A WORCESTERSHIRE dairy farmer has been elected as the new chairman of the National Farmers' Union (NFU) regional advisory board.

Michael Oakes was elected at last month's board meeting and will serve in the post, which covers the whole of the West Midlands, for the next 12 months.

The 37-year-old has lived at Beacon Farm, off the Alvechurch Highway, near Bromsgrove, for 19 years. He was formerly chairman of the NFU Worcestershire branch, before Andrew Goodman took over that post earlier this month.

"I am very much looking forward to my year as chairman of the board and helping the NFU tackle the many challenges facing the agricultural industry," said Mr Oakes.

"With a new regional director in position and a new policy adviser covering some of the counties in the region, this is a fresh and positive time to be taking over the post.

"I am looking forward to helping the board further develop its strategy for agriculture during the coming year and implementing its key elements.

"We have also conducted a communications review which aims to combine examples of best practice from other NFU regions with further development of the things that we are doing well in the West Midlands.

"We will be reviewing the results of that at our next meeting and that will give us fresh impetus in the new year."

Mr Oakes has also pledged to help the board become more positive and direct in its leadership of the West Midlands region during the coming year.

"I want to continue the excellent work done under Elwyn Maddy's chairmanship in the past year, by helping the board to be more proactive in its leadership of the region," he added.