ARABLE, dairy and sheep farmer Edward Dennison is the new National Farmers' Union county chairman for North Riding and Durham, which includes North Yorkshire, northwards of Thirsk and Ripon.

Mr Dennison, who farms at Thornton-le-Beans, near Northallerton, takes over from cereal, beef and poultry farmer David Maughan, who farms at Morton Tinmouth, near Darlington.

Mr Dennison farms in partnership with his wife, Brenda, and sons Richard and Martin. Together, they have two farms, one at Thornton-le-Beans and another at Scruton, near Bedale.

The two farms total 600 acres, plus another 150 acres of summer grazing on neighbouring farms. From this, the family runs a 150-strong dairy herd and a flock of more than 250 sheep.

They also rear beef calves and grow a range of crops, including wheat, barley, oil seed rape and potatoes on 450 acres of arable land.

Mr Dennison said he was looking forward to his two-year term as county chairman. "I have been elected at a time of real change in the industry with the recent announcement on the introduction of the Single Farm Payment.

"At first glance it appears the change will mean real reductions in the level of support for some dairy and beef farmers.

"The NFU has a vital role to play in clarifying how the change will affect individual farmers as well as in lobbying the Government for measures to help mitigate the worst effects. As the new county chairman, I aim to be at the heart of this work."

Updated: 10:01 Wednesday, February 25, 2004