David is NFU South regional board chair

14 April 2026

A man standing in front of a tractor

David Chugg

Congratulations to Devon county chair David Chugg, who has been elected as the chair of the NFU South regional board.

Gloucestershire council delegate Allison Ractliffe was elected as deputy chair and Cornwall council delegate Bridget Whell becomes environment rep.

The elections were held after the previous regional board chair, Isle of White county chair Robyn Munt, became NFU Vice-president.

Commodity board chairs

Chairs have been confirmed for the regional commodity boards as follows:

Dairy
Chair: Stephen Dark (Ian Harvey is chair of the national dairy board) 
Vice Chair: Max Sealy

Crops 
Chair: Mat Culley
Vice Chair: Peter Venn

Poultry
Chair: Patrick Hook
Vice Chair: James Smaldon

Livestock
Chair: Mark Weekes (David Barton is chair of the national livestock board)
Vice Chair: Bill Perry

Horticulture
Chair: Andrew Richards 
Vice Chair: Cathy Case

Mat Cole will continue as chair of the South Uplands group.

Our thanks to all new and returning chairs for all the work that they do on behalf of members. 

All members are welcome to attend commodity board meetings. If you would like to attend, or to find out more about the work of the boards, get in touch with the regional office on 02476 939404 or [email protected].

To speak to your local board rep, contact the regional office and we’ll put you in touch.


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