NFU Scotland has received three nominations for election to the two posts of Vice President. The nominations are from Combinable Crops Committee Chairman David Houghton, current Vice President Bob Howat and Milk Committee Vice Chairman Jim McLaren.

The details of the candidates are as follows:

David Houghton: Aged 54 and married with a son and daughter, David farms 750 acres near Invergordon in Ross-shire. The main crop is spring malting barley for the distilling industry, which is marketed through Highland Grain Ltd. of which he is a former Chairman. Other crops include wheat (again for distilling), oilseed rape and turnips which are fed to wintering sheep. He served two terms as President of the old Easter Ross Area of NFUS. He has been a member of several committees, most recently the Combinable Crops Committee and he is now coming to the end of a five-year period as its chairman.

Tel: 01862 842247 Mobile: 07831 789534 Email: houghton.meddat@farmline.com

Bob Howat: Aged 46 and married with four daughters, Bob Howat owns a farm in the Borders and runs a tenanted unit in Fife in partnership with his wife. The hill farm in the Borders and the mixed unit in Fife have a total of 1400 breeding ewes and 50 suckler cows, with all progeny finished on farm. A former Chairman of NFU Scotland's Selkirk Branch and a member of the Borders Area Committee, Bob was also Chairman of the Less Favoured Areas Committee. Bob is currently NFUS Vice President, a position he has held since February 2003.

Tel: 01334 653306 Mobile: 07802 592383 Email: bob.howat@nfus.org.uk

Jim McLaren: Age 38 and married with two sons, two daughters and two step daughters, 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 potatoes, extends to 1000 acres over four units in Perthshire. The business is a mix of full tenancy, limited partnership, owner occupier and contract farming. His potato enterprise is ending this year, but the land will be let out to keep potatoes in his crop rotation and to utilise the cold storage capacity on the farms. Jim has served on the Milk Committee since 1999, holding the position of chairman in 2003. He was also chairman of Crieff Branch and is currently vice chairman of the Milk Committee.

Tel: 01764 652564 Mobile: 07768 632 634 E-mail: jimdargill@aol.com

In order for all NFUS members to have the chance to hear from the candidates for election, NFUS will be hosting a series of hustings meetings around Scotland. The details are as follows:

NFUS election hustings

16 January  Lothian & Borders The Lodge, Carfraemill, Lauder 7.30pm
18 January  Dumfries & Galloway Douglas Arms Hotel, Castle Douglas 7.30pm
20 January  Argyll & the Islands Tarbert Hotel, Tarbert 2.00pm
23 January   East Central Dewars Centre Perth 7.30pm
24 January  Highland Golf View Hotel, Nairn 7.30pm
25 January  Ayrshire Western House Hotel, Ayr 7.30pm
26 January  North East Thainstone Agric Centre, Inverurie 7.30pm
7 February   Forth & Clyde Garfield House Hotel, Stepps 7.30pm
8 February   Orkney & Shetland Shetland Hotel, Lerwick 7.30pm
9 February  Orkney & Shetland Linnfield Hotel, Kirkwall 7.30pm

The elections to the two posts of Vice President, which carry a one-year term of office, will take place at the St Andrews Bay Hotel on Friday 3 March 2006 at the meeting of the NFUS Council. The elections will follow the NFUS AGM and Annual Dinner, held on the previous day.

NFUS President John Kinnaird is currently serving his second and final two-year term. The position will be subject to election in 2007.

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