Orkney & Shetland

As a farmer myself I believe I bring a lifetime of experience of the challenges and opportunities that face farmers on a day-to-day basis. This background gives me many of the qualities required to support members within the region. I hope I can understand the problems experienced throughout the industry, as well as appreciating the good points of living and working in the countryside and the general camaraderie that farmers share.

 I currently farm along with my wife Angela and son Paul and keep 170 suckler cows, 500 ewes and 30 acres barley. We try to breed top quality commercial calves sold store as yearlings. We are quite involved in the summer shows locally and really enjoy showing our stock - win or lose - with the top end sold on for further exhibition. The herd has also been BVD accredited for ten years through the Hi-Health scheme. The move to eradicate this disease from Scotland can only be seen as a good opportunity and should be grabbed with both hands. It won’t be easy, but I believe the rewards in animal health and productivity will be worth the pain.  This is a road that Shetland is already at the end of and Orkney is well down - we can only hope all other regions see the benefits and grab the opportunity.   
 
As Orkney and Shetland Regional Manager I believe that a challenging year lies ahead for all of us, particularly as the full details of the upcoming changes to the Single Farm Payment scheme become clearer. There will be real difficulties in getting a scheme that reflects the diversity within the region and fairly rewards the endeavours of all who farm within it.

The Regional Board, under the Chairmanship of Kevan Harvey, is looking to move forward through a busy year. The first QMS monitor farm for the region is coming to Mainland Orkney to Steven Sandison’s farm, bringing with it a good opportunity to get more of the younger generation of farmers involved in NFUS activities. After all, this generation is the future of the industry.

Throughout the year I hope to get out and about across the region visiting as many of the branches involved as possible and visiting the Isles branches I have not previously been to.

Hopefully over the coming year members will make use of myself, along with their local Group Secretaries as the first points of contact within the Union for help or advice on any relevant issue.

Finally I would like to thank the members and staff in the region who continually contribute to the number of successful events and meetings. Your dedication is hugely valued.

Contact Ian Wilson at ian.wilson@nfus.org.uk