In this episode George Chalmers is joined by Edward Jones, who is a Sustainable Farming Advisor at Frontier Agriculture to discuss cover crops.

Welcome to CropCast, your go to podcast for all the latest information on arable crops. Each month, SAC advisor, George Chalmers will be joined by a range of industry experts, bringing you timely updates to help you make decisions in the field.

Producer George Gauley, Editor Cameron Waugh, Executive Producer Kirstyn Blackwood, in association with the Scottish Government.

Time codes

04:13 Definitions of green manure, cover crops & catch crops

09:14 Potential benefits

12:24 New species available

14:15 Different species for different areas

20:03 Considerations when choosing a crop

24:14 Greening 2026

28:40 Establishment

33:46 Potential uses with livestock

36:00 Seeds suitable for broadcasting

39:19 Three top tips

Linked FAS Resources

FAS Crops & Soils https://www.fas.scot/crops-soils/

EFA Greening 2026 https://www.fas.scot/preparing-for-the-future/

Other Linked Resources

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ed-jones-931725133?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=android_app

Clinkstone – Companion Crops & autumn cover crops in a min-till system https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uw5xnHdsaEw

Cover Crop Guide: https://covercropsguide.co.uk/

Thrill of the Hill is back for season 6! Armed with a new team, new ideas and a range of new speakers, Alex takes on the hot topics impacting the farmed upland environment.

Organic farming is woven through Scotland’s landscapes, from the rolling fields of Aberdeenshire to the upland pastures of Argyll. Rooted in principles of soil health, biodiversity and local resilience, organic systems work with nature rather than against it—building fertility through crop rotations, clover leys and composts, and managing pests with balance instead of chemicals. The result is more than just food without synthetic inputs; it’s a way of farming that supports wildlife, protects water and strengthens rural communities. From certified producers under the Scottish Organic Producers Association (SOPA) to advisory work led by the Soil Association, organic farming in Scotland continues to evolve, combining tradition, innovation and environmental stewardship to meet the challenges of modern agriculture.

In this episode, we sit down with two special guest speakers, Debs Roberts joins us from SOPA and David MacKay joins us from the Soil Association to walk us through the benefits of going organic, the process and how the market is developing in Scotland and further afield - in a conversation that is more collaboration than clash of the titans. We also talk about the announced return of the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS) and David reflects on his time at Scotland's first Nature Friendly Farming Summit.

Want to get in touch with Debs or David? Contact SOPA via telephone at 0300 7729795 or email at info@sopa.org.uk. Contact Soil Association via telephone at 0131 3708150 or email at contact@soilassociation.org.

Related FAS Resources

Organics Discussion Group from the Farm Advisory Service

Related Other Resources

Scottish Organic Producers Association (SOPA)

Soil Association

Welcome back to the Rural Roundup. On today’s episode George Chalmers and Mary-Jane Lawrie discuss men’s health month with RSABI hut coordinator Rebecca Mackie and Health Hut nurse, Irene Scott.

Time Stamps

00:26 What’s going on with George & Mary-Jane

03:10 Future Farm Investment Scheme (FFIS)

05:30 Preparing for Sustainable Farming (PSF) Reminder

08:45 Leaving winter stubbles

14:44 Upcoming events

17:28 RSABI Health hut

FAS Resources

RSABI Health huts: Health Huts - RSABI

FAS Events: https://www.fas.scot/events/

Rural Payments, all scheme guidance https://www.ruralpayments.org/topics/all-schemes/

Other Resources

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot

Twitter: @FASScot

Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: advice@fas.scot