Best FFIS Podcasts (2025)

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Hot weather, FFIS & Cross Compliance 39:00

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24d ago39:00

39:00

Welcome back to the Rural Round-up. On today’s episode George Chalmers introduces Mary-Jane Lawrie, who will be sitting in for Tiffany Stephenson, while on maternity leave. Topics of discussion include, extreme weather, FFIS updates and cross compliance reminders, which includes useful tips on hedge management. FAS Resources FAS Website – Respondin…

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New Regulations for Applying Waste to Land 42:51

2h ago42:51

42:51

Welcome back to the Rural Round-up. On today’s episode George Chalmers and Mary-Jane Lawrie highlight what’s happening in Scottish agriculture and are then joined by Peter Lang from SEPA to discuss new regulations for the application of waste to land, which will come into effect on 1st November 2025. FAS Resources Preparing For The Future | Helping…

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Breaking the Grass Ceiling - Women in Crofting 19:16

11d ago19:16

19:16

Please note: We recorded this episode while out at an event, therefore the audio quality varies throughout. Interviewees: Prof Sally Shorthall Karis Beattie Haley Shepherd The Grass Ceiling is an EU-funded project that helps rural women become leaders in innovation—especially in farming and sustainable rural development. It runs from 2023 to 2025 a…

1
Croft Diversification - New Enterprises in Uist 49:12

1M ago49:12

49:12

Thinking of diversification projects on the croft? Hear from two entrepreneurs who have set up shops, campsites and tours in Uist, and are managing to bring in tourists and have a healthy footfall. They discuss the issues with funding on croftland, ferries, finishing animals, abattoirs, Instagram posts, Scottish Agritourism, and Enterprise agency s…

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Future Farming Investment Scheme 33:32

2M ago33:32

33:32

Welcome back to the Rural Roundup. On today’s episode George Chalmers & Tiffany Stephenson discuss the new Future Farming Investment Scheme, which will open for applications on 14th July 2025 and close on 22nd August 2025. This show is produced in association with the Scottish Government. FAS Resources Future Farm Investment Scheme full guidance Fu…

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FFIS, CAGS, WFP and Greening for Crofting 38:21

2M ago38:21

38:21

The Future Farming Investment Scheme (FFIS) grant scheme is a new scheme in 2025, allowing crofters and farmers to invest to improve business efficiency, nature and climate friendly farming. The FFIS offers flexible capital grants to support investments with tiered levels of funding available. There are other changes affecting crofters, such as a s…

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Enhanced Greening for 2026 37:02

3M ago37:02

37:02

Welcome back to the Rural Roundup. On today’s episode George Chalmers & Tiffany Stephenson talk to Professor Steven Thomson about the Enhanced Greening conditional changes which will come into effect from 1st January 2026. This show is produced in association with the Scottish Government. FAS Resources Events | Events helping farmers in Scotland | …

1
Changes to Improve Welfare of Lambs 26:18

4M ago26:18

26:18

A game changer for sheep on hill grazings? It’s very tricky to castrate and tail lambs within 7 days unless lambs are born inbye. Could two new techniques, that allow castration and tailing up to 3 months of age, not only reduce pain levels in lambs, but allow better and easier management on commons and hills? The all-important intake of colostrum …

1
AECS & Water Scarcity 14:35

4M ago14:35

14:35

Welcome back to the Rural Round-up. On today’s episode George Chalmers & Tiffany Stephenson talk about the upcoming AECS deadline and the pressing issue of water scarcity. This show is produced in association with the Scottish Government. FAS Resources Water Scarcity - Farming and Water Scotland Events | Events helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Ad…

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Farm Business Survey Results & The Spring Statement 35:56

5M ago35:56

35:56

Welcome back to the Rural Roundup. This show is produced in association with the Scottish Government. On today’s episode, we’re joined by Becka Henderson, a Farm Business Analyst from SAC Consulting to talk about results from the Farm Business Survey and headlines from the spring statement. FAS Resources Whole farm benchmarks | Helping farmers in S…

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Headlines & Deadlines for SAF (IACS) and AECS 25:24

6M ago25:24

25:24

Welcome back to the Rural Roundup. This show is produced in association with the Scottish Government. On today’s episode, we’re joined by George Chalmers & Tiffany Stephenson who talk headlines and deadlines. We talk about the Single Application Form (IACS) window, AECS, and changes to both. We also discuss “Fair work first” and what that means for…

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Spring Update, Avian Flu & a “New Deal for Agriculture” 38:55

7M ago38:55

38:55

Welcome back to the Rural Round-up. This show is produced in association with the Scottish Government. On today’s episode, we’re joined by George Chalmers & Tiffany Stephenson who bring us their Spring Update, with information on the “New Deal for Agriculture”, NVZ, claim deadlines for PSF & AECS Capital claims, an update on h5n1, and a market upda…

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First Footing Forward: Plan for the Year Ahead 21:04

8M ago21:04

21:04

Welcome back to the Rural Round-up. This show is produced in association with the Scottish Government. On today’s episode, we’re joined by George Chalmers & Tiffany Stephenson who discuss what Farmers & Crofters can do to put the best foot forward in the New Year, to give themselves a good chance of a successful 2025. Related Resources Preparing fo…

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Keeping Well at Christmas 19:32

9M ago19:32

19:32

Welcome back to the Rural Round-up. This show is produced in association with the Scottish Government. On today’s episode, we’re joined by George Chalmers & Tiffany Stephenson who discuss all relevant schemes and deadlines, and look ahead to Christmas in the Farming Community. FAS Resources Mental Health and Wellbeing | Information helping farmers …

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Kathleen Simpson and Brad Harrison: Scaling Impact at The Russell Family Foundation 35:40

9M ago35:40

35:40

Kathleen Simpson and Brad Harrison: Scaling Impact at The Russell Family Foundation In this episode, hosts Chris Ito and Georges Dyer engage with Kathleen Simpson, CEO of The Russell Family Foundation (TRFF), and Brad Harrison of AlTi Tiedemann Global, TRFF's investment advisor, to explore the intersection of mission-driven investing, shareholder e…

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The Autumn Budget 2024 (Death & Money) 28:52

10M ago28:52

28:52

Welcome back to the Rural Round-up. This show is produced in association with the Scottish Government. On today’s episode, we’re joined by Sascha Grierson, Principal Consultant & Agri-Economics lead at SAC Consulting and Andrew Coalter Senior Consultant & Chartered Accountant at SAC Consulting who discuss the implications of the Autumn Budget for t…

1
Matchmaking New and Retiring Crofters (Updated) 38:30

11M ago38:30

38:30

Many aspire to having and working a croft, however crofts are difficult to obtain, at least in the more productive and scenic areas. At the same time, retiring crofters sometimes find it hard to give up their business, their source of income and home. The Scottish Land Matching Service is designed to help aspiring new producers, whether crofters or…

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Policy Spotlight - Calving Intervals & EFA 48:24

11M ago48:24

48:24

Welcome back to the Rural Round-up. This show is produced in association with the Scottish Government. On today’s episode, Farm Advisors Tiffany, George and Robert give us the latest agricultural updates from around Scotland, and are then joined by Professor Steven Thomson, Professor of Agricultural Economics and Policy at SRUC to discuss the lates…

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Subsidy and Support Changes for Crofting 39:35

12M ago39:35

39:35

Support is changing, and although not all details are clear, crofters claiming subsidy need to have specific items and plans in place by next spring. Listen in to hear the essential information you need for next year’s Basic Payment Scheme claim. We simplify one aspect of the new system, which is called the Whole Farm Plan. The WFP is actually made…

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Climate Week 29:24

12M ago29:24

29:24

Welcome back to the Rural Round-up. This show is produced in association with the Scottish Government. On today’s episode, Farm Advisors Tiffany Stephenson from St Boswells, George Chalmers from Turriff and Robert Ramsay from Ayr, give us the latest agricultural updates from the Borders, N. East and S. West of Scotland, and are later joined by Iain…

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Livestock Disease Risks on Crofts 47:44

1y ago47:44

47:44

Disease risk in livestock, and biosecurity is something we perhaps don’t consider as much in crofting areas as farmers might in more intensive systems. Crofting tends to be more extensive, with lower densities of stock, but we often share bulls, and graze on common ground. In this episode I’m joined by Kythe MacKenzie, who is a vet with SRUC, and K…

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Agritourism, the People, the Places, the Produce 40:21

1y ago40:21

40:21

Welcome back to the Rural Round-up. This show is produced in association with the Scottish Government. On today’s episode I’m joined by George Chalmers, Robert Ramsay & Osla Jamwal-Fraser to talk about agritourism, opportunities to diversify and the added value opportunities for Scottish Agriculture. FAS Resources Alternative Enterprises | Helping …

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Routes to Crofting 41:13

1y ago41:13

41:13

This episode hears from 2 crofters with two different routes into crofting. In this episode we discuss how they gained their croft, what they found were barriers, and hints and tips for aspiring or new crofters. I’m delighted to be joined by Derek Dick, who is a relatively new crofter in Berneray, and Angus Ferguson, who is an experienced crofter i…

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The Whole Farm Plan 22:59

1y ago22:59

22:59

Welcome back to the Rural Round-up hosted by me, Kerry Hammond. This show is produced in association with the Scottish Government. On today’s episode I’m joined by George Chalmers & Tiffany Stephenson to talk about The Whole Farm Plan, and what it means for farmers, crofters & smallholders. FAS Resources Preparing For The Future | Helping farmers i…

1
Lessons from Ireland 39:48

1y ago39:48

39:48

In this episode we look at what we can learn from the Irish system, where farms are similar to our crofts. A group of crofters are just home from a study tour to Ireland, and we hear from Derek Jamieson who crofts in Unst, Shetland, what he took from this exchange of knowledge. We also hear from Keith Fahy, advisor with Teagasc, explaining the Iris…

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Census, Silage, & Scottish Land & Estates 31:52

1y ago31:52

31:52

Welcome back to the Rural Roundup hosted by me, Kerry Hammond. This show is produced in association with the Scottish Government. On today’s episode I’m joined by George Chalmers & Tiffany Stephenson who chat about the census, thinking about silage and the ECS organics deadline, and I’m later joined by Eleanor Kay from Scottish Land & Estates who t…

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Will Attenborough and Leila Mimmack: Celebrity Activism Meets Climate Finance 43:12

1+ y ago43:12

43:12

Will Attenborough and Leila Mimmack: Celebrity Activism Meets Climate Finance In this episode, hosts Georges Dyer and Chris Ito are joined by British actors Will Attenborough and Leila Mimmack to share their journey from the world of acting to leading impactful climate campaigns, leveraging their public platforms to drive change in sustainability a…

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Crofting Commission Chief Executive 40:38

1+ y ago40:38

40:38

Gary Campbell is our guest this week. Gary is the new Chief Executive of the Crofting Commission, having just started his role in January this year. With a background working in both the public and private sectors he talks us through his previous roles, his own family crofting story, what he is planning to achieve in his new CE role and his vision …

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Heather Beatty: Avoided Emissions and Public Markets Climate Solutions 39:16

1+ y ago39:16

39:16

Heather Beatty: Avoided Emissions and Public Markets Climate Solutions Join hosts Chris Ito and Georges Dyer as they sit down with Heather Beatty, the CEO of ScopeFour Capital, for an insightful discussion on climate solutions in public equity markets. Heather Beatty shares her journey in sustainable investing, her vision for ScopeFour Capital and …

1
A Carbon Conversation, audits, emissions, reductions and more 25:50

1+ y ago25:50

25:50

Welcome back to the Rural Round-up hosted by me, Kerry Hammond. This show is produced in association with the Scottish Government. On today’s episode I’m joined by George Chalmers and Tiffany Stephenson who chat all things Carbon. Carbon Audits, emissions reductions and more. FAS Resources Carbon Audits | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory…

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Water, Water Everywhere and Far Too Much to Do 44:28

1+ y ago44:28

44:28

Welcome back to the Rural Round-up hosted by me, Kerry Hammond. This show is produced in association with the Scottish Government. On today’s episode I’m joined by George Chalmers, Robert Ramsay and Tiffany Stephenson who discuss the recent bout of wet weather, and the implications of this on our agricultural businesses. We also talk about beef ent…

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Jeff Gitterman: Pragmatism over Polarization in Long-Term Investing 48:13

1+ y ago48:13

48:13

Jeff Gitterman: Pragmatism over Polarization in Long-Term Investing Sustainable investing veteran, Jeff Gitterman, joins hosts Chris and Georges to discuss bridging divides in ESG investing and climate change debates. Gitterman advocates pragmatism - finding common ground between proponents and skeptics. Key highlights include investment opportunit…

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Presidio Student Insights: A Winning Pitch from the Next Generation of Sustainable Investors 38:17

1+ y ago38:17

38:17

Presidio Student Insights: A Winning Pitch from the Next Generation of Sustainable Investors In this episode, hosts Chris Ito and Georges Dyer engage in a captivating conversation with a trio of students from Presidio Graduate School, who were members of the team that emerged victorious in the IEN's 2023 Student Corporate Engagement Challenge in th…

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Trees of the Gaelic World : BIRCH (mini-series) 30:18

1+ y ago30:18

30:18

Welcome back to the Rural Round-up hosted by me, Kerry Hammond. This show is produced in association with the Scottish Government. This episode is part of a spotlight mini-series titled Trees of the Gaelic World. This episode is all about Birch and will explore the Gaelic language and lore surrounding the species with scholar Dr Mìcheal Newton, and…

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Trees of the Gaelic World : YEW (mini-series) 29:56

1+ y ago29:56

29:56

Welcome back to the Rural Round-up hosted by me, Kerry Hammond. This show is produced in association with the Scottish Government. This episode is part of a spotlight mini-series titled Trees of the Gaelic World. This episode is all about Yew and will explore the Gaelic language and lore surrounding the species with scholar Dr Mìcheal Newton, and a…

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Trees of the Gaelic World : OAK (mini-series) 29:32

1+ y ago29:32

29:32

Welcome back to the Rural Round-up hosted by me, Kerry Hammond. This show is produced in association with the Scottish Government. This episode is part of a spotlight mini-series titled Trees of the Gaelic World. This episode is all about Oak and will explore the Gaelic language and lore surrounding the species with scholar Dr Mìcheal Newton, and a…

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Trees of the Gaelic World : SCOT’S PINE (mini-series) 35:24

1+ y ago35:24

35:24

Welcome back to the Rural Round-up hosted by me, Kerry Hammond. This show is produced in association with the Scottish Government. This episode is part of a spotlight mini-series titled Trees of the Gaelic World. This episode is all about Scot’s Pine and will explore the Gaelic language and lore surrounding the species with scholar Dr Mìcheal Newto…

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Spring Updates, SAF, IACS, AECS, Calving, Lambing and Cropping Advice 24:31

1+ y ago24:31

24:31

Welcome back to the Rural Round-up hosted by me, Kerry Hammond. This show is produced in association with the Scottish Government. George Chalmers and Tiffany Stephenson discuss, in detail, all the things we need to focus on for Spring, including the Single Application Form (IACS), the Agri-Environment Scheme (AECS), and advice pertinent to calving…

1
SPOTLIGHT: Policy 39:01

1+ y ago39:01

39:01

Welcome back to the Rural Round-up hosted by me, Kerry Hammond. This show is produced in association with the Scottish Government. This episode was recorded on Tuesday 20th Feb 2024 and all information considered correct to this date. On today’s episode Robert, Tiffany and George are joined by Professor Steven Thomson from SRUC’s Rural Policy Centr…

1
Downloading the Highlights from the FAS Connect Conference 18:07

1+ y ago18:07

18:07

Welcome back to the Rural Round-up hosted by me, Kerry Hammond. This show is produced in association with the Scottish Government. On today’s episode I’m joined by George Chalmers as he fills me in on the headlines from the inaugural FAS Connect Conference. Remember for PSF options completed in 2023, the claim window runs from 1st March 2023 to 29t…

1
Adverse Weather Advice 19:28

1+ y ago19:28

19:28

Welcome back to the Rural Round-up hosted by me, Kerry Hammond. This show is produced in association with the Scottish Government. On today’s episode Robert, Tiffany and George discuss the impact of the recent wave of bad weather across Scotland. Whether managing flooded soils or staying safe around fallen trees it’s all worth taking a moment to co…

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Back to the Future, a Resolution to use our Past to Inform our Next Steps 28:18

1+ y ago28:18

28:18

Welcome back to the Rural Round-up hosted by me, Kerry Hammond. This show is produced in association with the Scottish Government. On today’s episode George & Robert think about what Rabbie Burns would have to say about Farming today. They reflect on the similarities, and the massive changes that agriculture has seen since the Poet was working a pl…

1
Working Together in Agriculture to Amplify Success 28:36

1+ y ago28:36

28:36

Welcome back to the Rural Round-up hosted by me, Kerry Hammond. This show is produced in association with the Scottish Government. On today’s episode George, Robert & Tiffany discuss collaboration and partnerships, looking at examples like The Scottish Pig Producers, and investigating how technology could facilitate collaboration. We are also joine…

1
“A Farmer isn’t just for Christmas”, Public Perception of Farming Throughout the Year 21:20

2y ago21:20

21:20

Welcome back to the Rural Round-up hosted by me, Kerry Hammond. This show is produced in association with the Scottish Government. On today’s episode George, Robert & Tiffany chat about the run up to Christmas, how the public get interested in farms, farming, and local food at this time of year, and how we could make more of this for the rest of th…

1
Ian Fuller: Unlocking Diversity for Alpha and Impact Investing 39:05

2y ago39:05

39:05

Ian Fuller: Unlocking Diversity for Alpha and Impact Investing This episode features Ian Fuller, CEO and Co-Founder of Westfuller Advisors, a minority and women-owned investment advisory firm and Outsourced CIO dedicated to impact investing. Georges and Chris talk with Ian about his personal journey from New York’s Lower East Side to Wall Street as…

1
Talking Technology 35:40

2y ago35:40

35:40

Welcome back to the Rural Round-up hosted by me, Kerry Hammond. This show is produced in association with the Scottish Government. On today’s episode George & Robert are joined by Lorna Galloway, a senior consultant at SAC Consulting to discuss developments in agricultural technology, opportunities for efficiencies and what tech might look like in …

1
Storm Babet, PSF Funding Opportunities and a Conversation about Sheep and Cow Supplementation 36:51

2y ago36:51

36:51

Welcome back to the Rural Round-up hosted by Kerry Hammond. This show is produced in association with the Scottish Government. On today’s episode George & Robert discuss the recent extreme weather events and the opportunities for farmers through PSF (Preparing for Sustainable Farming). We are also joined by Dr Annie Williams to discuss optimum mine…

1
Common Grazing Finances: Common Issues 39:47

2y ago39:47

39:47

We are at Dornie hall, talking to clerks and committee members about the issues they face when trying to run the common grazing, especially when it comes to finances. Firstly, we talk with Finlay Beaton from the Crofting Commission, about the problems that they deal with and the solutions for clerks. Finlay also has the advantage of having worked w…

1
Spotlight on Policy 27:14

2y ago27:14

27:14

Welcome back to the Rural Round-up hosted by me, Kerry Hammond. This show is produced in association with the Scottish Government. On today’s episode, George & Robert are joined by Professor Steven Thomson from SRUC’s Rural Policy Centre to shine a spotlight on what’s happening currently with rural and agricultural policy. For more information, vis…

1
AECS 2024, The Nature Restoration Fund and The Scottish Agricultural Awards 20:20

2y ago20:20

20:20

Welcome back to the Rural Round-up hosted by me, Kerry Hammond. This show is produced in association with the Scottish Government. On today’s episode George & Tiffany chat about the Scottish Agricultural awards, AECS 2024 and the Nature Restoration Fund. FAS Resources Borders Vet Lab Visit | Events helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Servic…