Send us a text This bonus podcast episode delves into the latest findings from Quality Meat Scotland's Red Meat Industry Profile 2025, highlighting record economic contributions, challenges in livestock numbers, and evolving consumer behaviours. Ian Macdonald and Abby Tong from QMS discuss key insights, including profitability pressures, retail trends, and the importance of local produce. The conversation also covers the Meeting Our Potential campaign aimed at stabilising the beef herd and enhan...
Aug 12, 2025•31 min•Season 12Ep. 10
Send us a text In this special episode, Claire is joined by Neil Wilson, Executive Director of the Institute of Auctioneers and Appraisers in Scotland (IAAS), to explore the Meating Our Potential campaign and what it means for the future of Scotland’s red meat sector. They discuss the critical role of auction marts, the opportunities for producers to grow confidence and invest in their herds, and the value of collaboration across the supply chain. Also in this episode: Claire and Kate reflect on...
Jul 22, 2025•46 min•Season 12Ep. 9
Send us a text In this podcast episode, Crawford Niven shares insights into his farming journey in central Scotland, discussing the balance between arable and cattle farming, the growth of his farm shop and butchery, and the importance of community engagement through YouTube and agritourism. He reflects on market trends, the significance of restocking in Scottish agriculture, and the challenges of balancing farming with content creation. Here is a link to all episodes of QMS's podcast https://qm...
Jun 11, 2025•57 min
Send us a text In this episode, we're joined by RNAS President as we look ahead to the very first Beef Tech event, hosted on 28th May at Home Farm, Kininmonth, Peterhead – a new event showcasing innovation and technology in the beef sector. We also catch up with QMS Chair Kate Rowell, who shares reflections on lambing and calving season, the challenges and rewards of this busy time of year, and how the recent good weather is helping farmers across the country. And as always, Iain Macdonald bring...
May 19, 2025•32 min•Season 12Ep. 7
Send us a text In this month’s episode of the QMS Red Meat Podcast, we’re joined by Mairi Gougeon MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, for an exclusive deep dive into the latest Scottish Government policies impacting the industry. We’ll discuss: ✅ The future of Scotland’s red meat sector amidst evolving agricultural policies ✅ Government strategies to support farmers, butchers, and processors ✅ Balancing food security, biodiversity, and climate goals ✅ The challenge...
Apr 04, 2025•45 min•Season 12Ep. 6
Send us a text In this month’s episode of the QMS Red Meat Podcast, we catch up with Martin Kennedy to reflect on his time as President of NFU Scotland. He shares the highlights and defining moments of his presidency, offering valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities faced by Scottish agriculture. We also hear from Kate Rowell, who updates us on her work with the development of industry-led groups and their role in shaping the future of farming. Abby Tong brings positive news from...
Mar 12, 2025•55 min•Season 12Ep. 5
Send us a text In this episode of the QMS Red Meat Podcast, we welcome James Withers, a seasoned expert in economic development, strategy, skills, public affairs, and communications. With a distinguished career in agri-food, drink, and tourism, James offers an invaluable perspective on the UK Farm Assurance Review. James breaks down the key findings of the report, highlighting how farm assurance systems are evolving across the UK and how they impact farmers. This episode also dives into how farm...
Feb 19, 2025•37 min•Season 12Ep. 4
Send us a text In this episode of the QMS Podcast, our host Claire Taylor is joined by a fantastic line-up of guests. First, QMS Chair, Kate Rowell provides a New Year’s update and greetings to the audience, while Iain Macdonald, QMS Market Intelligence Manager, offers valuable insights into market trends and what to expect in the year ahead. The highlight of this episode is our special guest, Dr. Carrie Ruxton , a renowned dietitian with over 20 years of experience. Carrie dives deep into the m...
Jan 09, 2025•36 min•Season 12Ep. 3
Send us a text In this episode, we explore two exciting topics; Rugby and A World Without Cows. First, to kick off the episode, we have Sarah Millar Chief Executive of QMS reflecting on the year and the exciting work QMS has taken on. We are then joined by Aileen Marchant discussing the unique QMS rugby partnership, the upcoming development days, and why rugby is helping to highlight the role of sustainable red meat. We also dive into A World Without Cows , a documentary exploring the global agr...
Dec 10, 2024•53 min•Season 12Ep. 2
Send us a text 🎉 The wait is over—Series 12 of the QMS Podcast is LIVE! 🎙️🔥 Join our new host, global agriculture commentator, Claire Taylor, as she sits down with QMS Chair, Kate Rowell to chat about her exciting time at SIAL Paris and the HRH butchery visit! 🌍🥩 Tom Gibson, Director of Business Development, shares the buzz around exporting Scotch red meat at SIAL, while Iain Macdonald, Market Intelligence Manager, gives us the latest on red meat prices and market trends. 📈💥 Plus, don’t m...
Nov 11, 2024•43 min•Season 12Ep. 1
Send us a text In this episode, host Jane Craigie hears what the QMS team has been up to lately, which includes attending the World Steak Challenge in Amsterdam, visiting London to explain the Scotch Beef, Scotch Lamb, and Specially Selected Pork credentials to more than 100 of the best butchers, and working with MP's to raise awareness of the Scottish red meat industry. Abby Tong gives an in-depth market insight and Emma Heath along with Multiply's Graeme Clark, discuss what makes Scotch so spe...
Sep 24, 2024•30 min•Season 11Ep. 11
Send us a text At the beginning of August Turriff Show brought many people from the farming world together in North East Scotland, including Quality Meat Scotland’s Kate Rowell and Iain Macdonald, who in this podcast talk to Jane Craigie about the latest statistics and wide opportunities for the red meat sector. Deeside Monitor Farmer Duncan Morrison explains what he’s learning through, and enjoying about, being a part of the Monitor Farm Programme with his suckler beef enterprise. We hope that ...
Aug 20, 2024•32 min•Season 11Ep. 10
Send us a text In this episode, we catch up with Professor John Gilliland about the QMS/AHDB about an Environmental Baselining programme based on the success of a similar scheme in Northern Ireland. This industry-led pilot aims to recruit 170 farmers and growers in Scotland and England to understand and improve their environmental performance. John explains the learnings from NI and the hopes for Scotland. Host Jane Craigie also catches up with QMS CEO, Sarah Millar, on the team's high-impact pr...
Jul 15, 2024•28 min
Send us a text Working with farmers and influencing policy is key for QMS. In this episode Kate Rowell explains how QMS is doing this important work alongside other industry stakeholders and Scotch farming ambassadors, to promote the Scotch red meat sector. The QMS team will be at the Royal Highland Show and Kate explains what to look out for, including steak tasting. Abby Tong is QMS Category Specialist, she explains her fascinating role, higher than normal Easter red meat sales, beef and lamb ...
Jun 13, 2024•38 min•Season 11Ep. 8
Send us a text In this episode, we speak to John Ritchie about grassland management - he's very inspiring and infectiously enthusiastic! Also to Alix Ritchie about Farmstrong Scotland and the events coming up in their calendar for farmers and crofters to join and hear how others are investing in their wellbeing. Iain Macdonald, QMS’s Market Intelligence Manager, talks about the beef, sheep and lamb markets, and the outlook for demand and supply for the spring and summer, and to Sarah Millar, QMS...
May 20, 2024•34 min•Season 11Ep. 7
Send us a text In this episode, we speak to Wayne Godfrey, Chief Executive of Brown Brothers, about their vision to add £100 million in retail sales of Specially Selected Pork via the family’s investment in the Brechin processing facility. Iain Macdonald, QMS’s Market Intelligence Manager, talks about the beef, sheep and lamb markets, and the outlook for demand and supply. And, ahead of starting lambing Kate Rowell gave a round up of the industry engagement she has been involved in over recent m...
Apr 12, 2024•29 min•Season 11Ep. 6
Send us a text In this episode we look at developing red meat markets in Scotland, the wider UK and internationally. Guests are Tom Gibson, QMS's Business Development Director and Emma Heath, who is the new Marketing Director at QMS. Tom talks athrough his role - discovering, developing and building new market opportunities, both in the UK and abroad, with new export business continually coming on board. Supplying lamb as part of Lamb for St. Andrew’s Day was a huge success, with sensational Sco...
Feb 19, 2024•45 min•Season 11Ep. 5
Send us a text This episode is all about pork, following the successful month of 'Porktober', during October, when QMS, and butchers all over Scotland, celebrated Scotland's pig farmers and Specially Selected Pork. Conversations are with Bruce McConachie from QMS who talks about disease surveillance and controlling Scotland's feral pigs, and with two butchers - Jordan McCaughan, a young butcher at Hugh Black & Sons and Gary Raeburn, who has a very successful butcher's shop in Huntly. Here is...
Nov 29, 2023•25 min•Season 11Ep. 4
Send us a text Ensuring Scotland's school children know where their food comes from, and the nutrition it offers, is part of the role for QMS Health and Education Managers, Jen Robertson and Alix Ritchie, who promote Scotch Beef, Lamb and Specially Selected Pork in schools. In this episode, Jen talks about their work with all of Scotland's local authorities, and the creative ways of encouraging red meat inclusion in school dinners and cookery classes. The initiatives, including in class educatio...
Sep 12, 2023•29 min•Season 11Ep. 3
Send us a text QMS Chief Executive, Sarah Millar and QMS board Chair, Kate Rowell, explain the three key pillars of QMS’s five-year strategy - provenance, profitability and productivity, planning and place, and what getting this right means to Scotland’s red meat sector. Here is a link to all episodes of QMS's podcast https://qmscotland.co.uk/news-media/qms-podcast
Aug 10, 2023•30 min•Season 11Ep. 2
Send us a text In this episode, the conversation focuses on meat eating quality. The discussions are with Bruce McConachie, QMS's Head of Industry Development and Dan Gilmour, a third generation butcher from East Lothian. For the red meat sector to be able to meet the challenges of a global marketplace improving the eating quality and consistency of our red meat is essential. This podcast gives a great insight into QMS's Meat Eating Quality report, which is encouraging the red meat sector to dis...
Jul 20, 2023•32 min•Season 11Ep. 1
Send us a text Farmers are having to look at all aspects of their business to try to control costs and one of the areas that they can do this is by focussing on the forage that they grow for their livestock. Tune in to this week’s podcast to hear from Andrew Houstoun, who farms Glenkilrie Farm near Blairgowrie and Charles Murray, seed merchant and agronomist, who runs Clyde Agriculture (Seeds) Ltd. They discuss grazing and forage requirements and what can be done to extend the grazing season to ...
Sep 06, 2022•28 min
Send us a text Farmers and their workers are the most important asset on any farm. Now an initiative founded in the farming community in New Zealand has made it’s way to Scotland. Farmstrong aims to help farmers and their workers live well, to farm well. Tune in to this weeks podcast with John Scott of Fearn Farm and is leading FarmStrongs introduction to Scotland, Gerard Vaughan is Farmstrong’s project lead and spokesperson in NZ. He helped design and establish the programme in 2015 and oversee...
Aug 30, 2022•24 min
Send us a text Data is power. By collecting and measuring data it can help to make informed management decisions on farm. There are multiple platforms you can use to help gather this data, one of which is AgriWebb. Lawrence Martin, Farm Manager at Carbeth Home Farm in Stirlingshire, has a particular passion for technology and using it to drive sustainable and efficient business practices within the livestock industry. Lawrence is joined on the podcast by John Fargher, who's background in farming...
Aug 16, 2022•24 min
Send us a text As part of the post-covid engagement strategy, QMS staff have been out at shows and events to engage with members, levy payers and consumers. In this episode Mark catches up with Sarah Millar, Chief Executive and Kate Rowell, Chair at Turriff Show. Have a listen to hear an update on QMS activity. Here is a link to all episodes of QMS's podcast https://qmscotland.co.uk/news-media/qms-podcast...
Aug 09, 2022•19 min
Send us a text Stuart Mitchell, Whitriggs Farm joins the podcast to discuss how they have dramatically reduced the winter feed bill by moving to outwintering. Through the Monitor Farm Scotland Programme the Mitchell's calculated the cost to feed a cow through the winter. Colin MacPhail of MacPhail Consulting was one of the facilitators for the Borders Monitor Farm at Whitriggs and was heavily involved in the discussions and changes which Stuart made to his farming business during the Monitor Far...
Aug 02, 2022•21 min
Send us a text Beth Alexander, cattle and sheep specialist at QMS, is joined by quests at the QMS stand live from the 200th Royal Highland Show. Here is a link to all episodes of QMS's podcast https://qmscotland.co.uk/news-media/qms-podcast
Jul 12, 2022•23 min
Send us a text Barry and Gordon discuss the continued personal development and skills requirements as you move up through the business into management/shop ownership. Here is a link to all episodes of QMS's podcast https://qmscotland.co.uk/news-media/qms-podcast
May 04, 2022•26 min•Season 9Ep. 6
Send us a text Sonia and Gordon discuss the challenges faced by the processing sector and the training and opportunities available within the sector. Here is a link to all episodes of QMS's podcast https://qmscotland.co.uk/news-media/qms-podcast
Apr 26, 2022•18 min•Season 9Ep. 5
Send us a text Dr Jonathon Wilkin, Abertay University, discusses the importance of New Product Development (NPD) and innovation to the future sustainability of the red meat industry and the skills and attributes required to work in this field from farm to the finished product on shop shelves. Here is a link to all episodes of QMS's podcast https://qmscotland.co.uk/news-media/qms-podcast
Apr 19, 2022•26 min•Season 9Ep. 4
