Sustainable Systems

Diversification on a Shoestring

As of 2022, 58% of Scottish farms have diversified beyond traditional agriculture. Notably, diversified farms earned an average of £24,200 more than their non-diversified counterparts. Diversification not only boosts income…

National Minimum Wage and Employment Taxes

National Living Wage (NLW)/National Minimum Wage (NMW) The table below shows the increase in National Living Wage/National Minimum Wages proposed in the Autumn Budget National Minimum wage paid to Apprentices,…

SAYFC Respect

Mary-Jane Lawrie is joined by Ally Brunton chair of SAYFC and Jillian Kennedy, SAYFC Vice chair. They both talk about their time in young farmers and the experiences and benefits of being in the club. They also tell us about the SAYFC Respect campaign which was launched at the Highland Show in 2024, which aims to allow every member to contribute to SAYFC as a safe, inclusive, fun environment for young people. This episode discusses themes around mental wellbeing and suicide, please listen with care.

Can we store more carbon in our soils?

There is a lot of discussion around how we ‘lock up’ more carbon in our soils, however due to natural processes, this is more challenging than just applying more organic…

Farm Peatland Restoration At Leadloch Farm, A Case Study and Guide

Peatland restoration projects can be complex, with many moving parts. This case study of a year-long peatland restoration project aims to give readers an overview of how farmers and landowners…

The Golden Hoof

In this episode Mark and Kirsten reflect on their highlights from 2024 and are joined by David Ross (Principal Consultant, SAC Consulting) to discuss integrating livestock and arable. They explore options for integrating livestock, share top tips and farmers experience as well as the benefits this can bring to both the arable and livestock farmer.

Fungi: The forgotten kingdom?

In this episode, we’re joined by Toby Parkes, founder and CEO, and Franziska Scott, European Business Development Manager at Rhizocore Technologies. Together, we’ll explore the untapped potential of fungi in agriculture and forestry, the opportunities for shaping the future of sustainable land management and the vital role of fungi in fostering resilient, productive ecosystems.