NFU national reserve ?

[Clive]

Does such a thing really exist ? I was told years ago it did but it wasn't dipped into during the foot and mouth outbreak ?

Anyone know the facts on this ? Is it a myth or a real emergency fund ? I can't believe it's not been used if real over the last decade ! Or are they waiting for inter planetary Armageddon ??????

If they do have funds they really should be helping people like the farming couple on the news last night moving all stock off their farm that looked absolutely broken by this flooding

@Guy Smith maybe you know ?

Even if there isn't a fund what are the NFU doing to help ? Can you set up emergency loans maybe to help those effected ? To steep in where the bank won't take the risk on.

I can't imagine a single NFU member would object to whatever funds are possible being thrown at this

 

[exmoor dave]

if it wasn't used during F&M 200-2001 then its hard to imagine it exists?

 

[Clive]

if it wasn't used during F&M 200-2001 then its hard to imagine it exists?

I agree - would be nice to either prove or bust this myth once and for all

 

[Against_the_grain]

How toothless are the NFU compared to foreign counterparts. Maybe its just that we as a group of farmers cant get together and tell the government what we want, we are all too self interested. Imagine if this was France...

 

[Clive]

How toothless are the NFU compared to foreign counterparts. Maybe its just that we as a group of farmers cant get together and tell the government what we want, we are all too self interested. Imagine if this was France...

Not wanting to question their effectiveness in this thread , that's well debated elsewhere

Just want to know

1). Does this national reserve emergency fund exist
2). How much is in this fund
3). Was any spent on f&m 2000-2001
4). Will it be used to help flooded farmers facing ruin now

5). If the answers to 1) is yes and 3) 4) is no - JUST WHAT KIND OF EMERGENCY ARE YOU WAITING FOR !

 

[noflippinguse]

Didn't someone say that even if the NFU stopped collecting subs today, they would be able to continue to run in the same way as they currently do due to the considerable cash reserves they have?

Surely it would be better to make use of this cash to help these victims rather than leaving it in a bank account doing nothing???

 

[caveman]

The best thing they could do with their money, is start a test case or two, to sue the EA for the excess damage that their policies have caused.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

How toothless are the NFU compared to foreign counterparts. Maybe its just that we as a group of farmers cant get together and tell the government what we want, we are all too self interested. Imagine if this was France...

The problem is as I see it the NFU has become probably always has been a club, a lot of members will defend it to the end," don't you say a bad word or else "

 

[Clive]

Just been goggling and it seems from their 2012 accounts they have a reserve of.........................



£ 83,597,906

That IS £ 83.6 million !!!!!!!!



http://www.nfuonline.com/assets/5137

 

[Clive]

please tweet this thread ! if its all over twitter they cant ignore this

I think we deserve an answer on this

if they are sitting on that kind of asset while farmers go bust through no fault of their own its frankly disgusting

 

[Daniel]

Edited and redirected your tweet to @nfutweets to see if they respond.

NB, edited to fit the question and NFU tag in, not because it was a bad tweet!

 

[Penmoel]

quote="Clive, post: 307772, member: 6"]Just been goggling and it seems from their 2012 accounts they have a reserve of.........................



£ 83,597,906

That IS £ 83.6 million !!!!!!!!



http://www.nfuonline.com/assets/5137[/quote]

Surely if there is a "golden pot" it would be there in the accounts would it not?


On reading that's not £83m cash though is it....

"Our consolidated balance sheet reserves have increased
by £4.8 million to £83.6 million (2011: £78.8 million). This
was due in the main part to the increased valuations of our
property and investment portfolios offset by the increase in
the pension scheme deficit."

Substantial cash reserves are no doubt held though, the investment and dividend income is nearly £1.5m in 2012, as a member I would have no objection in some use being made of some of that cash being used to help individuals or maybe a donation to RABI to administer, Rabi though would not be able to help on business issues.

A couple of £100,000 used to supply forage , pay for haulage or find alternative animal housing, to those flooded out would go a long way, what do other members think?
There must surely be some hierachy established to administer distribution

 

[Clive]

I'm sure it's not all liquid cash - would be silly if it was

However that's the reserve stated on there accounts plus those account so show significant cash in the bank

It should be used ......... No question in my mind about that

I REALLY want to hear what the NFU have to say about this ?

 

[Sussex Martin]

Daren't give much to Somerset as there may be a crop failure in the arable east.

 

[Penmoel]

Sure £5m cash in bank, we should make an effort to get some access to it, they are extraordinary circumstances in Somerset, can member pressure get some movement perhaps we should all be getting in touch with Council delegates and regional directors.

Some quick and decisive decisions need to be made by someone in a position to do so, may be forget the comments above and go straight to the top, President and Mr Robinson and copy everyone else in

 

[Clive]

Sure £5m cash in bank, we should make an effort to get some access to it, they are extraordinary circumstances in Somerset, can member pressure get some movement perhaps we should all be getting in touch with Council delegates and regional directors.

Some quick and decisive decisions need to be made by someone in a position to do so, may be forget the comments above and go straight to the top, President and Mr Robinson and copy everyone else in

Social media has a lot of power - don't underestimate the influence threads like this have along with plastering twitter with it

They ALL read here even if they often pretend they don't

 

[Against_the_grain]

Daren't give much to Somerset as there may be a crop failure in the arable east

Good point, better save some for us just in case

 

[franklin]

I don't expect to see the RSPB use any of its £34m cash pile in helping those struggling in its latest wetland paradise.

 

[Penmoel]

Flooding: How you can help
Last updated: 07 Feb 2014

Farmers in the South West are facing unprecedented flooding which has seen thousands of acres of land underwater for weeks.

With further wet weather forecast for the weekend, they are battling the elements moving stock to safety and urgently trying to find dry feed.

Here's how you can help and what we're doing.

How you can help
Have you got fodder or space to house stock?

Contact the NFU South West office with specific details and your contact info:

Email: [email protected]
Tweet: @NFUsouthwest

You can drop off forage for flood-hit farmers at Sedgemoor Livestock Market, off J24 of the M5, postcode TA6 6DF. Call 01278 410278 to arrange a delivery time.

Farmers in need of fodder, or who have forage to offer, can also check the NFU Fodder Bank here.

If you are a haulier or you want to offer fodder or hay to flooded farmers in the South West, drop@Wheat_Daddy a tweet



Make a donation

To donate to help farmers hit by the floods in the South West go to fcn.org.uk or call the hotline on 0845 367 9990.

You can also donate to @Rabicharity (website http://www.rabi.org.uk/) or the Somerset Community Foundation emergency flood relief fund

The Royal Bath & West Society set up The Somerset Levels Relief Fund in September 2013 with the aim of
raising funds towards dredging in the area. Make a donation on 01749 822200 or through their Just Giving page.



With the NFU? Remember:
If you are an NFU member and you are affected by the floods our team of advisers are here to help. Contact the NFU CallFirst team on 0870 845 8458.

We've also pulled together online guidance about various aspects of farming and severe weather.

And there's our flooding Q&A, which looks at how we've got to this point and what the NFU would like to see done.



Get social
Now is a great time to show those affected by the flooding that you are thinking of them and that you Back British Farming. We have had a huge response on the NFUOnline Facebook page overnight. You can help by sharing this post. Farming Delivers are also keeping the non-farming public up to date. Check their Facebook page and share their posts here.



What we are doing

• We’re working hard to help our flooded SW farmers by matching local offers of shed space and fodder to those who need it.
• We’re seeing a high demand for emergency shed space for cattle in the Somerset Levels. We’re working hard to help all those affected.
• Looking after animals is paramount. We’re working closely with @AHVLA and other experts and agencies on emergency livestock measures in flooded areas.

 

[Clive]

@NFUtweets don't answer direct questions its seems ......................make you wonder what's the bloody point in them ?

if I don't at least get the courtesy of a reply that will be my membership over