Toplines and Tales

This week is an interesting and inspiring story from Andrew Keiley who runs the Hardrow Limousin herd alongside his sheep enterprise in Hawes, North Yorkshire. From being born in Manchester suburbs, and the family farm being sold before he had chance to get started, to working his way through the industry, living in a caravan before eventually getting his own farm. We discuss his pedigree interests and Andrew not only tells us of his steps and pitfalls on the way as well as some inspirational advice to youngsters to never let go of your dream.

After a trip to France to speak to an Angus Producers Group a few weeks ago, I pull together some highly interesting guests who cover some quite unusual subjects. Scottish beef in France, a beef vending machine, 100% grants for solar panel barns, a highly intensive sheep enterprise and growing onion seeds; this podcast will open a few eyes to how France is much more forward thinking in a lot of sectors when it comes to farming. Huge thanks go to the very articulate Sara Ollis for her help with this one, and the great chat that concludes this episode.

Three real characters: Scott Brown, Derek Redpath and Findlay McIntire join me this week for a blether as we have our annual Christmas get together over a few drams. Our topics cover those we have lost this year, great men who have mentored us, top breeds of cattle as well as getting into controversial waters around trees, climate change and carbon nonsense. As always happens, our two and a half hours together involve much hilarity and some cracking stories, particularly from Findlay, on his first appearance on the show. With statements like ‘rewilding? As if the ground here on Rannoch isn’t wild enough already!’; pick your way through this and you’ll hear some incredibly good advice from these three wise men! If Christmas day gets too much, stick your feet up in the back room, some headphones on and enjoy this one with a dram.

Merry Christmas from Toplines and Tales. A song I wrote called Living Well and Christmas. Lyrics below: Christmas day, no time for regret A year gone by, a great time to reflect A family, all around the table The lights are on and everything is stable If you can be really happy with yourself And keep an eye on each others mental health Make a serious effort in every way No reason why it cant always feel like Christmas day Whether you’re a farmer or just involved There are always problems to be solved But try and take it easy, don’t get stressed These things will put you to the tes Living well, isn’t just a Christmas treat Starting with the diet, watch out what you eat A little exercise, it helps the flow Maybe take a walk out in the snow If you can be really happy with yourself And keep an eye on each others mental health Make a serious effort in every way No reason why it cant always feel like Christmas day Now go and have your turkey, you deserve And with all the trimmings that’s been served Take a little time out for the kids Maybe get a look inside your eye lids And don’t forget the others; a neighbour or a friend who maybe didn’t have the money to spend Perhaps go and knock on their door Or at least give them a call………. Because talking is the best release to help your troubles decrease and its always a two-way street when you smile at everyone you meet If you can be really happy with yourself And keep an eye on each others mental health Make a serious effort in every way No reason why it cant always feel like Christmas day Try and keep that upbeat feeling going Even if outside it won’t stop snowing And if you ever feel that things are wrong You can always find some help at "Farmstrong!" If you can be really happy with yourself And keep an eye on each others mental health Make a serious effort in every way No reason why it cant always feel like Christmas day If you can be really happy with yourself And keep an eye on everyone’s mental health Make a serious effort in every way No reason why it cant always feel like Christmas day Merry Christmas

Hugh Watson and William McCombie will go down in history as the two great men who, between them, started and shaped the Aberdeen Angus cattle breed in the 1800s. From our in-depth research, my guest Dr Bob Hough and myself discuss the merits of these two great men in a debate which will be finalised by you, the podcast listener. This episode makes up the history part of our 5th birthday celebrations and, as Bob and I are prone to do, we go off track a few times.

This episode is a condensed version of episode 214, which talks through the new album download and CD Toplines and Tales has just produced, with guest host Wallace Currie. You an download your copy at www.toplinesandtales.bandcamp.com

Something quite different to celebrate our 5th birthday in a special episode as my guest host Wallace Currie talks about the launch of the new Toplines and Tales Album download, The Family Farm. This is a new on-off music project with proceeds going to Farmstrong Scotland charity. In his usual superb way Wallace quizzes his guest about this project and other controversial issues. Please give it a listen for free at this link Toplines and Tales new album

We get a great insight into sheep farming in New Zealand from well-known Kiwi Daniel Wheeler. Spending a third of his year pregnancy scanning a staggering quarter of a million ewes in both New Zealand and Scotland, Dan-the-Scan and I chat about breeds of sheep, data recording, Luing cattle and sheep exports in this highly entertaining podcast.

Nuffield scholar, Jock Gibson has studied eatabilty of beef around the world and has some strong views on how we could apply some of the overseas grading principles to the beef industry in UK in this interesting insight. We have a fascinating discussion about transparency of different types of beef labeled on the consumer shelves. Jock then goes on to talk about his own Pasture for Life-certified farm in Moray as well as the family butcher’s business which give him a good vehicle to put his grassfed beef through its paces. All this is prior to him giving his paper at the forthcoming Nuffield Conference.

Fresh from a weekend in Aberdeen, what a fantastic opportunity the Youth Development Programme offers young people in the livestock community. This week I bring an episode right from the heart of the YDP finals, chatting to organisers, judges and competitors and capturing the phenomenal enthusiasm that this project inspires.

I chat to Stephen Dodsworth about North East Live, the first fatstock show of the UK season and what can be expected there. Then I introduce a new feature from the Toplines and Tales team along with other news.

This week I am live at the Ploughing Championships in Ireland and reporting from the Growvite All Ireland Aberdeen-angus Championships. As well as an overview of the event I speak with exhibitors and winners before catching up with some of the organisations that underpin the beef supply chain in Ireland. We finish with a recap of a couple of farm visits that I also took in, including Michael O'Leary's Giggingstown herd, and a chat with judge Ewen Campbell to get his thoughts on the cattle, the event and his own herd.

British Lion, ex-Scotland rugby captain and a legend with the oval ball, Rob Wainwright and I chat rugby, and then his move to a farm on the Hebridean Island of Coll. Rob discusses his past team-mate Doddie Weir, and the work he has been involved in the MyNamesDoddie charity foundation for Motor Neurone Disease. Finally we hear about island life and the advanced methods of regenerative farming he is now undertaking as well as his recent vice-presidency at the Royal Highland Show.

A fascinating story this week from Steve Jones, from working with possibly the two most prestigious pedigree beef herds in the UK, Maerdy and Graham’s, to managing an livestock export business in Canada and being at the pinnacle of the sheep breeding world on two continents. Steve’s infectious dedication to quality livestock coupled with his unrivalled enthusiasm, has seen him go on a journey so unique that many of us could just dream about.

Now 93 years old, Aberdeenshire legend, Harrold Murray talks about his early days in farming, Angus cattle and his lucrative bull hire business as we reminisce together in his home near Huntly. Re-edited to avoid character slur!

Back to Ireland this week, chatting to John, Leo and Sean McEnroe, recapping the history of the Liss and Lissduff Angus herd, speaking about exports and their upcoming sale in August.

We are amongst Angus Royalty this week, as I speak to Dawn and Lee Wilson from the Miller Wilson herd in Alberta, Canada. They discuss the beginnings of two herds that amalgamated to one of the world’s leading names, and some of the successes and ideologies they hold dear. In a changing world, they have become suppliers of embryo genetics in all countries round the world where Angus is to the fore.

The issue of methane emissions from livestock has been a very hot topic over the last few months. In this special episode I try to look at it from all angles by chatting to a top breeder and some experts in the livestock industry, to hopefully dispel a few myths and shed some light onto current developments.

Ewan Gordon runs the family farm at Wellheads in Aberdeenshire with his father John. Running a lot of suckler cows and sheep in a streamlined operation with just the two of them managing 1250 acres, Ewan chats about his stock, their business and the future of the family farm.

A highly interesting and inspirational chat with good friends Mike and Jane Rocks in Australia who have had a most fascinating life, recently settling into a farm in New south Wales. This pair truly are entrepreneurs of the highest order and have reinvented their life many times, through dairy farming, property development, honey packing, a yacht in Scotland and a whole list of other interesting careers before settling back down on a farm with some Angus heifers. We also discuss the opportunities that Australia can offer for youngsters from around the world to get into farming.