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Agri Culture

Agri Culture

Farming is a way of life, and is as much about the people as it is the land, crops and livestock. In this Agri Culture podcast series, Mary-Jane Lawrie will speak to a range of inspirational people from the farming community, with a whole host of interesting tales to tell. Join us in conversation to find out what drives them and their businesses, where they get their inspiration from, and what they love about agriculture.

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Latest Episode:

In this episode, Mary-Jane speaks to Nigel Owens, a Welsh former international rugby union referee, who has recently purchased his own farm.  He talks about his early involvement in agriculture, his rugby career, his mental health struggles and his sexuality, and what he enjoys about farming.  Read More >>

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

Previous Episodes:

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.  Read More >>

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. Read More >>

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. Read More >>

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. Read More >>

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. Read More >>

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