NFU Scotland’s North East region chairman Charlie Adam has stepped down after serving three years.
At the regional AGM in Lochter on Tuesday night, farmer Roddy Catto of Hillhead of Muirton Farm, Aberdeen took over the post of chairman for the region.
The new vice-chairmen for the region are Douglas Barr from Banffshire and Neil McCrae from Mains of Dudwick Farm, Ellon.
Speaking after his appointment, Mr Catto said: “I have a brilliant team behind me and we will be working together to try to help our members as much as possible and try to sort out as many problems as we can.
“We have to keep the pressure on to get the best deal possible through the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) to see if we can get a fair deal for everybody. I will be working with our secretaries to see what they want us to do, and will be meeting with them in due course.
“I think our Chief Executive Scott Walker has been quite ambitious in the recruitment of 1,000 members over the next two years. We will certainly be trying to recruit new members, but also we feel retention of current members is crucial and will also be working on this.
“We also want to look at the wider food chain. Members are already worried about it throughput at abattoirs and what will happen to livestock numbers when the new CAP comes into play.”
Commenting after stepping down as chairman Charlie Adam said:
“I have enjoyed my spell as chairman and meeting and working with various people throughout my time. One of the highlights for me has been the opportunity to meet a whole range of people I wouldn’t normally have had the opportunity to meet.
“Being the chairman of the North East during the centenary year has also been a major highlight and the fact that our region contributed to the celebrations and memories many now have as well as generating support for the Royal Northern Countryside Initiative as part of that centenary year.
“I would like to thank all members who helped me during my time, as well as all my past vice chairmen, including Bob Hay, Roddy Catto, Douglas Barr and Neil McCrae. Also to Regional Manager Lorna Paterson who has been extremely supportive and President Nigel Miller who has gone out of his way to help me and visit the North East region.”
