DAVID Barnes, who is currently the Scottish Government's deputy ­director of agriculture and rural development, has been appointed to the post of chief agricultural officer for Scotland.

He will take up the role from January 19.

The appointment follows on from the decision by Drew Sloan to leave the ­Scottish Government to become the chief executive of the Glasgow-based wireless animal collar provider Silent Herdsman.

After graduating from Keble College, Oxford, with a BA (Hons) in agriculture and forest sciences, Mr Barnes began his agricultural career as a regional specialist agricultural consultant with the government-funded agency ADAS.

He joined the Civil Service in 1990 and served as the UK's representative on the World Trade Organisation and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) ­agriculture committee before being appointed ­Agriculture Attache (First Secretary) to the British Embassy in Paris.

Mr Barnes then spent five years as Counsellor and Head of the Agriculture Section of the UK permanent Representation to the European Union (UKRep) in Brussels before taking up the post of Scottish Government deputy director of agriculture and rural development in 2008.

Since then he has been instrumental in negotiating and developing the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for Scotland.

Yesterday Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead said: "I am delighted to confirm David Barnes will be Scotland's new chief agricultural officer. I have worked with David for many years.

"I am continually impressed by the depth and breadth of his agricultural knowledge.

"I am confident his ­considerable experience and professionalism will stand us in good stead for the complexities ahead as we implement the new Common Agricultural Policy throughout Scotland."

Market round-up

The Cumberland and Dumfriesshire Farmers Mart had a "monster" show of 7,077 prime lambs forward at their weekly sale in Longtown on Thursday.

Top prices on the day were £170 per head and 327 pence per kilogramme, with the final average levelling at 178p (+1p on the week).

There were also 4,922 cast sheep forward when the heavy ewes sold to £132 for Texels and averaged £77.19 (-£8.12).

Meanwhile the light ewes peaked at £76 for Blackfaces and then levelled at £49.65 (-50p).

Rams sold to £130 for a Texel and averaged £83.34 (+£7.22).

The firm went on to sell 838 store lambs in Dumfries yesterday.

Top prices and averages for selected breeds: Suffolks to £69 and averaged £61.43; Texels £64 and £63.24; Lleyn £63 and £54.29; Mules £60 and £54.69; Cheviots £59.50 and £51.17; Blackfaces £57.50 and £39.42.