THE circumstances of the electoral process that propelled Dumfriesshire farmer Andrew McCornick into the presidency of NFU Scotland were such that his winning vote has precipitated a whole new top team.

Sitting president Allan Bowie, of course, had no choice but to concede the position that, had the vote gone differently, he would have held through the next two crucial years of Brexit negotiation.

Mr McCornick's fellow vice president Rob Livesey had held that post since 2013, and his bid for the presidency was always going to be a make-or-break move. In defeat, he too must take his quiet but well-considered style to the sidelines.

So it is all-change, and making up the Mr McCornick leadership ticket are Perthshire hill farmer Martin Kennedy and Wigtownshire dairy producer Gary Mitchell as the union’s new vice presidents, both well-known in their specialities, but as yet unproven in national leadership.

The presidential position is held for two years and a president can serve a maximum of two consecutive two-year terms. Anyone elected to the position of vice president for the first time will initially serve for two years before the post reverts to an annual election – all of which means that this new top team should remain unchanged until at least spring 2019.

Alongside this small revolution, there have been a significant number of other changes to the union's regional and committee roles, giving the NFUS board a whole new look.

Recently elected new regional chairmen include Rupert Shaw in Dumfries and Galloway; Willie Harper in Forth and Clyde; Martin Birse in the Highlands; Kelvin Pate in Lothian and Borders; David Winton in the North East; and Jim Nicolson in Orkney and Shetland.

The new chairman of the milk committee is Cumbernauld producer James Rankin, of Badenheath, who replaces Graeme Kilpatrick.