what has the NFU ever done for us?

Grass And Grain said:

NFU membership is too expensive for me.

Would like to see a 'basic' cheaper tier of membership with less perks

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me too,as long its got the ' legal assistance'bit as well

I certainly cant afford a 20 k + pick up .........

didn't nfu stop teleporters for ag use being classed the same construction use

problem is why should the nfu be the 'go to guy' for politicians/ag policy ect when many farmers regard the organisation less than enthusiastically and it's RT 'lovechild' is widely despised

Mole Valley, BASC, and many other farming buying groups also do great discount deals on vehicles. It's not exclusive !

I wonder what the farming industry would look like if the NFU didn’t exist? What if the government of the day and its civil servants were given a completely free rein to decide on policy and regulations, with the only influence on their thinking coming from the likes of RSPB, the Badger Trust and PETA.

I am constantly amazed that forum members I class as intelligent in everything else they post don’t seem to see this ‘unseen’ work (maybe that’s why!) I can’t believe that the ‘value’ of membership is calculated on the worth, or otherwise, of the discount you get on a new pickup.

Personally, I would NOT want to be farming in a world where we didn’t have a union representing and fighting the corner for our industry.

The Ruminant said:

I wonder what the farming industry would look like if the NFU didn’t exist? What if the government of the day and its civil servants were given a completely free rein to decide on policy and regulations, with the only influence on their thinking coming from the likes of RSPB, the Badger Trust and PETA.

I am constantly amazed that forum members I class as intelligent in everything else they post don’t seem to see this ‘unseen’ work (maybe that’s why!) I can’t believe that the ‘value’ of membership is calculated on the worth, or otherwise, of the discount you get on a new pickup.

Personally, I would NOT want to be farming in a world where we didn’t have a union representing and fighting the corner for our industry.

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What the NFU usually does is provide a useful dissemination of unpopular policies or regulations for and from the government of the day to all farmers,be they NFU members or not.

The Ruminant said:

I wonder what the farming industry would look like if the NFU didn’t exist? What if the government of the day and its civil servants were given a completely free rein to decide on policy and regulations, with the only influence on their thinking coming from the likes of RSPB, the Badger Trust and PETA.

I am constantly amazed that forum members I class as intelligent in everything else they post don’t seem to see this ‘unseen’ work (maybe that’s why!) I can’t believe that the ‘value’ of membership is calculated on the worth, or otherwise, of the discount you get on a new pickup.

Personally, I would NOT want to be farming in a world where we didn’t have a union representing and fighting the corner for our industry.

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The NFU aren't the only organisation representing farmers views although they are most likely the biggest and most widely recognised.

Generally get a better discount off a pickup by not using NFU discount.

When I bought my last truck I negotiated pretty hard and could not get close to the nfu discount.think it was 16% at the time but currently 18
Nick...

nick... said:

When I bought my last truck I negotiated pretty hard and could not get close to the nfu discount.think it was 16% at the time but currently 18
Nick...

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But if I read frank the wools earlier post correctly that 16/18% should be in addition to what you negotiate with the dealer as the NFU discount is from the manufacturer.

Sold us down the river, made agreements on farmers behalfs that don't benefit us in the slightest. But as a non member (because of their failings) that doesn't wash with us so they have to have a agreement or contract. For example the pylon rates as agreed nationally by the NFU. They have bowed to pressure from the government all too often and exterior forces instead of holding fast and pressuring them.
Some may have benefitted from them. For us they have caused more harm than good. What's good for a big farmer isn't good for a small one, what's good for a hill farmer doesn't work on arable farm and what's good for the one region/ county isn't good for the rest. They fail to hold anyone big business or industry to account over failing i.e: red tractor or foreign meat being passed as British. The milk price is slipping again because the processors want to look after their profits. A few articles and strong words will do nothing and these bisbusiness just laugh it off. The NFU should be organising farmers to stand together and fight for our industry not stand by and watch us be walked over whilst commentating on it. What really bugs me is the constant failiure to get English farmers half the grants and benefits Welsh and Scottish get. We now have the small grant scheme but how many have Wales and Scotland had before us before we got this.

The list goes on.

Our thoughts on the NFU but some no doubt will disagree and rightly so. But for us they haven't done us any favours.

Clive said:

I dont think anyone would disagree, I certainly woudnl't want no NFU, but I would like one to do a better job than I (and clearly others) believe is currently being done. Its also fair to say that the NFU are not the only people / organisation fighting UK ag's corner, there are others

I find it equally hard to believe that people I class as intelligent are not smart enough to question and push for improvement in every aspect of everything the NFU does. I find the "its faultless lets' pat each other on the back for our utter brilliance that no one else understands or seems to know about" attitude frankly patronising, it makes smart people look stupid IMO

its like listening to Brexit remain voters talking about those that chose to leave as "too thick yo understand what they were voting for" rather than simply accepting that they have a different point of view every bit as valid as the next mans

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Thanks for implying I’m intelligent - though you may have left yourself open to charges of yet another error of judgement....

I’ve never - and will never - say the NFU doesn’t need to change. Any organisation (or business, or government, or national rugby team(!) ) that thinks it has reached the peak and doesn’t need to evolve is doomed to slide into insignificance. My frustration lies with those who either don’t acknowledge the many good things the union has done and continues to do or - worse still - acknowledges that they do many good things for the industry (“I certainly wouldn't want no NFU”) but either don’t get involved in driving change in the NFU; or are happy to reap the benefits from the organisation without paying a penny to the NFU (to paraphrase, “I certainly wouldn't want a world with no NFU but I’m not going to pay for it myself, you other suckers can do that for me....”)

The bit about not getting involved in the running of the NFU (and thereby putting yourself in a position where you can effect change): No doubt there will be many who would like to reply “it’s a closed shop, it’s not worth it, the big guns at the top have it all wrapped up, it’s a done deal etc etc.”

For those who feel like this, I’d point you to the NFU’s new Vice-President Stuart Roberts. Although an active member of the Herts Ag Society and recently a very active local farmer, I don’t recall him being involved greatly in NFU politics. I may be wrong but it only seems like a few short years from him putting himself up for county chairman to him being elected to the NFU’s top team. Proof that, if you have the ability and the desire, anyone can do it. (I lack both, particularly ability...)

It seems we both agree that neither of us would like to see a world without the NFU. We also both agree that the NFU isn’t perfect and needs to move with the times. Our only difference is that you choose to not pay your subs and instead snipe from the sideline,
I choose to pay subs and discuss change as a paid up member. Which voice has more legitimacy?

Clive said:

I don’t agree that an ordinary paid up member has ability to change anything, put simply they have no voice or vote unless they are prepared to spend time in committee meeting etc which the vast majority have neither time or inclanation for, as a result feel they are not represented

I stopped paying as I was fed up contributing to something that were doing many things I didn’t like and pushing policies that I didn’t support

If I didn’t have various businesses to run and a family I enjoy spending time with then maybe I would have gone the other way and got more involved and tried to be part of change

I certainly don’t want them to fail

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I cannot reconcile those two positions as they seem completely contrary to each other: “I stopped paying, but I don’t want them to fail.”.

Clive said:

did you try car wow ?

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No I didn’t.ill have a look
Nick...

Had a look and they don’t do commercials
Nick...