The Red Tractor ACCS referendum
- Thread starter Clive
- Start date
- Location
- Yorks
What are RT trying to do? Is it just because calves are on the dairy farm for a few weeks? Rediculous if that's the case.
- Location
- Yorks
Edit. Meant to quote @Drillman who posted article from Abi in Arable Farming magazine.
Thanks.
Well done Abi. Think she can see the issues, discontent, and how RT (particularly Jim) are looking like their principles are built on sand.
I think RT are wobbling. Wonder if they'll eventually fall off their perch?
Not great coming from the CEO that imports (sort of assured by pesticide declaration/testing) are arguably better standard than RT assurance. That just diminishes the RT brand doesn't it?
It also means Jim basically agrees with us, that UK farmers can simply make a pesticide declaration and that grain is perfectly good.
Wonder what AIC think now? Jim seemingly agrees that imports and pesticide declarations are a very good way of assuring the food/feed safety of grain. If that's coming from the CEO of England's dominant farm assurance company, then AIC should surely agree to accept pesticide declarations from UK farmers, just as they do for imported grain.
I don't know wheather to laugh or cry. This thing just gets more and more unbelievable!
Thanks.
Well done Abi. Think she can see the issues, discontent, and how RT (particularly Jim) are looking like their principles are built on sand.
I think RT are wobbling. Wonder if they'll eventually fall off their perch?
Not great coming from the CEO that imports (sort of assured by pesticide declaration/testing) are arguably better standard than RT assurance. That just diminishes the RT brand doesn't it?
It also means Jim basically agrees with us, that UK farmers can simply make a pesticide declaration and that grain is perfectly good.
Wonder what AIC think now? Jim seemingly agrees that imports and pesticide declarations are a very good way of assuring the food/feed safety of grain. If that's coming from the CEO of England's dominant farm assurance company, then AIC should surely agree to accept pesticide declarations from UK farmers, just as they do for imported grain.
I don't know wheather to laugh or cry. This thing just gets more and more unbelievable!
tullah
Member
- Location
- Linconshire
Why won't RT and the NFU give a detailed reply to this. What's the NFU thinking about ...it's scandalous of our farming union not answering point by point. The longer they leave it then the more they make fools of themselves.
- Location
- Yorks
I think NFU just aren't prepared to publicly say too much against RT.
AHDB were disappointed with NFU. They said NFU didn't show any real support to help them when AHDB were trying to get RT/AIC to create a level playingfield for grain market access.
To me, that means NFU have positioned themselves to deliberately support putting the English farmers at a competitive disadvantage to foreign farmers, and are backing the situation where market access is compromised for English farmers to sell grain to UK mills.
I really don't know what the NFU are thinking. They seem to be representing RT, processors and retailers, at a cost to farmers.
Is it just me? Have I interpreted it incorrectly? Or is it all just very bizarre?
No I think you and several others have nailed it on many occasions.
There is many people in the various organisations too busy worrying about there salary and pension prospects rather than doing the right thing.
Christoph1945
Member
- Location
- Widnes West Cheshire
Make money?
- Location
- Essex
That attitude is what has got us into this situation. Of course it's less trouble to pay the premium/ inspection fee and most of us are fairly compliant with spray records etc.
Not that an inspector would know if you were using Dursban, IPU or Cruiser as you certainly wouldn't record it anyway. (Actually all these now banned products will run out even if there's the odd can at the back of the store.)
I've never really had a problem with the inspection itself, it's more that we are paying for someone else's due diligence when they should be paying for it themselves.
- Location
- Essex
I have left the scheme so that's 2 of us. Someone will buy our grain I have no doubt. Then there'll be a few more next year.
It's the only surefire way to break the monopoly, Competition
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tullah
Member
- Location
- Linconshire
All pull together, join the fight and slay the beast.
- Location
- Essex
How does a red tractor inspector asking "can you give me an example of one spray application please?", have any effect on fusarium on that farm?
- Location
- Mid Norfolk
Move your beef cattle on to a separate business. Or at least tell them that's what you have done. Minor paper trail showing the cattle have passed into the ownership of your wife/son/daugter/cousin/dog, which pays rent and housekeeping to the main farm, then carry on as yoiu are. Nothing they can do about it as they don't (yet!!!) have the right to scrutinise your accounts or business structure.
We did a similar manoeuvre to keep our non RT potatoes and associated chems/sprays away from their prying eyes. Not because we are hiding illegal activity, but just to cut out huge amount of paperwork.
tullah
Member
- Location
- Linconshire
In that case one could do same and separate the beet from the cereals. Surely fewer petty rules for beet. This would overcome the doubts of those saying they can't leave because of their beet being in the way. Or better still one could have some sort of agreement with a neighbour that, on paper, he grows the beet for you and it all goes under his contract with his RT...maybe this almost creates as much paperwork as rt!
I'd do anything to beat them at their game.
- Location
- Essex
Actually produced in the UK is already a higher standard. Everyone knows that.
- Location
- Essex
I have dropped the lot; cereals and beef and lamb. I'm wondering why I put up with the expense and humiliation for so long
- Location
- Essex
You make a very good point there. "Imports are better than UK farm assured because of tests" says CEO of red tractor.
tullah
Member
- Location
- Linconshire
The Nfu gave the scheme 10/10. That's how we got into this mess.
There are countless other messes which we've been pushed into too.
- Location
- Essex
The non farmers union are now controlled by its corporate members and no longer run for the benefit of farmers.