IAN Buchanan has been elected as the new chairman of the British Wool Marketing Board, with Kent-based Trevor Richards elected vice-chairman.

Mr Buchanan, who farms at Dungiven, Co Londonderry, runs 850 ewes on the family farm, and also has a dairy farm close by.

A past president of the Young Farmers' Clubs of Ulster, Mr Buchanan has served as the inaugural chairman of the Agri-Search sheep committee for ten years and has held a number of positions within the Ulster Farmers’ Union, including as the current hill farming chairman.

Mr Buchanan says his focus under his chairmanship is to lead a Board where communication from producers through to customers is open and transparent.

He said: "We must be mindful of the need to keep overhead costs at a minimum while maximising the value of farmers’ wool.

"I am confident that BWMB, which in essence is a farmers cooperative, will continue to earn the respect and appreciation of most sheep farmers as it has proven time and again the financial advantages of producers standing together."

Mr Buchanan is looking forward to meeting many wool producers over the coming months and helping them understand how BWMB works.

He said: "Many farmers don’t fully understand how BWMB operates and what happens to their wool once it has left the farm. Hopefully, by helping farmers better understand the Board and the wool supply chain everyone can benefit."

Meanwhile, Trevor Richards runs 400 ewes alongside an arable enterprise which includes wheat, beans and oilseed rape.

He is the current chairman of Ashford Cattle Market Company Ltd and fully supports BWMB’s use of auctions as the best way to maximise the clip value.

He said: "It does not matter whether you are a large or small producer or farm in northern Scotland or the far south west of England, BWMB is there to collect, grade and get the best price possible for your wool. That is truly unique in modern farming."