- Location
- Hammerwich
He is one of their regular writers and they don’t know who he is. Seriously? Who edits that magazine. Think I’m being tough on myself for not being very good at editing Direct Driller. I call bull.
Red Tractor Fight, Campaign Resources
- Thread starter Grass And Grain
- Start date
He is one of their regular writers and they don’t know who he is. Seriously? Who edits that magazine. Think I’m being tough on myself for not being very good at editing Direct Driller. I call bull.
- Location
- Bedfordshire
I asked for him to removed as a regular contributor as I found his manner insulting and condescending to farmers in his letter.
Not a lot of conciliation or understanding , I agree.
I wonder how much he is getting annually from AFS for his work....?
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Lot of imported soya in livestock rations isn't there?
spin cycle
Member
- Location
- north norfolk
little conversation with RT admitting their lack of transparency.....might be of use 
Subject: RE: Red Tractor Assurance - Contact form
Red Tractor Boards and TAC’s are not elected positions.
The development of standards are a collaboration with the entire supply chain, never a single organisation or individual.
As yet the minutes of meetings are not published.
Regards
Subject: RE: Red Tractor Assurance - Contact form
Red Tractor Boards and TAC’s are not elected positions.
The development of standards are a collaboration with the entire supply chain, never a single organisation or individual.
As yet the minutes of meetings are not published.
Regards
- Location
- Yorks
Hi everyone, just wanted to drop in on here to say nothing much to report, other than been busy working away on this, and will continue to do so over the next few days. As regards to the AIC, probably just a case of sitting and waiting now to see what they think. I believe the guys at AIC are working on it.
No need to send them any more letters, I imagine AIC fully understand our frustrations.
No need to send them any more letters, I imagine AIC fully understand our frustrations.
wanton dwarf
Member
You do realise the AIC is the facilitator of Red Tractor ? In other words their polivy dictates the operations of UK farms who want to sell into AIC.
They are already under a government obligation to continue the status quo. It all depends on how political the situation is and if it's tied in together with HMG's "Green Agenda" - which IMHO is all about destroying UK industry.
- Location
- Yorks
Are they linked? Someone said they have board member representatives at RT, don't know if that's true.
wanton dwarf
Member
I don't know if they are linkerd but it's obvious that RT, HMG and AIC are all singing from the same hymn sheet atm.
- Location
- MK43
Just sent this to our NFU group secretary and asked for him to forward on.
I would rather not be sending this email, but the actions of the top levels of the NFU and Red tractor leave little choice.
I, like many other farmers, am getting more and more annoyed at the disparity between the standards that our crops have to be grown to, to be sold, when they are often then mixed with imported crops which are not assured to the same level. We are constantly reminded by Red tractor about how they add value to our produce. They do not. Very few products in shops carry the Red tractor mark, and I don't believe many customers even know about it let alone look for it. We have never had a customer ask about it in our Farmshop, an environment where you would expect to get more discerning clientele than shops lower down the price spectrum where price is the leading driver.
The current consultation is little more than an exercise to make the little people feel like they have a say whilst already knowing the answers by the way the questions are asked.The constant ratcheting up of standards only makes us less competitive at a time when possible trade deals could threaten the survival of our industry.
I feel very let down by the NFU, in the lack of push back against RT at high levels, Andrew Blenkirons article in Farmers weekly showed the disrespect that those at the top have for those lower down, calling those who disagree with you backstabbers and accusing them of squabbling is not on. I would have expected an organisation representing its members to have very vocally pulled him up on this, however as some at the top of the NFU look to go on to get paid by RT I guess the silence is not overly surprising.
I do not disagree with some form of assurance, perhaps some kind of self assurance with a couple of tick boxes on the grain passport could be developed, maybe with a higher level if buyers are willing to pay a premium. As we move towards ELMS maybe that could be another tick box on the passport for those wanting some green credentials to their product.
Our membership renewal is in November, it is with a heavy heart that I say we will not be renewing unless a major change in outlook and action is seen before then. As a family/business we have been members for a long time and having been a branch chairman I would rather not have to leave, but the additional costs and stress related to RT are not repaid with a premium and I feel the NFU is letting it's members down very badly at the moment.
Not as well worded as some of you can but hopefully it's another little message to them.
I would rather not be sending this email, but the actions of the top levels of the NFU and Red tractor leave little choice.
I, like many other farmers, am getting more and more annoyed at the disparity between the standards that our crops have to be grown to, to be sold, when they are often then mixed with imported crops which are not assured to the same level. We are constantly reminded by Red tractor about how they add value to our produce. They do not. Very few products in shops carry the Red tractor mark, and I don't believe many customers even know about it let alone look for it. We have never had a customer ask about it in our Farmshop, an environment where you would expect to get more discerning clientele than shops lower down the price spectrum where price is the leading driver.
The current consultation is little more than an exercise to make the little people feel like they have a say whilst already knowing the answers by the way the questions are asked.The constant ratcheting up of standards only makes us less competitive at a time when possible trade deals could threaten the survival of our industry.
I feel very let down by the NFU, in the lack of push back against RT at high levels, Andrew Blenkirons article in Farmers weekly showed the disrespect that those at the top have for those lower down, calling those who disagree with you backstabbers and accusing them of squabbling is not on. I would have expected an organisation representing its members to have very vocally pulled him up on this, however as some at the top of the NFU look to go on to get paid by RT I guess the silence is not overly surprising.
I do not disagree with some form of assurance, perhaps some kind of self assurance with a couple of tick boxes on the grain passport could be developed, maybe with a higher level if buyers are willing to pay a premium. As we move towards ELMS maybe that could be another tick box on the passport for those wanting some green credentials to their product.
Our membership renewal is in November, it is with a heavy heart that I say we will not be renewing unless a major change in outlook and action is seen before then. As a family/business we have been members for a long time and having been a branch chairman I would rather not have to leave, but the additional costs and stress related to RT are not repaid with a premium and I feel the NFU is letting it's members down very badly at the moment.
Not as well worded as some of you can but hopefully it's another little message to them.
Steevo
Member
- Location
- Gloucestershire
That's brilliant!!! Well done!!
If you fancy sending similar to the Farmers Weekly and Farmers Guardian too as an "Open Letter to the NFU" I think it would make an interesting read for many!
- Location
- MK43
Thanks, it's focusing my mind at the moment as I have my inspection on Monday.
Sent to Farmers Guardian, FW and Farmers Guide.
- Location
- Somerset UK
I'm not an nfu member anymore as I resigned several years ago in protest at rt, does anybody know the email for Taunton group secretary, is it name.name @ nfu.org or something? I was going to tell him that if nfu don't rein in rt they will not get any insurance work off me even if they are cheaper.
- Location
- Essex
Very well worded in my view. Good letter
- Location
- South Lincolnshire
It seems that a few TFF members have done some fantastic research and written some excellent letters/emails that have been sent to various organisations/people. But many hundreds more members have been following this and the other thread and will probably not get around to sending their own letters, even if copied. Is there a way that members could easily indicate that they support a letter, and that said letter could be sent with, say, hundreds of names attached, or simply the words "and 753 (whatever the number) other farmers endorse this letter"?
Steevo
Member
- Location
- Gloucestershire
Good comment this. It’s difficult when they want farmers to respond individually to be taken seriously (NFU always say Defra much prefer hearing from farmers than NFU themselves) and in this case farmers are then disregarded by those in charge as being a minority as has been seen by the responses from those in cahoots with RT.
- Location
- Bedfordshire
Anybody with more ability than me fancy writing an open letter to and copy farmers weekly in? I would but some one here have a great way with words!
[email protected]
[email protected]
- Location
- Hammerwich
Yes - if someone writes the letter, we can help with the "add you name to this letter" part. I think this was suggested on the other thread as well.
SilliamWhale
Member
My letter to the Farmers weekly which was published today was edited which is annoying.
I said specifically said that the NFU appear either unable to lead or influence their own scheme, or potentially even more perplexing - ignored. And it didn't get published.
So keep the pressure up everyone because it appears fine to call a fellow farmer a "backstabber" but seemingly not fine to criticise a political union for being unable to influence their own scheme. KEEP THE PRESSURE UP
I said specifically said that the NFU appear either unable to lead or influence their own scheme, or potentially even more perplexing - ignored. And it didn't get published.
So keep the pressure up everyone because it appears fine to call a fellow farmer a "backstabber" but seemingly not fine to criticise a political union for being unable to influence their own scheme. KEEP THE PRESSURE UP
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tullah
Member
- Location
- Linconshire
This is getting more and more like living in China.