Exfarmer
Member
- Location
- Bury St Edmunds
Some of this thread is way out of order!
Andrew Blenkiron
- Thread starter principal skinner
- Start date
He wouldn’t dare comment on here.
- Location
- Bedfordshire
i don’t own most of the land we farm
but i get your well made point
the difference is you, me and the other mangers you mentioned are not paid to represent AFS
- Location
- Berkshire
I agree and back your anti RT stance.
I just see a bit of a pitchfork waving witch burning mentality creeping in at times and hope to keep the argument professional and targeted away from personal insults
- Location
- Hammerwich
I put this thread forward to Red Tractor to see if any action will be taken against Andrew in the light of farmer comments - got a solid no comment.
Draw into that what you will.
Draw into that what you will.
If I were RT, I wouldn't engage with this either. I'm sure there has been a word or two said to him internally. Are you expecting RT to hang him out to dry?
- Location
- Bury St Edmunds
I’ve thought a lot about the RT assurance argument. I do believe we need RT as our independent assessors to check that what we are legally required to do is being complied with. I do firmly believe that this is where the inspections should stop, there should be absolutely no gold plating. The alternative would be a multitude of consumer inspections which nobody would desire?
I’m sure there are people cleverly trying to engineer their own assurance system to their own advantage when the system already in place basically does what is required. However the bullpoo has to stop, no gold plating, no desires. Legal requirements only.
End of.
BB
I’m sure there are people cleverly trying to engineer their own assurance system to their own advantage when the system already in place basically does what is required. However the bullpoo has to stop, no gold plating, no desires. Legal requirements only.
End of.
BB
warksfarmer
Member
Basically those on the gravy train will do whatever it takes to keep that train steady raping British farmers to line their own pockets.
It’s no different to the totally corrupt EU which is starting to crumble much like RT and the NFU. Their cards are marked and neither have any hope with the younger generations coming through. Once the senior generation conned by the NFU are gone, things will change very quickly.
Dairy farmers, though, are inspected by FSA/Dairy Hygiene, RT and their own processors esp those supplying ARLA.
What a time to be alive
What, stab him in the back you mean ?
Danllan
Member
- Location
- Sir Gar / Carms
No, writing that you accept and perpetuate the RT premise that we can't be trusted to apply the law ourselves.
Who assures that you're driving within the law? Who assures that you don't have unsafe working practices? Who assures that your new buildings are sound? And who assures that the medications you take are safe?
Of course there are people who will not follow the law, just as there are in every other field in life, and it's for them that we pay our taxes and have police, Trading Standards, HSE, MHRA and others. If you aren't calling for yearly 'checks' on driving and virtually everything else to ensure 'compliance', it isn't rational to call for RT.
(And... RT isn't 'independent' in the common meaning of the word, meaning with no vested interest.
)
- Location
- Hammerwich
The days are gone when people resign over these sort of gaffs. Look at all the recent examples: Dominic Cummings and Margaret Ferrier. Current strategy is to wait for things to blow over and fix in the background. So while I hoped RT would make a comment to denounce or "wind back" his statement with a clarification, they have chosen instead to stand by his statements. All this does is further distance farmers from Red Tractor IMO and at some point they need a drastic change of direction to get farmers back on board. From all the threads on here it is interesting to note that: assurance = good, Red Tractor = bad, which is an oxymoron in itself.
I had hoped Christine Tacon would be this change, but it seems she is struggling too.
Agreed - there is less honour these days but it seems to be the norm. RT really need to try and rebuild trust in their farmer members & this does not help their cause. Put yourself in their shoes for a minute - TFF has been a lion's den of anger. I hope they take on board the sentiment but I wouldn't expect them to do any less than retreat behind a wall of silence.
Christine Tacon is a thoroughly good sort and has her feet firmly on the ground - hopefully she will make them see the reality. She's not the type to post everything she does on social media and play to the crowd.
- Location
- Lincolnshire
RT is broken. Look at the mistrust. Look how many would jump tomorrow. They really need to respond by saying that they at least have heard what has been said. Perhaps the decimation of levy funded groups will show them what happens when costs go into junkets and buildings.
- Location
- Hammerwich
Completely agree - but no comment does them no favours either. You can't just ignore those that don't agree with you as they are squabbling backstabbers. You have to engage to make change, as hard as that may seem when you are facing this sort of backlash. Unfortunately, Andrew's remark is very much how I think Red Tractor think of normal farmers.
Also I would add, this current reaction is the sum of a few years of pent up frustration with how Red Tractor has acted. I could clearly see this coming, it was a disaster in the making, they didn't care to accept it then and they still don't accept it now. The ridiculous way the "consultation" was phrased and presented has caused this with their blind forging ahead strategy. It did not have to be this way.
Steevo
Member
- Location
- Gloucestershire
Marshall trailers went through similar on here a few years back - then they started to engage with their critics and appeared to turn things round quite a bit and restore the brand.
Rather ironic that they make red trailers too come to think of it!
Steevo
Member
- Location
- Gloucestershire
It's funny how Red Tractor don't trust British farmers and base their existence upon exactly this. I'm not sure there is any factual evidence behind this crusade.
On the other hand, Red Tractor have continually shown to British farmers in their actions that they themselves cannot be trusted.....!
- Location
- Lincolnshire
They are totally whipped by the supermarkets. Time to break them up.
SilliamWhale
Member
Red Tractor is a brand. They only care about Red Tractor. That's how brands behave and it is their reason for being.
Don't fall for all this stuff about being not for profit or essential to reduce govt inspections etc.
RT exists solely to service itself- its not altruistic, its a business. Buyer beware!
Don't fall for all this stuff about being not for profit or essential to reduce govt inspections etc.
RT exists solely to service itself- its not altruistic, its a business. Buyer beware!