Episodes

  • 13: Reduce, reuse, recycle: clean and dirty water on farm

    13: Reduce, reuse, recycle: clean and dirty water on farm
    Oct 24 2024
    In this podcast Jackie McColm and Robert Ramsay discuss managing water on farm. Looking at ways and methods farmers can reduce clean water entering slurry storage tanks, therefore, increasing capacity and leading to cost savings.

    Additionally we discuss ways that farmers can reuse and recycle water on farm, which increases efficiency, resilience to extreme weather and can provide sustainable water management on farm.

    Further resources:
    Managing water around the steading
    Ideas for keeping clean and dirty water separate
    Treating water with SuDS
    Alternative Watering
    Managing Water Margins
    Know The Rules
    Water Management
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    31 mins
  • 12: Environmental and animal welfare considerations of dealing with sheep scab

    12: Environmental and animal welfare considerations of dealing with sheep scab
    Oct 2 2024
    Photo ©Neil Fell
    This podcast focuses on how farmers can manage sheep scab. In particular discussing what farmers need to be aware of and the rules and regulations that need to be followed when managing sheep dip from animal welfare, to environmental regulation.
    Supporting material:
    Scab mites | SCOPS

    Sheep Scab | Moredun

    Stop the Spread (youtube.com)

    Control of sheep scab fas.scot/downloads/technical-note-tn636-control-of-sheep-scab/

    PEPFAA CODE: Sheep Dip https://www.farmingandwaterscotland.org/resource/sheep-dip/

    Know the Rules Factsheet 13: Sheep dipping and handling facilities https://www.farmingandwaterscotland.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/KTR13Sheepdipping.pdf
    CAR Practical Guide https://www.sepa.org.uk/regulations/water/
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    25 mins
  • 10: Riparian Planting for land management.

    10: Riparian Planting for land management.
    May 2 2024
    Riparian Planting can offer vast benefits to improving water quality and easing land management. In this podcast we examine the benefits of these woodland, looking at funding streams available to discussing the great array of benefits that Riparian woodlands provide with SEPA, Scottish Forestry and SAC Consulting.

    Supporting material

    Riverwoods https://www.riverwoods.org.uk/

    Forest Research https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/

    Forest Grant Scheme:

    https://forestry.gov.scot/support-regulations/forestry-grants

    https://www.ruralpayments.org/publicsite/futures/topics/all-schemes/forestry-grant-scheme/

    Scottish Woodlands: Woodland Carbon Code https://www.scottishwoodlands.co.uk/services/carbon/#goto-woodland-carbon-code

    Rural Payments and Service: Woodland Creation https://www.ruralpayments.org/topics/all-schemes/forestry-grant-scheme/woodland-creation/

    Specialist Advice Application https://www.fas.scot/specialist-advice/

    Scottish Forestry Map Viewer https://forestry.gov.scot/support-regulations/scottish-forestry-map-viewer

    Scottish Forestry Local offices https://forestry.gov.scot/contact?id=120

    Train hugger Grant Scheme https://rfs.org.uk/grants/grants-for-resilient-woodlands/

    Future Woodlands Scotland https://www.futurewoodlands.org.uk/funding/

    Woodland Trust https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/

    Scottish Forestry Strategy 2019-2029 https://forestry.gov.scot/forestry-strategy

    Integrating Trees Network https://forestry.gov.scot/support-regulations/farm-woodlands/integrating-trees-network

    Scottish Forestry: Right Tree in the Right Place: Planning for Forestry and Woodlands https://forestry.gov.scot/publications/96-the-right-tree-in-the-right-place-planning-for-forestry-and-woodlands

    Farm Advisory Service:

    · Farm Woodlands https://www.fas.scot/crops-soils/farm-woodlands/

    · Woodland creation https://www.fas.scot/crops-soils/farm-woodlands/woodland-creation/

    · Right Tree In the Right Place Video https://youtu.be/LJaDmC1nqBI
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    28 mins
  • 11: Working with SEPA to manage water flow on farm

    11: Working with SEPA to manage water flow on farm
    Apr 25 2024
    In this podcast we discuss with Alasdair Matheson and Graeme Henderson from SEPA, and Peter Lindsay, from SAC Consulting, how land managers can work with SEPA to manage water flow on farm. Focusing on what farmers can do with regard to ditches, drainage and dredging on farm we discuss the rules and guidelines which must be followed. Through our discussion we focus on the management actions, which can be done without involvement from SEPA, to complex licensing process.

    Supporting information:

    SEPA have produced a Dredging webpage where you will find all legislation and guidance: https://www.sepa.org.uk/regulations/water/engineering/dredging/

    On this page you will also find a Land Managers Guide

    Farming Water Scotland have many resources on managing field ditches and drains, which can be accessed here: https://www.farmingandwaterscotland.org/managing-water-on-your-farm/field-ditches-and-drains/

    All regulations and authorisation procedures for carrying our any activity which may affect Scotland’s’ water environment can be found on SEPA’ website here https://www.sepa.org.uk/regulations/water/ this page includes a link to the CAR Practical Guide mentioned in this podcast.

    Please contact SEPA to discuss any water management project via their email: waterpermitting@sepa.org.uk or please call 03000 99 66 99.

    For details on sniffers flood risk management conference please click here.

    Farming Water Scotland have great resources on managing water on your farm using natural flood management techniques, for further information please visit here.

    The Farm Advisory Service has produced a vast amount of material to help manage water on farm, a selection of materials are below:

    3D Buffer Zones https://www.fas.scot/article/3d-buffer-zones/

    Woodland creation https://www.fas.scot/crops-soils/farm-woodlands/woodland-creation/

    Water management https://www.fas.scot/environment/water-management/
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    32 mins
  • 9: Protecting and enhancing soils on farm

    9: Protecting and enhancing soils on farm
    Apr 18 2024
    Following on from extreme weather events that have been occurring throughout Scotland over the past few years, Karen Dobbie, Principal Soil Scientist from SEPA and David Ross, Principal Agricultural Consultant from SAC Consulting discuss soils on farm. The James Hutton Institute have calculated that there is more water held in Scotland’s soils when fully wet than in all our freshwater lochs. Therefore, protecting and retaining soil on farm can be a key component to mitigating against flooding and protecting farms in a changing climate.

    In this podcast we discuss what ‘good’ soil health is and how farmers can enhance and protect this resource for viable businesses, retaining and improving soil on farm.

    Supporting information

    Valuing Your Soils - Farming and Water Scotland

    PEPFAA: Soils

    What can land managers do? - Farming and Water Scotland

    The Farm Advisory Service as many pages offering information on soil management and groups looking at way to improve soil on farm Farm Advisory Service: Soils

    Scotland’s soils Home | Scotland's soils (environment.gov.scot)

    The soil risk / vulnerability maps can be found at: Risk maps | Scotland's soils (environment.gov.scot)

    These can be used in conjunction with the Hutton Soil Finder App SoilFinder - The James Hutton Institute | Science connecting land and people

    You can also access the soil maps of Scotland and the land capability maps on the soils website Maps | Scotland's soils (environment.gov.scot)

    There is also an agricultural soils information page within Scotland’s soils website Agriculture | Scotland's soils (environment.gov.scot).

    The soil heath score card can be found on AHDB website here https://ahdb.org.uk/knowledge-library/the-soil-health-scorecard

    Information on Regenerative Agriculture can be found below:
    https://www.fas.scot/crops-soils/soils/regenerative-agriculture/

    Building resilience into Scotland’s rural sector through working with nature and technology
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    38 mins
  • 8: Managing Water on Farm - From Drought to Flooding.

    8: Managing Water on Farm - From Drought to Flooding.
    Apr 11 2024
    Scotland's climate is changing and with that we are observing and experiencing changes to water availability on farm. From drought to extreme flooding this podcast discusses trends and on the ground experience farmers have faced during these events. Looking at ways farmers can prepare and help mitigate changing weather patterns so make their business more resilient.
    Supporting information:
    • Farming Water Scotland: Managing Water on Your Farm https://www.farmingandwaterscotland.org/managing-water-on-your-farm/
    • SEPA Water Scarcity Homepage https://www.sepa.org.uk/environment/water/water-scarcity/
    • Farm Advisory Service: Water Management https://www.fas.scot/environment/water-management/
    • Farm Advisory Service: Rainwater Harvesting Guidance Note https://www.fas.scot/publication/resilient-technology-options-for-water-management-on-farm/
    • Farm Advisory Service: Rainwater Harvesting Video - Farmer Experience https://www.fas.scot/publication/water-management-on-your-farm-rainwater-harvesting/
    • Farm Advisory Service: Right Tree in the Right Place Video https://youtu.be/LJaDmC1nqBI
    • Farm Advisory Service: 3D buffer strips https://www.fas.scot/article/3d-buffer-zones/
    • Farm Advisory Service: Water Margins https://www.fas.scot/environment/water-management/water-margins-2/
    • Farm Advisory Service: Extreme Flooding-What can you do Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrEm8QmCBXg

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    30 mins
  • 7: Compliance - Know the rules

    7: Compliance - Know the rules
    Mar 28 2024
    In this episode we are discussing compliance with Stephen Field from SEPA and Alexander Pirie from SAC Consulting. We focus on general biding rules and other helpful tips to ensure that farmers can remain compliant and protect the water environment.
    Supporting information mentioned throughout this podcast can be found in the links below:
    Farming Water Scotland: https://www.farmingandwaterscotland.org/

    Scottish Environment Protection Agency: https://www.sepa.org.uk/

    Water Regulations: https://www.sepa.org.uk/regulations/water/

    Farming Water Scotland Know the Rules: https://www.farmingandwaterscotland.org/know-the-rules/

    The Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2011 (as amended) Practical Guide: https://www.sepa.org.uk/media/dw5de0kh/car-a-practical-guide.pdf

    PEPFAA Code: https://www.farmingandwaterscotland.org/pepfaa-code-of-good-practice/

    Rural Payments and Services: Slurry Storage https://www.ruralpayments.org/publicsite/futures/topics/all-schemes/agri-environment-climate-scheme/management-options-and-capital-items/slurry-storage/ Please note that the deadline for applications of 19 April 2024

    Rainwater Harvesting

    https://www.fas.scot/publication/resilient-technology-options-for-water-management-on-farm/

    https://www.fas.scot/publication/water-management-on-your-farm-rainwater-harvesting/

    Buffer Strips

    https://www.fas.scot/environment/water-management/water-margins-2/

    Farm Advisory Specialist advice service https://www.fas.scot/advice-grants/

    Risk Assessment for Manure and Slurry (RAMS) Map https://www.farmingandwaterscotland.org/managing-water-on-your-farm/the-4-point-plan-4pp/risk-assessment-for-manure-and-slurry-rams-map/
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    26 mins
  • 6: Slurry Store Stories

    6: Slurry Store Stories
    Mar 20 2024
    In this episode we are discussing slurry stores with Stephen Field from SEPA and Cara Campbell from SAC Consulting. Looking at regulations and options of slurry stores available for farmers. Through discussion we focus on what farmers need to do to manage and store slurry on farm.
    Supporting information mentioned throughout this podcast can be found in the links below:
    PEPFAA Code: Slurry & Manure https://www.farmingandwaterscotland.org/pepfaa-code-of-good-practice/slurry-manure/

    Slurry Based System https://www.farmingandwaterscotland.org/livestock-arable/livestock-slurry-based-systems/

    Know the Rules https://www.farmingandwaterscotland.org/know-the-rules/

    Rural Payments and Services: Slurry Storage https://www.ruralpayments.org/publicsite/futures/topics/all-schemes/agri-environment-climate-scheme/management-options-and-capital-items/slurry-storage/ PLEASE NOTE THIS FUNDING OPTION CLOSES ON 19 APRIL 2024
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    35 mins