A number of new faces have joined the board of NFU Scotland following the union’s annual meeting and conference earlier this week.
The event, which took place in Glasgow, saw the election of a new presidential team.
Dumfriesshire farmer Andrew McCornick was elected the 62nd president of the union, with Highland Perthshire farmer Martin Kennedy and Wigtownshire farmer Gary Mitchell elected his two vice-presidents. All three will serve for an initial term of two years.
Well-known north-east agricultural consultant Gerald Banks, of Fridayhill, Maud, Aberdeenshire, will remain in post as treasurer.
The regional chairmen are: John Dickson from the Isle of Bute for the Argyll and the islands region; Jimmy Ireland from Feoch Farm, Darvel, for Ayrshire; Ruper Shaw of Gledpark, Borgue, for Dumfries and Galloway; Roddy Kennedy of Borlick, Aberfeldy, for the east central region; Willie Harper of Bridge of Weir for Forth and Clyde; Martin Birse of Pitgaveny Farms, Elgin, for the Highland region; Kelvin Pate of Aikeyside Farm, Haddington for the Lothian and Borders region; David Winton of Haugh of Birse, Aboyne, for the north-east; Jim Nicholson of Lonabrek, Shetland, for Orkney and Shetland; and David Scarth of Twatt Farm, Orkney, as vice-chairman for the Orkney and Shetland region.
All sector committee chairman posts remain unchanged with the exception of the milk committee – Cumbernauld producer James Rankin, of Badenheath, replaces Graeme Kilpatrick.
The other committee chairmen are: combinable crops – Ian Sands, Townhead, Balbeggie, Perth; environment and land use – Angus MacFadyen, Bragleenmore, Oban; legal and technical – Jamie Smart, Balderston, Linlithgow; less favoured areas – Martin Kennedy, Lurgan, Edradynate, Aberfeldy; livestock – Charlie Adam, Braeside, Cushnie, Alford, Aberdeenshire; pigs and poultry – Kevin Gilbert, Womblehill, Kintore, Inverurie; and specialist crops – James Porter, East Scryne, Carnoustie.