THE Board of Scotland's Rural College (SRUC) has confirmed that it is to appoint Professor Wayne Powell as its new principal and chief executive, with effect from July 1st 2016.

Professor Powell will join SRUC from his current role as chief science officer at CGIAR Consortium, an international partnership organisation which focuses on agricultural research for development in areas such as cereals, agro-forestry, livestock and climate change. He previously spent six years as the director of the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS) at Aberystwyth University.

Professor Powell is a world leading plant scientist with a particular focus on genetics and plant breeding. Currently based at CGIAR's headquarters in Montpelier, France, he has extensive previous experience in the UK having been director of the National Institute of Agricultural Botany (NIAB) in Cambridge, as well as deputy director of the Scottish Crop Research Institute (now the James Hutton Institute).

Janet Swadling, who has been acting chief executive and principal since December 2013, will continue to lead SRUC until Professor Powell takes up his role, after which she will act as his deputy in the role of deputy principal and chief executive.

Market round-up

United Auctions sold 960 store heifers at Stirling on Wednesday to a top of 261.2p per kg and an average of 208.3p (-0.5p on the week), while 1397 store, beef-bred bullocks peaked at 273.6p and levelled at 217.7p (-1.3p). One-hundred-and-four store, B&W bullocks sold to 155.8p and averaged 138.9p (+5.6p), while 27 store bulls peaked at 210.9p and levelled at 171p.

In the rough ring 133 dairy cows averaged 118.3p and 15 dairy cows levelled at 97.1p.

C&D Auction Marts Ltd sold 11 prime heifers in Dumfries on Wednesday to a top of 211.5p and an average of 199p.

There were 45 OTM cattle presented in the rough ring when beef cows averaged 116.8p and dairy cows levelled at 86.2p.

The firm also sold 253 prime hoggs to a top of £80 per head and 177p per kg to average 152.8p (-11.4p).

The 122 cast sheep forward saw heavy ewes sell to £74 for Suffolks and average £53.44 (-£11.96), while light ewes peaked at £58 for Blackfaces and levelled at £49.15 (+56p).

Messrs Craig Wilson Ltd sold 425 prime hoggs in Newton Stewart on Wednesday to a top of £92 and 190.9p to average 166.2p (-3.8p), while 36 prime lambs peaked at £94 and 215p to level at 197.3p.

A small show of 85 cast sheep saw ewes sell to £116 for Suffolks and £64 for Blackfaces.