Crops and Soils
CropCast – Agronomy Past, Present & Future
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…
CropCast Conversations – United Oilseeds
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…
Trading Straw for Farmyard Manure – Calculating Relative Values for a Fair Exchange
Farmers may have sold straw in the swath this season or intend to trade baled straw for farmyard manure (FYM) over the coming months. For many arable and livestock farmers operating in close proximity to each other, it makes sense to come to an arrangement whereby straw is traded for FYM. Understanding the nutrient value…
A Practical Guide to Arable Contract Farming Agreements
In a sector still facing challenging commodity prices, collaborating with another business to maintain or improve margins will be attractive to those looking to restructure how they operate. This article highlights the principles of a contract farming agreement as one possible solution. A contract farming agreement is a straightforward joint venture agreement whereby a landowner…
How To Select Plant Species For Diverse Forage
Sowing a range of plant species within one field is not a new practice within agriculture. But it can be highly successful when plant species are selected which complement each other. Species should be selected based on features such as growth habit, maturity and traits which offer something which the other species does not. For…
Start Planning for Liming your Soil this Autumn
Autumn is one of the best times to correct soil pH and applying lime to grassland is a good investment for soil fertility, grass yield and to ensure efficient use of fertiliser. Applying lime in late summer/autumn allows spreading to take place after a silage cut or graze, when no further applications of N fertiliser…
Business and Policy July 2025 – Cereals & Oilseeds
UK feed wheat futures attempt rebound amid geopolitical tensions and weather risks UK feed wheat futures (Nov-25) rallied by £5.15/t (+2.9%) for week ending 20th June, closing at £185.00/t and surpassing the 20-day moving average. While this marks a notable rebound, it remains too early to confirm a reversal of the broader downward trend that…
CropCast Conversations – 2025 Grain Markets and Update from the Field
Welcome to Cropcast Conversations hosted by Principal Consultant Mark Bowsher-Gibbs. On today’s episode Mark is joined by James Bolesworth (CRM AgriCommodities) to discuss how grain markets are looking for 2025 and in part 2 Mark is joined by George Chalmers (SAC Consulting) and Neil Havis (SRUC Professor, Crop Pathology) to update us on how crops…
Strategies for Soil and Forage Resilience in Scotland
Weather patterns in Scotland are becoming increasingly unpredictable, with more frequent and intense periods of rainfall and drought. Given Scotland’s diverse topography and soil types, some areas are better equipped to cope with these changes than others. Adapting soil and forage management practices is essential to building resilience against climate change. This article will talk…
A Soil Route Map for Scotland
Healthy, resilient soils are vital for productivity as well as supporting wider nature-based systems and ecosystem services. However, there are many risks threatening the future security of Scottish soils (e.g. erosion, compaction, contamination etc), which are often amplified by the impacts of climate change. Currently, there is no single overarching soil policy providing direction or…