A hard-hitting beef and sheep producer from Dumfriesshire is the new leader of Scotland’s farmers.
The new president, Andrew McCornick wasted no time in demonstrating his combative style.
In the first sentences of his acceptance speech at NFU Scotland’s annual meeting he said: “The First Minister’s coming soon. Get tore in and get our message across.”
Mr McCornick was brought up on a dairy farm in Wigtown and now farms 160 suckler cows and 600 breeding ewes and a small herd of pedigree Charolais cattle. He was elected Vice President in February 2015.
NFU Scotland’s council members were asked to choose between Mr McCornick, the incumbant Allan Bowie from St Andrews, and Borders farmer Rob Livesey.
Aberfeldy upland farmer Martin Kennedy from Lurgan at Edradynate was elected as a vice-president. He farms land which rises to 2,500ft. Stock includes 600 breeding ewes, 30 continental cows and 30 Highlanders.
The second vice-president is Dumfriesshire dairy farmer Gary Mitchell. He farms 750 acres and was milk committee chairman from 2012 to 2014.
