Blood sucking ahdb

Terrier

Member
Location
Lincs
Henarar what I really cannot understand is how the farming industry has allowed themselves to be convinced by people who have little or no knowledge of what we do to take so much money out of pockets,if somebody stopped you in the street and said give 10grand you would say go away and don't be silly but that is exactly what is happening,I really don't get this hero worship towards the ahdb maybe the industry needs to grow a pair

You are absolutely right. Most of us have been very complacent in accepting the levy and assuming it is being put to good use without question. In the last review I put in feedback that we need to see an estimated return in pounds to the industry for each initiative undertaken along with the cost, at the outset. This would then avoid the ridiculous waste on the likes of the £500,000 grain sampling project which just proved to be an exercise in statistics, where there is no payback.
 
Just to see where our levy goes makes infuriating reading,we ourselves like to think we are on top of the game growing veg ,we are highly mechanised and like to think we are quite efficient,but compared to the Dutch we are still in the dark ages, now these people are another level from the growing to the use of robotics and everything in between,so you would think if you wanted to really increase your knowledge you would go to the best on the planet,but we now find that Ali capper head of nfu horticulture and Hayley Campbell -gibbons have just returned from a fact finding mission from would you believe it New Zealand what is holland to close,the veg industry there is minuscule,my sister emigrated several years ago and pays £2 for half a cauliflower such is the size of their industry,what would this all expenses paid trip have cost
 
@whiterabbit
There is a saying, Don’t raise your voice, improve your argument.
Maybe not directly relevant but you do seem overly emotional about this and lash out with your comments.
If you wish to win people over you need to take a deep breath, think about what you’re about to say and, Improve your argument because at present you’re doing your case no favours.
 

An Gof

Member
Location
Cornwall
Just to see where our levy goes makes infuriating reading,we ourselves like to think we are on top of the game growing veg ,we are highly mechanised and like to think we are quite efficient,but compared to the Dutch we are still in the dark ages, now these people are another level from the growing to the use of robotics and everything in between,so you would think if you wanted to really increase your knowledge you would go to the best on the planet,but we now find that Ali capper head of nfu horticulture and Hayley Campbell -gibbons have just returned from a fact finding mission from would you believe it New Zealand what is holland to close,the veg industry there is minuscule,my sister emigrated several years ago and pays £2 for half a cauliflower such is the size of their industry,what would this all expenses paid trip have cost

When you check out AHDB travel policy you will have another fit ........
 
Tarw Coch I don't see where you are coming from maybe you are happy to pay these people,would you like to enlighten us on what you pay because the three I asked seem very reluctant to say ,I suspect it is very little ,don't suggest I am over emotional because you haven't the ahdb hand right down your trouser pocket.
 
Tarw Coch I don't see where you are coming from maybe you are happy to pay these people,would you like to enlighten us on what you pay because the three I asked seem very reluctant to say ,I suspect it is very little ,don't suggest I am over emotional because you haven't the ahdb hand right down your trouser pocket.
To give us an idea of the value of your payment in respect to the business you run, what would you annual wage bill be?
 

Goweresque

Member
Location
North Wilts
Tarw Coch I don't see where you are coming from maybe you are happy to pay these people,would you like to enlighten us on what you pay because the three I asked seem very reluctant to say ,I suspect it is very little ,don't suggest I am over emotional because you haven't the ahdb hand right down your trouser pocket.

While I have every sympathy for your position, I can't see how constantly moaning about it on a message board is going to help much. Given the nature of your industry, one would have thought your best bet would be to be contacting as many horticultural levy payers as possible in an attempt to get enough votes for a sector referendum on whether it should continue. How many veg growers are there in the UK? A lot less than all other AHDB sectors one presumes. If anyone stands a chance of personally rallying enough support to trigger a vote I'd have thought the horticultural sector was the best bet.
 
Well goweresque that is exactly what the three of us have done ,last Friday morning after two years of considerable time and expense the button was pressed ,the editor of a well journal has sent our foundation statement to 80 trade magazines and the national newspapers (even country file not that they will say anything against the ahdb),we obtained 1600 names from ahdb under the foi act there was a possible 4000 including potato growers but they only let us have the 1600 ,the ballot papers have been sent to all these growers in a stamped self addressed envelope to be returned by the 21st of July ,if all who said they will vote with us do so we will have the numbers,I just hope for a better turnout than the defra review ,how Jayne king can possibly say she has a mandate to keep the status quo defies believe,150,000 levy payers only 971 replied 200 of them were recipients from the ahdb, if all you livestock and arable boys want to keep paying for the rest of your lives that's fine keep on we don't ,I suppose you could just treat it has paying into a pension trouble is its their pension not yours.
 
Fieldfarmer what do you mean by that ,you are almost suggesting that if you have a high turnover it's ok to waste money ,my wage bill is 2million so I cannot afford to play Santa Claus to anyone
 
Tarw Coch I don't see where you are coming from maybe you are happy to pay these people,would you like to enlighten us on what you pay because the three I asked seem very reluctant to say ,I suspect it is very little ,don't suggest I am over emotional because you haven't the ahdb hand right down your trouser pocket.
No, I’m not happy to pay them, not actually sure how much a year but in the region of 1k per annum, not much compared to you but then my buisness is nothing like the scale of yours either. That said, 1k a year paid into a pension annually would add up over the years and would most certainly be a better investment in my opinion but I’m not allowed to make that choice, the ahdb hand is in my trouser pocket too as you put it.
Unfortunately if you can’t understand the point of calmly presenting a well reasoned argument without getting emotional and having a go at those who disagree with you I fear you are doomed to failure. The winners of debates are those who can clearly present facts not those who make the most noise.
Sorry if you don’t like that, it’s meant as food for thought on how you might improve your case.
 
Maybe an gof is right I seem to be rubbing the majority of you chaps up the wrong way ,it just seems the people who try to improve their lot get penalised by having extra taxes(ahdb). It's very frustrating to see arable farmers around here not really ever doing very much not employing hardly anyone yet receiving a hefty payment once a year ,also their farms just becoming more and more run down,some of the land I rent has been on a p and k holiday for years,anyway I will not be posting again don't all cheer at once
 

Highland Mule

Member
Livestock Farmer
You won’t be missed by me.

And another promise made and missed as soon as - no wonder your business is losing money if you can’t get the basics right.

11 June - “in two to three weeks”
26 June - “in 20 days”
Now - “to be returned by 21st July” (so realistically nothing to share until August).
 

Henarar

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Somerset
Maybe an gof is right I seem to be rubbing the majority of you chaps up the wrong way ,it just seems the people who try to improve their lot get penalised by having extra taxes(ahdb). It's very frustrating to see arable farmers around here not really ever doing very much not employing hardly anyone yet receiving a hefty payment once a year ,also their farms just becoming more and more run down,some of the land I rent has been on a p and k holiday for years,anyway I will not be posting again don't all cheer at once
shame, best take no notice of folk like mule, he is fast enough to sling incorrect sh!t and insults when he thinks he will without finding the facts first, best not let folk like that drive you away, if you have something to say then say it, your voice is as good as anyone else's and don't let any feck wit tell you different
 

hally

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
cumbria
Maybe an gof is right I seem to be rubbing the majority of you chaps up the wrong way ,it just seems the people who try to improve their lot get penalised by having extra taxes(ahdb). It's very frustrating to see arable farmers around here not really ever doing very much not employing hardly anyone yet receiving a hefty payment once a year ,also their farms just becoming more and more run down,some of the land I rent has been on a p and k holiday for years,anyway I will not be posting again don't all cheer at once
That would be a shame, what you are doing is right as we aIl need to be accountable when other peoples money is involved.
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

  • 0 %

    Votes: 79 42.0%
  • Up to 25%

    Votes: 66 35.1%
  • 25-50%

    Votes: 30 16.0%
  • 50-75%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 75-100%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 100% I’ve had enough of farming!

    Votes: 7 3.7%

Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

  • 1,292
  • 1
As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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