The Pembroke County branch of the National Farmers Union has elected Mr. Alan Prichard, of Esgalwen Farm, Letterston, Haverfordwest, as chairman for the next two years. He succeeds Mr. Steve Alderman, of Court Farm, Castlemartin, Pembroke.
The new county vice-chairman is Mr. Stephen James, of Gelli-olau, Gelly, Clynderwen.
At the county annual meeting, the retiring chairman remarked that his term in office had been a privilege and an honour, enjoyable and rewarding and had passed very quickly.
As many issues had come to the fore it had been something of an 'eye opener', not least the continuing saga in relation to late-payments of grant aid from the Welsh Assembly Government, the mid-term review of the EU's common agricultural policy and radical changes in the fabric of the NFU to provide a leaner, fitter structure as a whole.
He had, himself, led a fact finding tour to southern Ireland to find out - at first hand - how the Irish farming industry were dealing with the problem of TB in their herds and it was very encouraging that the WAG Rural Affairs Minister, Carwyn Jones, had recently announced that he was going to do the same.
On taking the chair, Mr. Prichard paid high respect to Mr. Alderman whom, he said, had led from the front.
The new chairman remarked that he had always been greatly inspired by his late father, Mr. Arthur Prichard, who had held the office of county branch chairman in 1957.
The coming months and years would see "the vision for change" - a new NFU structure emerging, he continued. As a business association, the union works to achieve profitability through excellence, best practice and partnerships for the countryside's professional farmers and growers.
"Our aim is, and always has been, to enable our members to distinguish themselves in the eyes of consumers by providing high quality, safe, varied food and other products in a diverse and spectacular countryside, while remaining at the heart of a thriving rural economy," stated Mr. Prichard.
Elected to head the commodity sectors within the county were John Phillips - milk, John Bevan - livestock, Brian Barney - hill farming, Andrew Davies - arable and Geoff Evans - rural affairs.
Taking forward commodity issues at Wales level would by Manel Raymond - milk, Julian George - livestock, Geoff Evans - rural affairs, Denzil Jenkins - less favoured areas, Meurig Raymond - combinable crops and Russell Evans - education and training.
To serve as advisors on consultative groups were Russell Evans - education, Margot Bateman - food and marketing, Sue Jones - organic produce and Steve Alderman - public affairs.