Farmerdunk
Member
- Location
- Hertfordshire
Got our inspection Monday morning. I’ll ask her if she knows who it is.
Who has replaced Guy Smith at Red Tractor?
- Thread starter Chris F
- Start date
Sweat pea ?hes more a pickled gherkin lol
- Location
- South Molton
That's not a CBA situation IMHO, that's a I'll pay my dues and get "employ" someone else to represent my interests.
The issue with any representative organisation is they have to represent everyone, big, small, organic, conventional, arable , livestock.
Within those there is of course conflicts of interest.
- Location
- South Molton
Yep I can do it while unloading but I can't find quotes.
As I said you are willing to pay for assurance. I was correct, I've quoted you.
At the very least with the milk you do tend to get RT label on a 4 pinter from the supermarket so there is an element of capture of the alleged "brand" even though its shite, but in grain we are shafted from the moment the grain leaves the farm and yet have the costs of complying, so its why we are so pee'd off.
Apology accepted given that you style yourself such a gentleman
No apology made.
I said I wish the have a basic assurance scheme if that's what the "consumer " requires
- Location
- Yorks
OK, so seems organic producers are paying for RT when the organic audit has pretty much already checked the same things. For want of better terminology - this is silliness.Yes we have to have a 12 month inspection for Organic, Red Tractor done the same time, couple of hours for Organic then quick 10 minutes just double checking we've covered everything for Red Tractor or the inspector says they'll fill it in when they get home
I would say alot of things Red Tractor have copied from Organic, things that have been in Organic for 10/ 20 years have creeper into Red Tractor, especially herd health plans etc
Feed / vet meds stuff like that yes inspector goes through with fine tooth comb must all add up .
Question is, how do we tackle it?
First point of contact should be with SA and OF&G? Would they help their producers by contacting processors and explaining their farmers don't need RT (as already covered by organic audit).
Organic milk (OMSCO???) might be a good place to start? @Sid what do you think? Is your RT audit covering anything extra to your organic one? We should work to help you guys out on this one?
If there's some common sense milage in this issue, then British Farming Union could make a representation. Maybe could get a group of like minded organic BFU members to represent themselves under BFU banner. That's how it will probably work to start with. Represent the issues in your own sector. As Said has said, let's not moan and complain, but actually do something to help ourselves.
Would be great to build the case for organic producers to not need RT. Get SA and OF&G to help with any tweaks in standards.
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- Location
- Yorks
I'm pretty certain consumers will have much more confidence in the organic badge than the RT logo. They'll understand the former, but probably won't know what the latter does.
- Location
- South Molton
Liner changes
Parlour servicing
Data sheets
Off the top of my head not covered by RT.
Basically mostly non specifically organic stuff.
Eartags and movement I believe is within organic standards.
Milk buyers will not take non RT milk.
- Location
- South Molton
Who is we?
- Location
- Yorks
- Location
- Yorks
- Location
- South Molton
Change it to what? You want to tell the cert bodies what they should be inspecting for that's outside the organic remit? They will doing an HSE check as well next!!
As I understand the organic inspection is not done by the cert bodies in majority of cases. It's done by independent inspectors who also cover many other standards. RT etc
They are not directly employed by the cert bodies but self employed in many cases.
It also gives the inspection independence and credibility.
- Location
- Yorks
Yes, independent inspection bodies, who simply inspect as per the standards set by the scheme they're inspecting.
So instead of paying full price for organic cert + full price for RT, just pay for organic cert which could have an optional add-on for any of additional things covered by RT (but at fraction of the cost).
I think the Certification bodies just find it easier to pass on the work.
There's also the problem of if and when there's a time we can't sell our produce as Organic the Organic certification then means nothing , it should do but doesn't.
There's not really a market down here for Organic cull cows so I need Red Tractor for them.
The whole system is wrong not just the inspections , the Slaughterhouses would need to except Organic as Equal to Red Tractor
and the supermarkets would as well, I'm sure they know just they need to tick a box to say Organic certification = Red Tractor just different sticker.
- Location
- South Molton
If you think an assurance scheme with its legal framework can be set up on the cheap , I think you're very much mistaken.
400k? 400 organic dairy farmers in 4 or 5 different certification bodies.
£1000 a year?
- Location
- Cirencester
I commend you on your staunch support of the NFU, they are very lucky to have you. The fact is farmers are busy people, they tend not to get onto committees, boards because they are n fact working.
I'd sooner stick pins in my eyes than re join the sh!t show that is NFU.
I an utterly astonished how you continue to defend the indefensible
- Location
- Yorks
RT recognise other schemes. E.g. Scottish schemes are seen as equivalent, and so SQC grain can carry the RT logo. Same system could apply.I think the Certification bodies just find it easier to pass on the work.
There's also the problem of if and when there's a time we can't sell our produce as Organic the Organic certification then means nothing , it should do but doesn't.
There's not really a market down here for Organic cull cows so I need Red Tractor for them.
The whole system is wrong not just the inspections , the Slaughterhouses would need to except Organic as Equal to Red Tractor
Slaughter houses, processors, retailers just need educating that organic has RT equivalence.
The "legal framework???" already exists in existing organic standards. Just a case of adding on the half dozen or so questions on to the end of the organic audit (optional add-on). If it costs £400k, then the boards want a clear out. Could be done for a few £k.
- Location
- Essex
This clearly demonstrates that rat is only about collecting fees. The same inspector on the same day, but charging for 2 inspections???
There is at least a point to organic certification.
- Location
- South Molton
If you want something done ask a busy person.
If you won't get involved in the discussion process then how can you complain about the outcomes? You want people to guess what you want?
Defend what precisely. RT? I haven't.