THERE WERE no presidential elections at last week’s NFU Scotland council meeting in Glasgow, which means that Dumfriesshire farmer Andrew McCornick remains president, with Highland Perthshire farmer Martin Kennedy and Gary Mitchell from Wigtownshire as his vice presidents – but all three posts will be open for nominations and elections at the 2019 AGM next spring.

There were, however, several changes to regional and committee roles that have put a few new names onto the union’s board. New regional chairmen are Colin Mair, in Ayrshire, and David Scarth, in Orkney and Shetland. The new chairman of the union’s Milk Committee is Kintyre dairy farmer John Smith, while the Less Favoured Areas Committee chairmanship is handed to Robert MacDonald from Grantown on Spey, who takes over from Mr Kennedy.

The complete membership of the NFUS Board of Directors for 2018/19 is as follows: President – Andrew McCornick, Barnbackle, Lochfoot, Dumfries; vice president – Martin Kennedy, Lurgan, Edradynate, Aberfeldy; vice president – Gary Mitchell, West Galdenoch, Stoneykirk, Stranraer; treasurer – Gerald Banks, Newstead, Strichen; chief executive – Scott Walker; regional board chairmen – John Dickson, Scalpsie, Rothesay, Bute (Argyll and The Islands); Colin Mair, Montgomerieston, Dalrymple, replacing Jimmy Ireland (Ayrshire); Rupert Shaw, Gledpark, Borgue (Dumfries and Galloway); Roddy Kennedy, Borlick, Killiechassie, Aberfeldy (East Central); Willie Harper, Gryffewraes, Bridge of Weir (Forth and Clyde); Martin Birse, Pitgaveny Farms, Elgin (Highland); Kelvin Pate, Aikeyside Farm, Haddington (Lothian and Borders); David Winton, Haugh of Birse, Aboyne (North East); David Scarth, Twatt Farm, Orkney, replacing Jim Nicolson (Orkney and Shetland, where vice chairman Cecil Eunson, Griesta, Tingwall is an invitee to the board); committee chairmen – Ian Sands, Townhead, Balbeggie, Perth (combinable crops); Angus MacFadyen, Bragleenmore, Oban (environment and land use); Jamie Smart, Balderston, Linlithgow (legal and technical); Robert MacDonald, Castle Grant Home Farm, Grantown on Spey, replacing Martin Kennedy (Less Favoured Areas); Charlie Adam, Braeside, Leochel-Cushnie, Alford (livestock); John Smith, Drumalea, Campbeltown, replacing James Rankin (milk); and James Porter, East Scryne, Carnoustie (specialist crops).

The pigs and poultry chair will be decided at the first meeting of the working group. Similarly, the New Generation Group agm is on February 20, and its chairperson is an invitee to the board.