A TEESDALE farmer has been nominated for the post of national NFU vice-president.

Richard Betton, who farms more than 700 acres in upper Teesdale, was put forward at the annual meeting of the North Riding and Durham NFU at Croft on Thursday of last week.

The NFU Council in London will vote on all nominations for national posts on February 18.

Mr Betton, who runs a flock of 300 pedigree Swaledale sheep and 30 Aberdeen Angus cattle, was county chairman in 1999 and has represented the branch on the NFU council for the last two years.

He and dairy and arable farmer Edward Dennison will be the two local representatives on the council next year. Mr Dennison will take over as North Riding and Durham County chairman next year.

Also confirmed at the meeting was the appointment of livestock farmer David Hugill as county vice-chairman and arable farmer John Littlefair as county treasurer.

Mr. Betton said: "I am delighted to have been elected to serve on the NFU council again, especially at such a time of change in the industry. I am also very pleased to have been nominated for national office. I feel I can bring a new perspective to the job and would relish the opportunity to represent fellow North-East farmers at national level."

Members at the annual meeting thanked John Seymour, retiring NFU council delegate, for all his work over the years.

The meeting ended with a presentation from Dr Jonathan Birnie. Previously a policy adviser with the NFU in the region, he is now partnership in livestock manager for Sainsbury's, with specific responsibility for the beef, pork and lamb sectors.

He emphasised the need for the farming industry to become much more market focused, and said Sainsbury's customer showed not only that the average British shopper valued taste and quality above everything else but would also pay a premium for British produce.