North of Scotland

Alistair Swanson - Chairman of the North of Scotland Regional Advisors

Alistair has been a farmer all his life and took over the management of the family farm in 1973. He is the current chairman of the Halkirk Highland Games Committee, a member of Caithness Leader and Highland Area Leader Group, a director of Caithness Partnership and a member of Caithness NFUS Branch, SRPBA and the Highland Regional Committee. Alistair is also a member of North Area SEPA River Basin Group, Chairman of proposed Rumster Outdoor Centre Management Group and is Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Caithness. Email Alistair Swanson

Archie McArthur

Archie is the General Manager for Ormsary Farmers at Ormsary Estate, Lochgilphead, Argyll. The estate farms 200 suckler cows, including homebred shorthorn and Simmental cross cows and a highland herd. Ormsary also runs 1400 ewes, (100 hill and 400 in bye) which are mostly blackface.  The Ormsary Estate farms together with Drums Estate in Renfrewshire, where store and breeding cattle are retained. Archie is the Past president of Highland Cattle Society. Email Archie McArthur

Ian Gill

Ian qualified as a vet in 1979 from The Royal (Dick) Vet School in Edinburgh. Since graduation he has worked at Thrums Vet Group, a mixed practice in Kirriemuir, Angus. Ian’s main interest is in sheep health and he obtained the Certificate in Sheep Health and Production in 1987. Ian is a past president of the Sheep Veterinary Society and has been involved in local sheep scab and tick control programmes as well as helping to develop sheep health planning nationally. Email Ian Gill

John Scott

John farms in partnership at Fearn farm, Tain. Fearn is a mixed lowland farm currently carrying 800 ewes and 110 cows alongside spring barley, wheat and peas.  John qualified with a HND in Agriculture from Edinburgh University and in 2005 received a Nuffield scholarship to study health planning and disease prevention in beef cattle and sheep. John is currently vice chairman of NFUS Livestock Committee and is also a local NFUS branch chairman. He is also a director of HI-Health, chairman of the local community council, vice-chair of the local school PTA and head coach of Ross-Sutherland RFC. Email John Scott

Ian Duncan Millar (Co-opted member)

Ian is a farmer from Aberfeldy with arable, beef, hill and lowground sheep. He is Chairman of Highland Glen lamb marketing Cooperative, a Director of the National Fallen Stock Company and a past chair of Scottish Association for Sheep Health. Ian is a Chartered Surveyor and Agricultural Arbitrator, and is a past president of the Scottish Agricultural Arbiters and Valuers Association. Ian was awarded an MBE in the 2010 Queen’s New Years Honours List for his services to agriculture. Email Ian Duncan Millar