Meanwhile the Red Tractor AHDB circus continues unabated

[nelly55]

He wants to get his act together and sort our markets out,we pay to join but get no bonus for been accredited.Pay for vet health plan ,sprayer test, nsro points and membership,medicine certificate,all this on top of their fees.

 

[Grass And Grain]

AHDB comparison of assurance standards for Red Tractor, New Zealand and Australia.

RT scored the highest weighted % score, at 74%.

I was quite surprised at this, as the scheme only guarantees to cover the last 12% of the life of a 24mth old bullock, so I'd only give it a score 12% of 74 = 9%. Can of worms.

Total/final scores...

RT 74%
N Zealand 50%
Australia 32%

Does this mean we're happy to be leading the way, it gives us bigger market share and more money?

Or does it mean we've got higher compliance costs to be sharing the exact same supermarket shelf with NZ lamb?

 

[Grass And Grain]

Well, as far as the Graham Wilkinson trip goes, USA are seemingly second largest beef exporting country, but also second largest importing country. Don't know why this is? Carcase components?

Edit. Presumably AHDB expect or wish to get (more) product into USA. Beyond my knowledge to know if it's feasible.

I can see sense in the concept of increasing exports. If we only target our joke market, then retailers have it all their own way. Exports means Tesco have to be competitive with their price offering.

 

[slackjawedyokel]

I can’t say I’ve read and fully digested the report but… if RT is so far ahead of the schemes available in competitor countries, isn’t that a really good argument for a back to basics approach; taking the rule book back 15 years, maybe less frequent inspections etc?
As levy-payers, should we be pressuring AHDB for that?

 

[Birdlipper]

Well, as far as the Graham Wilkinson trip goes, USA are seemingly second largest beef exporting country, but also second largest importing country. Don't know why this is? Carcase components?

Edit. Presumably AHDB expect or wish to get (more) product into USA. Beyond my knowledge to know if it's feasible.

I can see sense in the concept of increasing exports. If we only target our joke market, then retailers have it all their own way. Exports means Tesco have to be competitive with their price offering.

Think the USA has a large requirement for ground beef (burgers y’all) which is met with imports

 

[Grass And Grain]

I can’t say I’ve read and fully digested the report but… if RT is so far ahead of the schemes available in competitor countries, isn’t that a really good argument for a back to basics approach; taking the rule book back 15 years, maybe less frequent inspections etc?
As levy-payers, should we be pressuring AHDB for that?

That's my immediate thoughts as well.

 

[yellowbelly]

I can’t say I’ve read and fully digested the report but… if RT is so far ahead of the schemes available in competitor countries, isn’t that a really good argument for a back to basics approach; taking the rule book back 15 years, maybe less frequent inspections etc?
As levy-payers, should we be pressuring AHDB for that?

That's my immediate thoughts as well.

It's either that or all imports have to raise their standards to meet current RT 'overkill', to give home producers that ever elusive 'level playing field'.

As the latter will never happen, then RT should be 'dialed back' accordingly, as you both suggest.

 

[graham mc]

were hoping he goes there to see what there lower standards are that work for them, what happens is he comes back and says if we have improved standards we will sell more forgetting that that puts up costs for no extra financial gain

 

[Grass And Grain]

were hoping he goes there to see what there lower standards are that work for them, what happens is he comes back and says if we have improved standards we will sell more forgetting that that puts up costs for no extra financial gain

Looks like RT doesn't exist for the farmers' benefit.

 

[Tarw Coch]

Looks like RT doesn't exist for the farmers' benefit.

No sh1t Sherlock

 

[matthew]

New recommendation from FA /RT: that the vet’s antibiotic use sheet is uploaded to AHDB.

 

[Grass And Grain]

Just been chatting to AHDB, apparently Graham Wilkinson didn't go to USA. He met them in London whilst they were over here.

 

[yellowbelly]

Just been chatting to AHDB, apparently Graham Wilkinson didn't go to USA. He met them in London whilst they were over here.

So this pic in post #2...

...is totally fictitious/photo shopped/irrelevant to the story

 

[Grass And Grain]

So this pic in post #2...
View attachment 1178247
...is totally fictitious/photo shopped/irrelevant to the story

Must be photoshopped then?

Maybe they use same marketing agency as Kate Middleton.

 

[gone up the hill]

New recommendation from FA /RT: that the vet’s antibiotic use sheet is uploaded to AHDB.

That was part of the idea of the new LIS scheme that farmers upload the details/ animal number for each and every animal they treat in real time.

Ie go and worm hundred ewes this morning you would have to read every single tag number and upload it and batch numbers/ how much etc each animal has had onto the LIS database being run by the AHDB/ NFU.

The idea is that supermarkets etc can then access this data.

Of course as expected LIS has turned into a complete shambles and is currently unworkable but they are still pushing ahead with it and making all cattle have EID tags within the next 12 months!

 

[gone up the hill]

Just been chatting to AHDB, apparently Graham Wilkinson didn't go to USA. He met them in London whilst they were over here.

Did you ask the AHDB person if they agreed with what an AHDB employee was spouting on national media etc yesterday that it does not matter that UK arable/ livestock farms will produce a lot less grain/ meat this year due to the terrible weather the last few months as thankfully ( in his words ) we can import as much as we need to make up the shortfall @Grass And Grain ?

HFD cattle is the chap to ask if you want to know more.

 

[gone up the hill]

So this pic in post #2...
View attachment 1178247
...is totally fictitious/photo shopped/irrelevant to the story

Trouble is now these quangos do not care less about lying to their levy payers etc as the Gov do the same on an almost daily basis and get away with it.

 

[yellowbelly]

Thanks to @holwellcourtfarm for flagging this up elsewhere..

Red Tractor sector board requests confidence vote in leadership - Farmers Weekly

A meeting of Red Tractor’s Beef & Lamb sector board was cut short early following a request for a vote of no confidence in the executive, including

www.fwi.co.uk

Well done NSA.
I see the AHDB abstained - I hope they're going to consult their employers (us) as to which way they should vote.

 

[MrNoo]

I see the Tennant Farmer Association is having a Webinar this evening titled "What benefit is Red Tractor to British Farmers and Growers" and guest speaker is Mr Brown Shoes Jim Mosley himself. That should be an enthralling evening, I believe you can register by ringing the Tennants Farmers Assoc

 

[JP1]

Just been chatting to AHDB, apparently Graham Wilkinson didn't go to USA. He met them in London whilst they were over here.

His Linkedin post was pretty ambiguous then

Does he not trust his export team? He's got FAR bigger issues to get on with 6 weeks in to post than that