After three years in the role Baroness Hazel Byford has been succeeded by West Country cheese maker John Alvis.
Mr Alvis manages a 1000 cow herd in north Somerset and produces 3500t of cheese a year. He is also director of Cogent Breeding and Grosvenor Farms and a non executive direction of the Royal Bath and West Agricultural Society.
He is also a founder of FarmLink Education, an initiative aimed to bring school children on to farms.
Mr Alvis said he was delighted at being elected RABDF president and said with his awareness of all sides of the food chain, he would like to introduce a better understanding of cooperation between each sector.
RABDF chief executive Nick Everington added: "His comprehensive first hand knowledge and experience in the dairy sector will help drive forward the organisation strategically and benefit all farming businesses."
Farmers can meeting Mr Alvis at next week's Dairy Event and Livestock Show at the NEC, Birmingham on 7 and 8 September.