Welcome to the first episode of In Conversation With… hosted this month by Principal Consultant Mark Bowsher-Gibbs. This show is produced in association with the Scottish Government. On today’s episode Mark is joined by Gary Catto (Head of Merchanting at Scotgrain Agriculture, part of Bairds Malt Ltd) and Robin Barron (General Manager at East of Scotland Farmers). They provide business insights and discuss grain marketplace, how the last 12 months have been, grain quality, supply and demand and what does 2024 look like as a trading environment.  

Episode Timestamps

00.00 Introduction – background and business operations

04:26 Increasing demand for malting barley

05:15 Steps in the supply chain

06:29 Global whisky sales and investment at malting level

08:29 Procuring grain and how a cooperative works

09:52 Grain varieties

10:33 Current planting situation and growers aommitments

11:30 Grain storage and movement throughout the year

15:10 Do end users drive when processing occurs and tonnage targets?

17:39 Dealing with variable grain quality

20:42 Expectations for 2024

23:14 New varieties on the horizon

26:33 Supply chain – priorities for the next 24 months

30:29 Lower carbon barley

33.01 Next month – Kirsten Williams discusses sheep health and welfare

FAS Resources

https://www.fas.scot/crops-soils/

www.fas.scot/problem-solver/all-arable/

https://www.fas.scot/article/agribusiness-news-april-2023-cereals-and-oilseeds/

Other Resources

www.scotgrain.co.uk

www.bairds-malt.co.uk

www.eosf.co.uk

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot

Twitter: @FASScot

Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: advice@fas.scot

Credits:

Hosted by Mark Bowsher-Gibbs

Guests; Gary Catto (Bairds Malt) & Robin Barron (East of Scotland Farmers)

Produced by Heather Stuart

Edited by Cameron Waugh

Executive Producer Kerry Hammond