West Coast dairy farmer Katie Milne is the first woman to become national president of Federated Farmers.

The farming co-oerateive announced Milne's appointment to the role this week.

Katie Milne succeeds William Rolleston who steps aside after his three-­year term.

She's the first female national president in the federation’s 118-year history.

A previous federation board member and West Coast provincial president, Ms Milne was Dairy Woman of the Year and a Rural Woman of Influence in 2015.