Four nominations have been received for the national presidency of Federated Farmers - the most seeking the office in the organisation's history.
Southland farmer Don Nicolson will retire at the organisation's annual meeting in Rotorua on July 1, after a three-year tenure at the top.
Nominations have been received from three national board members - vice-president Donald Aubrey, from Ben McLeod Station in Canterbury, dairy spokesman Lachlan McKenzie, from Rotorua, meat and fibre spokesman Bruce Wills, from Napier - and former national vice-president Frank Brenmuhl, from Christchurch.
It would be the first contested election for the position since the early 1990s, Federated Farmers chief executive and returning officer Conor English said.
Nominations for the position of vice-president closed on Friday.