmentalist, farming 3,500 acres at Knepp Estate, in West Sussex.  Over the last twenty years, he has transformed the farm from an intensively managed dairy and arable unit into a rewilded biodiversity hotspot.  He has recently co-authored a book “The Book of Wilding: A Practical Guide to Rewilding, Big and Small” with his wife, award-winning author, and environmentalist, Isabella Tree. 

FAS Resources  

https://www.fas.scot/publication/natural-capital-highlands-rewilding/ 

Other Resources  

Knepp - Rewilding Pioneers 

The Book of Wilding: A Practical Guide to Rewilding, Big and Small: Amazon.co.uk: Tree, Isabella: 9781526659293: Books 

Host Farmers - Groundswell Groundswell (groundswellag.com) 

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot 

Twitter: @FASScot 

Facebook: @FASScot 

National Advice Hub 

Phone: 0300 323 0161 

Email: advice@fas.scot 

Mary-Jane Lawrie talks to David and Wilma Finlay from Rainton Farm, Gatehouse of Fleet.  They are authors of the book “Our Dairy Story”, in which they tell their farming story from traditional farming, through various diversification projects, to starting a cow with calf dairy system, which they call The Ethical Dairy.  They are forward thinking and not afraid to take on new challenges, and they openly talk about their business and their personal goals. 

FAS Resources  

Stock Talk | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

Other Resources  

Ethical Dairy Website.  Welcome to The Ethical Dairy | The Ethical Dairy 

Amazon book link. A Dairy Story eBook : Finlay, David and Wilma: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store  

This episode was hosted by Mary-Jane Lawie, produced by Kerry Hammond, Executive Producer Kerry Hammond, edited by Ross MacKenzie, in association with The Scottish Government.  

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot 

Twitter: @FASScot 

Facebook: @FASScot 

National Advice Hub 

Phone: 0300 323 0161 

Email: advice@fas.scot 

Mary-Jane Lawrie talks to Mike Duxbury, the Blind Farmer, about his life in agriculture, and how he set up the Inclusive Farm, a working farm with the aim of making agriculture accessible to all. Mike tells us about how he was knocked back by all the agricultural colleges he applied to, apart from one, and how that one chance has given him the knowledge, skills and opportunity to help others into farming. He eventually realised his dream of owning his own farm when he started the Inclusive farm on an acre of rented ground in 2021. Since then, he has opened up his farm to students with disabilities, to give them the chance to learn about farming in an inclusive environment.

FAS Resources

Developing Safe Farming Practices | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

Health & Safety [BE.RA.HS] | Helping farmers in Scotland | FAS

Other Resources

Inclusive Farm | Cultivating Ideas for Growth | Home

*Content Warning: This episode discusses themes of suicide and may not be suitable for all listeners* 

Mary-Jane Lawrie talks to Nigel Owens, a Welsh former international rugby union referee, who retired in December 2020 after a 17-year career. He currently holds the world record for the most test matches refereed and is one of five international referees listed as professional within the Welsh Rugby Union.  Nigel has recently purchased his own farm and has started a pedigree Hereford herd.  He talks about his early involvement in agriculture, his rugby career, his mental health struggles and his sexuality, and what he enjoys about farming.  

FAS Resources

Health is Your Wealth: Physical and Mental Resilience | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

Other Resources

Samaritans | Every life lost to suicide is a tragedy | Here to listen

RSABI: Home Page

Stonewall

Switchboard LGBT+ Helpline

Mary-Jane Lawrie talks to Richard and Fiona Lamb of Fordhead Farm, Kippen, about how they have diversified their farming business and how they have adapted to the many challenges that starting new ventures has thrown at them. Richard and Fiona Lamb are the definition of ‘give it a go’. From exiting the Metropolitan Police and dipping toes, (and losing part of a finger) in their entry to farming, Fiona and Richard have faced more than their fair share of hurdles. One thing that has always been consistent in their business endeavours, is that if they don’t give it a try, they’ll never know what could happen. From camping sites, to woodlands, grass trials, firewood, farm accommodation, tea growing, Gin production, Farm shop and café, insect farming, and hemp production, the Lambs have been there, done it and learned lessons along the way.  

Related FAS Resources

Engaging with Consumers - Part 1 | Information helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

Engaging With Consumers - Part 2 | Information helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

Adding Value | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

Grant Support For Croft Woodland Creation: A Comparison | Information helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

Other Related Resources

The Woodhouse Kippen 

Ginti- The Scottish Tea Gin (gintigin.co.uk) 

Forth Valley Leader :: Case Study "Tea Plantation at Fordhead Farm" (fvl.org.uk) 

Matthew Lamb of Fordhead Farm tells us a bit about their venture into growing tea in the Forth Valley! | By Forth Valley & Lomond CLLD | Facebook 

From holiday lets, to gin, to tea and more - diversification paying for Stirlingshire family farm - Insights - Farmers Guardian (fginsight.com) 

Mary-Jane Lawrie talks to Anna Davies about the importance of great storytelling in agriculture and gets an insider's view from this journalist on how the media could cooperate and celebrate Scotland’s farming successes and the people who create them.  

FAS Resources  

https://www.fas.scot/publication/positive-pr-infographic/ 

https://www.fas.scot/new-entrants/positive-pr/ 

https://www.fas.scot/publication/writing-a-marketing-plan/ 

https://www.fas.scot/rural-business/crofts-small-farms/alternative-enterprises/selling-your-own-produce/marketing-development/ 

Other Resources  

https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/OnFARM-rural-podcast-Podcast/B08JK2B3B2?action_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp&shareTest=TestShare 

https://www.sceneandherdpr.co.uk/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-davies-thomson-3852a719/ 

Mary-Jane Lawrie is joined this week by Sammi Kinghorn MBE.  Sammi is a farmer’s daughter and Team GB wheelchair racer from the Scottish Borders.  We spoke the week after she was back from the Commonwealth games where she won bronze in the 1500m.  We chatted about her childhood on the farm, the accident that left her paralysed and how she got into wheelchair racing.  She has such a special bond with her Dad, who instilled a love of nature and farming into her at a young age, and now he supports her with her career.   

Related Resources FAS Resources

https://www.fas.scot/sounds/thrill-of-the-hill/ 

https://www.fas.scot/sounds/crofting-matters/ 

Related External Materials

https://www.sammikinghorn.com/ 

https://www.instagram.com/sammikinghorn/?hl=en 

http://www.bromakin.co.uk/ 

Mary-Jane Lawrie talks to Chris Dyer of Garths Croft, Bressay about how an Archaeologist from the South of England found himself owning a croft on Shetland.  He discusses some of the fascinating archaeology of the Shetland Islands, how he started out volunteering on farms, and what his life is like as a crofter.  Chris tells us about starting his croft, the livestock he owns, and how he has now opened up his croft to visitors, giving them a truly unique insight into crofting life and the history and archaeology of the local area.  

Peter Eccles is a farm manager from East Lothian.  He started out as an agricultural consultant with SAC, before taking on the farm manager job at Saughland Farm, Midlothian.  There he changed the farming system quite dramatically and went on to win the Farmers Weekly farm manager of the year and farmer of the year, and AgriScot Sheep farm of the year.  He recently moved jobs to Dalmunzie Estate, and upland farm estate in Perthshire