THINGS are hotting up in the impending National Farmers Union Scotland presidential election, as farmers from Fife, Dumfries and Galloway, the Borders, South Lanarkshire and Perthshire are now all confirmed as competing for the top jobs.

As The Scottish Farmer went to press, it emerged that the elections – scheduled for February – will see three names in the running for the president's post, as well as three for the two vice president posts.

Current president Allan Bowie, who farms in Fife and Stirlingshire, will complete his first two-year term at the Union’s forthcoming AGM and has indicated that he will be standing for re-election.

Both current vice presidents, Rob Livesey from the Borders, who was first elected to the position in 2013, and Dumfriesshire farmer Andrew McCornick, who was elected to the position in February 2015 for the first time, have now confirmed they will challenge Mr Bowie for the presidency in February.

Three candidates are now forward to contend for the two vice president positions. Dumfries and Galloway regional chairman, Gary Mitchell, a past chairman of the milk committee, had already said he would run, as had Less Favoured Areas committee chairman Martin Kennedy, who farms in Highland Perthshire. As of this week,

NFUS’s Forth and Clyde regional chairman and South Lanarkshire farmer Tom French will be competing alongside them.

The election will take place at the union’s council meeting in Glasgow on Tuesday, February 7, 2017, following the AGM and annual dinner the day before. There is still time for others to come forward, and anyone wishing to stand as president or vice president should contact NFUS chief executive Scott Walker to obtain a proposal form, which must then be signed and returned to him by close of play on Monday, December 12, 2016.

Mr Walker said: “There has rarely been, in our 103-year history, a more challenging period for Scottish farming and crofting and that creates a fantastic opportunity for those who want to help forge our future.

“It is good that so many people want to run for these positions and it is a sign of a healthy union that once again we will have a contest for the position of President and the positions of Vice President. All those who are standing have already given up their time doing their existing roles to ensure that Scottish farming and crofting is well represented and is listened to in the political corridors and also where commercial decisions are being taken that will impact on our members.

“We continue to encourage any others who are keen to apply to get in touch ahead of the deadline of December 12," he added. "We will be holding a range 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."