Minette Batters NFU president

[milkloss]

If that is the case they will introduce GFC,

Matters not if farmers grow some and kick RT into touch.

I've done my bit, I quite NFU and RT years ago..... about time others thought seriously about actually doing the same rather than all this squealing and rattle tattle.

 

[Spencer]

If that is the case they will introduce GFC,

Mark your words.. Does anyone think any different unless the train can be derailed

 

[B'o'B]

Remember all this was 20 years ago, things will probably be different now. One thing won't have changed however, the NFU Council is the boss what it says goes. However the fundamentals don't change, effective democratic change in the NFU is totally dependent on getting the channels of communication open to all, knowledge is power. Only when that happens can the wider membership make proper judgements which can then lead to broader base for decision making.

But to change anything you have to persuade Council: I copy here part of an MME minute of December 2001.

"Council had deferred consideration of the recommendations on two occasions during the year and the tenor of the comments from Council members and the regions was dismissive. The Group was resolved not to re-present its recommendations in the existing form and face further humiliation in Council."

Ben Gill told us not to stop and in fact widened our remit and sat in on our last meeting. Unfortunately it all in the end fell apart. Our recommendations did not even get to Council, they blocked progress. Today it has been the Council who have not used their power to hold Minette to account.

From what you are telling me I can only conclude that the NFU machinary will slowly grind down any attempt of serious reform, time and again, until it actually faces an existential threat.
If that is the case then the only way the NFU will face an existential threat is from members leaving.
Persuading people to help “change from within” actually reduces the chances that any meaningful change will happen.

 

[Drillman]

Mark your words.. Does anyone think any different unless the train can be derailed

Trouble is whoever derails the train will be responsible for the massive clean up operation of all the spilt gravy!

 

[MrNoo]

Matters not if farmers grow some and kick RT into touch.

I've done my bit, I quite NFU and RT years ago..... about time others thought seriously about actually doing the same rather than all this squealing and rattle tattle.

Snap

 

[Jackov Altraids]

From what you are telling me I can only conclude that the NFU machinary will slowly grind down any attempt of serious reform, time and again, until it actually faces an existential threat.
If that is the case then the only way the NFU will face an existential threat is from members leaving.
Persuading people to help “change from within” actually reduces the chances that any meaningful change will happen.

Sadly it doesn't work like that.
It becomes self-selecting such that those don't leave only become more convinced they are right.
At the same time, the organisation becomes increasingly financially reliant on non farming income.

If it doesn't reform now with the obvious weight of opposition from farmers, it will merrily run on until it implodes from no longer being of any use to anyone.

 

[DeeGee]

Sadly it doesn't work like that.
It becomes self-selecting such that those don't leave only become more convinced they are right.
At the same time, the organisation becomes increasingly financially reliant on non farming income.

If it doesn't reform now with the obvious weight of opposition from farmers, it will merrily run on until it implodes from no longer being of any use to anyone.

Their demise can’t come a day too soon.
They have conned us for years and deserve to be consigned to the dustbin of history.

The only way our industry will ever be valued is when we are maybe needed again, as we were in the war years. Until then, and in the years after then, we will always be viewed with little more than contempt.

Face facts. Politically we are just insignificant.
The NFU may as well not exist for all the influence they don’t have.

 

[Barleymow]

Matters not if farmers grow some and kick RT into touch.

I've done my bit, I quite NFU and RT years ago..... about time others thought seriously about actually doing the same rather than all this squealing and rattle tattle.

All everyone has to do is leave its not hard to do

 

[Barleymow]

Trouble is whoever derails the train will be responsible for the massive clean up operation of all the spilt gravy!

At least gravy can just be washed away

 

[ajd132]

From what you are telling me I can only conclude that the NFU machinary will slowly grind down any attempt of serious reform, time and again, until it actually faces an existential threat.
If that is the case then the only way the NFU will face an existential threat is from members leaving.
Persuading people to help “change from within” actually reduces the chances that any meaningful change will happen.

If the NFU carry on as they are, they are going to destroy an industry that is already suffering.
The Hubris many involved with the nfu are showing shootings of is absolutely staggering.

the GFC and red tractor stuff is just one symptom of everything that is going wrong, if it goes through and nothing changes then it’s just the thin end of the wedge, I would seriously have to think about finding another career.

 

[Hammer]

If the NFU carry on as they are, they are going to destroy an industry that is already suffering.
The Hubris many involved with the nfu are suffering is absolutely staggering.

the GFC and red tractor stuff is just one symptom of everything that is going wrong, if it goes through and nothing changes then it’s just the thin end of the wedge, I would seriously have to think about finding another career.

I’m feeling the same way sadly.

 

[ajd132]

I’m feeling the same way sadly.

Unfortunately, there have also been some extremely underhanded attempts at silencing people who have spoken out recently.
I know of quite a few, me included.

 

[B'o'B]

Sadly it doesn't work like that.
It becomes self-selecting such that those don't leave only become more convinced they are right.
At the same time, the organisation becomes increasingly financially reliant on non farming income.

If it doesn't reform now with the obvious weight of opposition from farmers, it will merrily run on until it implodes from no longer being of any use to anyone.

Damned if you do, and damned if you don’t.

 

[Barleymow]

Unfortunately, there have also been some extremely underhanded attempts at silencing people who have spoken out recently.
I know of quite a few, me included.

Are these something that can be given the public exposure they deserve?

 

[Old apprentice]

Unfortunately, there have also been some extremely underhanded attempts at silencing people who have spoken out recently.
I know of quite a few, me included.

What have they said to you if you want to put it of the public forum.

 

[gone up the hill]

If that is the case they will introduce GFC,

The RT review is only about process. ( basically to make it look like the NFU are doing something to their members )

The NFU in the form of Tom Bradshaw and Minnie Batters have already stated they support the GFC and want it introduced asap.

 

[MrNoo]

The RT review is only about process. ( basically to make it look like the NFU are doing something to their members )

The NFU in the form of Tom Bradshaw and Minnie Batters have already stated they support the GFC and want it introduced asap.

My thoughts exactly, “seen to be doing something” the same line as used by ADHB in their email scam.

 

[Henarar]

The RT review is only about process. ( basically to make it look like the NFU are doing something to their members )

The NFU in the form of Tom Bradshaw and Minnie Batters have already stated they support the GFC and want it introduced asap.

The NFU seem keen on the RT review at least Minette "seemed" keen the other day so as they like reviews perhaps they could have a NFU review, after all the NFU represent all farmers in this great nation [Neil said so] so they need a review every so often.

 

[slackjawedyokel]

The NFU seem keen on the RT review at least Minette "seemed" keen the other day so as they like reviews perhaps they could have a NFU review, after all the NFU represent all farmers in this great nation [Neil said so] so they need a review every so often.

But what exactly would be the point of that?

There would be no point in having a review unless they already knew what the findings would be. There is already ample opportunity for the NFU hierarchy to open its lugs and listen to what its grass-roots members are telling them. They can’t/won’t so a review will either:

Not Happen because they wouldn’t want to hear the results of a properly independent review.

Or​

Be non-independent and find that everything is tickety boo.

I’ve said it before- I would love the NFU to speak for farmers like me. Currently it’s often working against me. I’d love to be able to re-join.

 

[Henarar]

But what exactly would be the point of that?

There would be no point in having a review unless they already knew what the findings would be. There is already ample opportunity for the NFU hierarchy to open its lugs and listen to what its grass-roots members are telling them. They can’t/won’t so a review will either:

Not Happen because they wouldn’t want to hear the results of a properly independent review.

Or​

Be non-independent and find that everything is tickety boo.

I’ve said it before- I would love the NFU to speak for farmers like me. Currently it’s often working against me. I’d love to be able to re-join.

Yep