There has been a change of personnel in two of local agriculture’s key roles.

Sarah Comish, who has been Southern Show secretary since 2011, is taking over from Andy Cooper as Manx National Farmers’ Union secretary.

Andy is moving to the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture where he will take on the role of agriculture policy manager.

Sarah will still be organising this year’s show and will take up her new post in August. She is being replaced as Southern Show secretary by Zoe Hampton.

Sarah said of her time at the Southern Show: ’It’s an exciting and interesting job.

’It’s challenging at times but that’s what I’ve enjoyed about it and the committee are really good to work with.

’With [the show] moving location we’re quite busy this year. Obviously there’s quite a few things to have in place but that’s something I did discuss with the union as that’s something that I wanted to complete this year.

’They are obviously very much involved with the show anyway so they were happy to support that, which is great for me. I will make the transition full time to the union in August.’

Andy Cooper was appointed as secretary to the Manx NFU in November 2016. He said of his role: ’It’s very varied: the main focus is political lobbying, advising farmers and defending agriculture.’

He also paid tribute to NFU Mutual, with which the Union shares office space, saying: ’The Manx NFU couldn’t exist without the NFU Mutual and that partnership we have with them.’

In his new role, Andy has been given the chance to implement some of the things he has been lobbying DEFA for on behalf of local farmers.

He will be very much involved with the running of the new agri-environment farm payments scheme.

Sarah will be taking over Andy’s NFU contact number, 490327, while Andy’s new number at DEFA will be 314983 and he promises that, ’if I can’t answer, I will always get back to you’.