At today’s NFU Scotland Council meeting in Dunblane, Jim McLaren was elected as the new President of NFU Scotland. Jim’s current term of office will last two years. Also elected alongside Jim were two new Vice Presidents, Nigel Miller and Stewart Wood. Both Vice Presidents will serve a term of one year.

The biographical details are as follows:

Jim McLaren: Age 39 and married with two sons, two daughters and two stepdaughters, Jim is a mixed arable and dairy farmer, with 130 Holstein Friesian cows. All young stock are kept for replacements or finished on farm. His arable unit, growing winter wheat, winter oilseed rape, spring barley and land let out for potatoes, extends to 1000 acres in Perthshire. The business is a mix of full tenancy, limited partnership, owner-occupier and contract farming. Jim has served on the Milk Committee since 1999, holding the position of Chairman in 2003. He was also Chairman of Crieff Branch. He has been Vice- President since March 2006.

Nigel Miller: Married with four children, Nigel farms 1200 acres in the Borders. The upland hill farm supports 150 cows and 800 breeding ewes. Traditional beef breeds are the basis of the beef enterprise. Aberdeen Angus cross steers are sold through the auction ring with heifers being marketed privately for bulling. The sheep flock is founded on Lairg type Cheviots. Nigel, a former vet, started his NFU Scotland career as Chairman of the West Berwick Branch. Prior to being elected as Vice President, he was Chairman of the Livestock Committee.

Stewart Wood: Married with two sons, Stewart runs Garson Farms, as a family partnership. Prior to being elected as Vice President, Stewart was chairman of the Orkney and Shetland region of the NFUS. Stewart’s unit extends to 209 hectares. The farm is predominantly in grassland, with around 40 hectares of spring barley grown each year. All of the grain and straw are used on farm. Stocking comprises a herd of 170 suckler cows (including a small pedigree Charolais herd). All progeny are finished on farm. A sheep flock of 200 ewes is also carried on the farm, with a further 150-200 store lambs bought annually.

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