Sustainable Systems: Farming Challenges
Find resources on animal and crop health, climate change and managing change in your business
Strategic Worming – The Early Bird Catches the Worm
The 2021 lamb crop are now the ground, the next task is keeping them in good health to allow them to thrive to their best potential. Ensuring they have a…
Select by an area of interest
Advertising an Agricultural Job: How to Approach It
March 10, 2023Finding staff to fill agricultural jobs is getting harder and this publication is the third in a series that gives helpful hints and tips on...
Read more >Eye-catching Agricultural Job Adverts: How To Create Them
March 3, 2023In a time where it is getting increasingly harder to recruit staff into the agricultural industry, it is important that you can stand out from...
Read more >
Thrill of the Hill 9 – Digging Deep on Soil Carbon
January 31, 2023Episode #9 – Digging Deep on Soil Carbon. In this episode we hear from Senior Scientific Lead Rachael Ramsay about the scientific consensus around soil...
Read more >
The Trading Market for Farmland Carbon
January 30, 2023With Woodland and Peatland Carbon Codes well advanced, in this webinar we take a closer look at the activity in the agricultural farmland sector and...
Read more >
Targeted Selective Treatment in Sheep
October 3, 2022Wormer resistance is becoming an issue on many farms across the country and all farmers should look at options to improve the efficacy of wormers...
Read more >
Sheep Abortions – Toxoplasmosis
September 22, 2022Toxoplasmosis is the second most common cause of abortion in ewes in the UK behind EAE. This factsheet is part of the Sustainable Sheep Systems...
Read more >
Enzootic Abortion of Ewes (EAE)
August 29, 2022Enzootic abortion of ewes (EAE) is the most common infectious cause of abortion in sheep in the UK. This factsheet is part of the Sustainable Sheep...
Read more >
Ramularia and Spring Barley Risk in 2022
June 15, 2022Spring barleys look well in the main, although very rapid growth in the last few weeks has left some look a little stressed and with...
Read more >
Getting the farm ‘climate ready’
March 17, 2022Farmers and land managers are constantly making business decisions whilst having to factor in and account for various unknowns; fluctuating commodity prices, market trends, changing...
Read more >
Alternative Clostridial Vaccines
March 14, 2022There have been lots of supply issues over the last two years and some medicines have been affected. You may have struggled to get hold...
Read more >
Integrated Pest Management – Top Tips from High Scoring Farms
February 28, 2022The IPM planning tool for Scottish growers is starting to give useful insights about what high scoring farms do and where they get their information....
Read more >
Making Sheep Systems Sustainable: Controlling Liver Fluke
February 4, 2022Daniel Stout speaks with Dr Philip Skuce from Moredun Research Institute about liver fluke in sheep. Resistance to triclabendazole, the only flukicide effective against all...
Read more >
Preventing Watery Mouth
January 17, 2022A product that some sheep farmers use at lambing time, Spectam Scour Halt, has supply issues and therefore will not be available for the coming...
Read more >Podcast: Thrill of The Hill – Sustainable Principles
December 10, 2021Managing Scotland’s landscapes sustainably is what all farmers, crofters and landowners seek to achieve. For years now there has been a steady increase in the...
Read more >
Cropcast: Integrated Pest Management
November 25, 2021Integrated pest management (IPM) is a holistic approach to pest management that aims to maximise profit whilst also aiming to minimising the negative impacts of...
Read more >
Cropcast: The Journey To Net Zero
November 5, 2021Net Zero is a phrase that we hear all the time, but what does the journey to net zero look like for cropping systems. In...
Read more >
Women in Agriculture, Caithness: Confused about Carbon? Let’s Clear the Air!
October 10, 2021So much talk about reducing farm emissions, lowering your carbon footprint, carbon neutral, net zero and how to farm more efficiently…..confused by all this and...
Read more >
Opening The Door To Outdoor Lambing (webinar)
October 10, 2021In this webinar, Sean Cursiter of Laga Farm will discuss how they have set up a new flock dedicated to outdoor lambing and how they...
Read more >
Precision solutions to animal health & welfare: episode 4 – Natural alternatives to reduce reliance on anthelmintics
October 1, 2021Welcome along to our animal health & welfare series of eight podcasts. Each podcast will look at the latest research around animal health & welfare,...
Read more >
Mineral Supplementation
September 21, 2021Forage crops are good high energy and protein feeds; however, minerals (particularly trace elements) are low in forage crops. Therefore, mineral supplementation is advised where...
Read more >
Sustainable Sheep Systems – Mastitis (podcast)
September 10, 2021Daniel Stout speaks with Professor Laura Green OBE and Poppy Frater about the latest research on mastitis, the pathogens involved and how we can refine...
Read more >
Sustainable Sheep Systems – Getting on top of lameness
August 28, 2021Agricultural Consultant Daniel Stout speaks with Professor Laura Green OBE about how best to get on top of footrot and reduce lameness in the flock....
Read more >Thrill of The Hill – Farming for 1.5 Degrees
July 21, 2021Farming as with all other industries has been set the challenge of operating more efficiently and sustainably in the face of climate change. To achieve...
Read more >
Trees and carbon capture – The Science
July 21, 2021Can trees really help combat climate change, and how? If you’ve ever wondered “what’s the evidence that tree planting targets will work?” watch the recording...
Read more >
Precision solutions to animal health & welfare: episode 3 – Sheep genetics, behaviours and painful procedures
July 9, 2021Welcome along to our animal health & welfare series of eight podcasts episodes. Each episode will look at the latest research around animal health &...
Read more >
Technical Note (TN 743): Johne’s Disease In Cattle
July 8, 2021Johne’s disease (also known as paratuberculosis) is an infectious wasting condition of cattle and other ruminants. It results in progressive damage to the intestines of...
Read more >
Our Seasonal Workforce: Health and Safety and Worker Welfare
July 6, 2021Given that the seasonal workers who come to Scotland for work are from various countries and backgrounds, it is important that they feel respected, valued,...
Read more >
Seasonal Workforce: Terms and Conditions – A Practical Guide for Workers and their Employees
July 6, 2021As Scotland prepares for its peak period for employing seasonal workers and with the aims of the Scottish Government to create a Fair Work Nation...
Read more >
Strategic Worming – The Early Bird Catches the Worm
June 29, 2021The 2021 lamb crop are now the ground, the next task is keeping them in good health to allow them to thrive to their best...
Read more >
Co-operation and Collaboration – The Benefits of Working Together
June 27, 2021The benefits of co-operation are well-evidenced. Co-operation involves farmers and others, working together to achieve a commercial objective, which they cannot achieve independently and individually....
Read more >
Acquiring Land Through Contract or Share Farming Agreements
June 11, 2021In this video in our series looking at advice and guidance for people who want to make a new start with agriculture, we’re talking contract...
Read more >
Precision solutions to animal health & welfare: episode 2
May 28, 2021Welcome along to our animal health & welfare series of eight podcasts. Each podcast will look at the latest research around animal health & welfare,...
Read more >Podcast: Thrill of The Hill – Flock Resilience
May 27, 2021While a Brexit trade deal has taken some pressure off the sheep sector the changing political and agricultural landscape means that it must adapt to...
Read more >
Cropcast: Winter cereal disease management
April 30, 2021In this episode of Cropcast we’re talking about winter cereal disease management with Prof Fiona Burnett, Peter Lindsay and Dr Neil Havis.
Read more >
The Role of Biostimulants in IPM
April 26, 2021The overriding principle of IPM is to manage the health of a crop holistically, rather than just to focus on individual pests and disease and...
Read more >
Precision solutions to animal health & welfare: episode 1
April 16, 2021Welcome along to our animal health & welfare series of podcasts. Over the course of 2021, we’ll be bringing you 8 podcasts, each falling under...
Read more >
Pesticide Information Note: Spray Drift
April 14, 2021Pesticide Information Note: Spray drift Spray drift is a topic that has come under increasing focus as the general public take more interest in pesticides,...
Read more >
Magnesium Supplementation of Suckler Cows – Are You Covered?
April 12, 2021As turnout approaches, now is a good time to reassess your mineral supplementation strategy for grass staggers prevention in the suckler herd (also known as hypomagnesaemia or grass tetany). Whilst access to spring grass...
Read more >
Cropcast: Spring Barley Disease
March 31, 2021Cropcast is back! This month we’re exploring spring Barley disease management with Prof Fiona Burnett, Peter Lindsay and Dr Neil Havis.
Read more >
How Do You Measure IPM?
March 31, 2021The whole point of integrated pest management (IPM) is to work holistically with your farm system to manage the pest, weeds and diseases unique to...
Read more >
Sheep Scab Resistance – A Developing Problem
March 26, 2021Sheep scab is thought to be the most contagious parasitic disease in sheep and has significant detrimental effects on welfare and production. It causes severe...
Read more >
Ewe Condition Through Lactation
March 24, 2021Many will still be amid, or looking forward, to this year’s lambing, we hope it goes smoothly, but we also want to raise awareness of...
Read more >
Drivers of Early Disease in Winter Wheat
March 5, 2021Winter wheat varietal resistance to Septoria has improved for some newer varieties and the acreage drilled to very weak varieties has dropped. But at this...
Read more >
Preventing Scour In Calves
February 23, 2021Calf scour (diarrhoea) is one of the biggest issues associated with illness, poor growth and mortality in calves. The most common causes of calf scour...
Read more >
Pre-Lambing Metabolic Profiling
February 12, 2021Blood testing ewes 3 - 4 weeks before lambing is a great way to assess how the ration being offered is feeding. It gives you the...
Read more >
Animal Health is Wealth (podcast)
February 1, 2021Following on from Animal Health is Wealth webinar, James Orr talks to The Woodlands Trust Scotland farmer Janet Pringle and her vet, Rhona Anderson of Forth...
Read more >
Investigating Sheep Abortions
January 26, 2021Lambing is underway for many pedigree flocks and will be due to start soon for lots of others. As such, SRUC Veterinary services are starting...
Read more >
Winter Agronomy Digital Roadshows – Business Resilience and Markets
January 25, 2021The Winter Agronomy Roadshows in January for this year will be delivered on-line as a combination of technical lectures, podcasts and interactive discussion sessions. In...
Read more >
Winter Agronomy Digital Roadshows 2021: IPM planning and fungicide updates
January 15, 2021Sustainability and profitability are two cornerstones for Scottish arable production. In this session a new IPM assessment plan for Scotland will be announced to help...
Read more >
Animal Health Is Wealth
January 14, 2021Your opportunity to listen back to our Animal Health is Wealth webinar. Veterinary health planning is widely recognised for its value in terms of improving...
Read more >
Winter Agronomy Digital Roadshow podcasts – IPM planning
January 11, 2021The Winter Agronomy Roadshows in January for this year will be delivered on-line as a combination of technical lectures, podcasts and interactive discussion sessions. In this...
Read more >More in FAS Problem Solver
Select by an area of interest
Advertising an Agricultural Job: How to Approach It
March 10, 2023Finding staff to fill agricultural jobs is getting harder and this publication is the third in a series that gives helpful hints and tips on...
Read more >Eye-catching Agricultural Job Adverts: How To Create Them
March 3, 2023In a time where it is getting increasingly harder to recruit staff into the agricultural industry, it is important that you can stand out from...
Read more >Thrill of the Hill 9 – Digging Deep on Soil Carbon
January 31, 2023Episode #9 – Digging Deep on Soil Carbon. In this episode we hear from Senior Scientific Lead Rachael Ramsay about the scientific consensus around soil...
Read more >The Trading Market for Farmland Carbon
January 30, 2023With Woodland and Peatland Carbon Codes well advanced, in this webinar we take a closer look at the activity in the agricultural farmland sector and...
Read more >Targeted Selective Treatment in Sheep
October 3, 2022Wormer resistance is becoming an issue on many farms across the country and all farmers should look at options to improve the efficacy of wormers...
Read more >Sheep Abortions – Toxoplasmosis
September 22, 2022Toxoplasmosis is the second most common cause of abortion in ewes in the UK behind EAE. This factsheet is part of the Sustainable Sheep Systems...
Read more >Enzootic Abortion of Ewes (EAE)
August 29, 2022Enzootic abortion of ewes (EAE) is the most common infectious cause of abortion in sheep in the UK. This factsheet is part of the Sustainable Sheep...
Read more >Ramularia and Spring Barley Risk in 2022
June 15, 2022Spring barleys look well in the main, although very rapid growth in the last few weeks has left some look a little stressed and with...
Read more >Getting the farm ‘climate ready’
March 17, 2022Farmers and land managers are constantly making business decisions whilst having to factor in and account for various unknowns; fluctuating commodity prices, market trends, changing...
Read more >Alternative Clostridial Vaccines
March 14, 2022There have been lots of supply issues over the last two years and some medicines have been affected. You may have struggled to get hold...
Read more >Integrated Pest Management – Top Tips from High Scoring Farms
February 28, 2022The IPM planning tool for Scottish growers is starting to give useful insights about what high scoring farms do and where they get their information....
Read more >Making Sheep Systems Sustainable: Controlling Liver Fluke
February 4, 2022Daniel Stout speaks with Dr Philip Skuce from Moredun Research Institute about liver fluke in sheep. Resistance to triclabendazole, the only flukicide effective against all...
Read more >Preventing Watery Mouth
January 17, 2022A product that some sheep farmers use at lambing time, Spectam Scour Halt, has supply issues and therefore will not be available for the coming...
Read more >Podcast: Thrill of The Hill – Sustainable Principles
December 10, 2021Managing Scotland’s landscapes sustainably is what all farmers, crofters and landowners seek to achieve. For years now there has been a steady increase in the...
Read more >Cropcast: Integrated Pest Management
November 25, 2021Integrated pest management (IPM) is a holistic approach to pest management that aims to maximise profit whilst also aiming to minimising the negative impacts of...
Read more >Cropcast: The Journey To Net Zero
November 5, 2021Net Zero is a phrase that we hear all the time, but what does the journey to net zero look like for cropping systems. In...
Read more >Women in Agriculture, Caithness: Confused about Carbon? Let’s Clear the Air!
October 10, 2021So much talk about reducing farm emissions, lowering your carbon footprint, carbon neutral, net zero and how to farm more efficiently…..confused by all this and...
Read more >Opening The Door To Outdoor Lambing (webinar)
October 10, 2021In this webinar, Sean Cursiter of Laga Farm will discuss how they have set up a new flock dedicated to outdoor lambing and how they...
Read more >Precision solutions to animal health & welfare: episode 4 – Natural alternatives to reduce reliance on anthelmintics
October 1, 2021Welcome along to our animal health & welfare series of eight podcasts. Each podcast will look at the latest research around animal health & welfare,...
Read more >Mineral Supplementation
September 21, 2021Forage crops are good high energy and protein feeds; however, minerals (particularly trace elements) are low in forage crops. Therefore, mineral supplementation is advised where...
Read more >Sustainable Sheep Systems – Mastitis (podcast)
September 10, 2021Daniel Stout speaks with Professor Laura Green OBE and Poppy Frater about the latest research on mastitis, the pathogens involved and how we can refine...
Read more >Sustainable Sheep Systems – Getting on top of lameness
August 28, 2021Agricultural Consultant Daniel Stout speaks with Professor Laura Green OBE about how best to get on top of footrot and reduce lameness in the flock....
Read more >Thrill of The Hill – Farming for 1.5 Degrees
July 21, 2021Farming as with all other industries has been set the challenge of operating more efficiently and sustainably in the face of climate change. To achieve...
Read more >Trees and carbon capture – The Science
July 21, 2021Can trees really help combat climate change, and how? If you’ve ever wondered “what’s the evidence that tree planting targets will work?” watch the recording...
Read more >Precision solutions to animal health & welfare: episode 3 – Sheep genetics, behaviours and painful procedures
July 9, 2021Welcome along to our animal health & welfare series of eight podcasts episodes. Each episode will look at the latest research around animal health &...
Read more >Technical Note (TN 743): Johne’s Disease In Cattle
July 8, 2021Johne’s disease (also known as paratuberculosis) is an infectious wasting condition of cattle and other ruminants. It results in progressive damage to the intestines of...
Read more >Our Seasonal Workforce: Health and Safety and Worker Welfare
July 6, 2021Given that the seasonal workers who come to Scotland for work are from various countries and backgrounds, it is important that they feel respected, valued,...
Read more >Seasonal Workforce: Terms and Conditions – A Practical Guide for Workers and their Employees
July 6, 2021As Scotland prepares for its peak period for employing seasonal workers and with the aims of the Scottish Government to create a Fair Work Nation...
Read more >Strategic Worming – The Early Bird Catches the Worm
June 29, 2021The 2021 lamb crop are now the ground, the next task is keeping them in good health to allow them to thrive to their best...
Read more >Co-operation and Collaboration – The Benefits of Working Together
June 27, 2021The benefits of co-operation are well-evidenced. Co-operation involves farmers and others, working together to achieve a commercial objective, which they cannot achieve independently and individually....
Read more >Acquiring Land Through Contract or Share Farming Agreements
June 11, 2021In this video in our series looking at advice and guidance for people who want to make a new start with agriculture, we’re talking contract...
Read more >Precision solutions to animal health & welfare: episode 2
May 28, 2021Welcome along to our animal health & welfare series of eight podcasts. Each podcast will look at the latest research around animal health & welfare,...
Read more >Podcast: Thrill of The Hill – Flock Resilience
May 27, 2021While a Brexit trade deal has taken some pressure off the sheep sector the changing political and agricultural landscape means that it must adapt to...
Read more >Cropcast: Winter cereal disease management
April 30, 2021In this episode of Cropcast we’re talking about winter cereal disease management with Prof Fiona Burnett, Peter Lindsay and Dr Neil Havis.
Read more >The Role of Biostimulants in IPM
April 26, 2021The overriding principle of IPM is to manage the health of a crop holistically, rather than just to focus on individual pests and disease and...
Read more >Precision solutions to animal health & welfare: episode 1
April 16, 2021Welcome along to our animal health & welfare series of podcasts. Over the course of 2021, we’ll be bringing you 8 podcasts, each falling under...
Read more >Pesticide Information Note: Spray Drift
April 14, 2021Pesticide Information Note: Spray drift Spray drift is a topic that has come under increasing focus as the general public take more interest in pesticides,...
Read more >Magnesium Supplementation of Suckler Cows – Are You Covered?
April 12, 2021As turnout approaches, now is a good time to reassess your mineral supplementation strategy for grass staggers prevention in the suckler herd (also known as hypomagnesaemia or grass tetany). Whilst access to spring grass...
Read more >Cropcast: Spring Barley Disease
March 31, 2021Cropcast is back! This month we’re exploring spring Barley disease management with Prof Fiona Burnett, Peter Lindsay and Dr Neil Havis.
Read more >How Do You Measure IPM?
March 31, 2021The whole point of integrated pest management (IPM) is to work holistically with your farm system to manage the pest, weeds and diseases unique to...
Read more >Sheep Scab Resistance – A Developing Problem
March 26, 2021Sheep scab is thought to be the most contagious parasitic disease in sheep and has significant detrimental effects on welfare and production. It causes severe...
Read more >Ewe Condition Through Lactation
March 24, 2021Many will still be amid, or looking forward, to this year’s lambing, we hope it goes smoothly, but we also want to raise awareness of...
Read more >Drivers of Early Disease in Winter Wheat
March 5, 2021Winter wheat varietal resistance to Septoria has improved for some newer varieties and the acreage drilled to very weak varieties has dropped. But at this...
Read more >Preventing Scour In Calves
February 23, 2021Calf scour (diarrhoea) is one of the biggest issues associated with illness, poor growth and mortality in calves. The most common causes of calf scour...
Read more >Pre-Lambing Metabolic Profiling
February 12, 2021Blood testing ewes 3 - 4 weeks before lambing is a great way to assess how the ration being offered is feeding. It gives you the...
Read more >Animal Health is Wealth (podcast)
February 1, 2021Following on from Animal Health is Wealth webinar, James Orr talks to The Woodlands Trust Scotland farmer Janet Pringle and her vet, Rhona Anderson of Forth...
Read more >Investigating Sheep Abortions
January 26, 2021Lambing is underway for many pedigree flocks and will be due to start soon for lots of others. As such, SRUC Veterinary services are starting...
Read more >Winter Agronomy Digital Roadshows – Business Resilience and Markets
January 25, 2021The Winter Agronomy Roadshows in January for this year will be delivered on-line as a combination of technical lectures, podcasts and interactive discussion sessions. In...
Read more >Winter Agronomy Digital Roadshows 2021: IPM planning and fungicide updates
January 15, 2021Sustainability and profitability are two cornerstones for Scottish arable production. In this session a new IPM assessment plan for Scotland will be announced to help...
Read more >Animal Health Is Wealth
January 14, 2021Your opportunity to listen back to our Animal Health is Wealth webinar. Veterinary health planning is widely recognised for its value in terms of improving...
Read more >Winter Agronomy Digital Roadshow podcasts – IPM planning
January 11, 2021The Winter Agronomy Roadshows in January for this year will be delivered on-line as a combination of technical lectures, podcasts and interactive discussion sessions. In this...
Read more >