Union’ s top table needs aspiring farm politician Personnel: NFUS vice-president Gary Mitchell is to bow out in February

A vacancy has opened up for an ambitious farm politician to sit at NFU Scotland’s top table.

Vice-president Gary Mitchell has announced he will not be standing for re-election when his two-year term ends in February, while the other two senior office-bearers – union president Andrew McCornick and vicepresident Martin Kennedy from Highland Perthshire – have indicated they will be standing again.

Representatives from all 73 of the union’s branches will select the three positions at NFU Scotland’s (NFUS) annual council meeting and dinner which takes place in Glasgow in February.

Mr Mitchell is withdrawing from fulltime union work to focus on his dairy farm near Stranraer, but intends to remain involved in farm politics to some degree.

He said: “I have a young staff at home and union work means I’m just not there enough so I have to do what’s right for my business. However the dairy industry and education and skills are my passion so I hope to be able to continue working with these subjects at some level.”

Any NFUS member can be nominated for election, providing they are proposed and seconded by fellow union members.

The presidential position is held for two years and a president can serve a maximum of two consecutive two-year terms. Under the terms of the constitution, those elected to the position of vice-president will initially serve for two years before the post reverts to an annual election.

Anyone wishing to stand as president or vicepresident should contact the union’s chief executive Scott Walker to obtain a proposal form, which must then be signed and returned to him by close of play on December 12.

Mr Walker said: “In the run-up to our annual general meeting in February 2019, we will be holding a number of hustings across all of our regions early in the New Year.

“This will give all candidates the opportunity to speak to as many of our members as possible as we approach the elections.”

Mr Walker said potential candidates would be offered support where possible.

He added: “Making our wide network of branches and offices aware of all candidates will maximise the opportunities available to them to speak to the membership first hand.” An Easter Ross farmer is in the running for a top award.

Donald Ross, of Ryhnie Farm near Tain, is one of three finalists in this year’s AgriScot Scottish Arable Farm of the Year award.

The other finalists in the running for the accolade, sponsored by SoilEssentials and AHDB, are David Dandie at Learielaw Farm, West Lothian, and David Fuller-Shapcott at Sweethope Farm, near Kelso.

The judges – last year’s winner Peter Chapman of South Redbog Farm near Strichen, and AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds board member Andrew Moir – praised all three finalists for their focused management skills, attention to detail and their embrace of precision farming.

Mr Chapman said: “All three are incredibly committed to this industry, and doing the best possible job in their circumstances. I learned a lot from all of them.”

The winner will be revealed at the AgriScot event on November 21.

COMMITMENTS: Gary Mitchell will withdraw from full-time union work next year in order to focus on his dairy enterprise near Stranraer