Nor have I been a fan of unions, they still to me have the ethos of 70s and 80s strikes, farming never much took part, it was mostly about coal back then... tbh I joined in the hope a rather fledgling BFU might be just the place for a unity more aligned to the French way of thinking and farming. OK, France is more rural, but their rather militant stance of sod off, enough of that crap, no way, I'm slurrying your forecourt... or its all good, let's drink wine and go to work has without doubt got support from both the community and the government. Being British its going to be watered down a bit, we are more polite inherantly... so polite we get walked over a fair bit. I'm very glad I joined up... very French consensus from the farmers on BFF, we have had a gutful of this red-tape, its gone on far too long, with a team on top that take out the crudeness of our thoughts and seem to deliver the key elements for positive results... no slurry required so far for far reaching gain.I assume the BFU will eventually have to charge its members more to run an efficient operation?
I don't see any way it can run on a tenner and reach a size at which it can be effective but could be wrong.
Never been a fan of unions really despite being in one for ten years. I've no idea how an Ag union can work with such a wide range of interests and egos.
Worth a try though
Join BFU. We must stand together
- Thread starter Vader
- Start date
Wuffler
Member
- Location
- Northumberland
What are you hoping to achieve here exactly?
More importantly who is going to listen to you?
Certainly not the Government of the day...
Good luck!
AHDB I believe are finally looking into inequality of uk vs imported grain and nfu are surveying their own bumhole.
Surely equality in sales matters more than gov to you? We've had one farming outlet governing body since 2001... how many pm's?
- Location
- People's Republic of South Yorkshire
These now listen...
Independent review of combinable crops assurance commissioned by AHDB | AHDB
An independent review of assurance in the combinable crops supply chain is to be commissioned by our Cereals and Oilseeds Sector Council.
ahdb.org.uk
Wuffler
Member
- Location
- Northumberland
Is that a request or a command?
Either way I'm not sure I like the tone, or your lack of punctuation...
kiwi pom
Member
- Location
- canterbury NZ
If the grain equality thing works it will be a good step forward IF it reduces UK assurance/standards etc. If those stay and imports must meet RT etc, it could mean imports reduce or get a lot more expensive. Considering a lot of this grain is feed, it could have a negative impact on livestock farmers.
Everything's complicated.
I'm all for equal standards for imports and domestic production before anyone shouts at me
Equal is very difficult though.
- Location
- Yorks
At this moment in time, I imagine government aren't going to take us seriously Vs NFU.
It's not all about the government though. There's plenty of lobbying, letter writing, action etc needed towards Red Tractor, AHDB, universities and councils who ban meat off their menus, use of social media, writing to F Weekly or contributing to articles in FW, getting quotes in those articles, etc.
This week we're seeing NFU Council members getting oppressed by the top team (imho). Hopefully BFU works in a different way. Absolutely any member can voice an issue, get it discussed and take it forward
Bottom up rather than top down seems to be working. Sure there's got to be lots of things decided by committee, but they can work to the general desires of the members.
I presume Vader was simply meaning to say, that here's an example of something BFU has achieved.
i think your being a bit harsh , Vader was explaining a positive that has been achieved,
No punctuation required.
- Location
- People's Republic of South Yorkshire
Could everyone please share the link with their contacts?
Ask them to join.
I don't know a farmer who likes RT and this is our biggest chance to halt them from controling our farms.
We have momentum now and more members we have the more pressure we can put on.
Also for the livestock farmers.
We have a group talking with AHDB about the methane/cows are killing the planet issue.
Lots of scientific facts and figures have been put to them and things are moving in the right direction there as well.
We are spending our own time on this round farm work.
Please support us and sign up!
Ask them to join.
I don't know a farmer who likes RT and this is our biggest chance to halt them from controling our farms.
We have momentum now and more members we have the more pressure we can put on.
Also for the livestock farmers.
We have a group talking with AHDB about the methane/cows are killing the planet issue.
Lots of scientific facts and figures have been put to them and things are moving in the right direction there as well.
We are spending our own time on this round farm work.
Please support us and sign up!
How much will it cost to put an advert in the “Farmers Weekly” and the “Farmers Guardian” to promote the BFU organisation, and how to join.??
This is a serious question that needs considering if one ever wants BFU to be brought to the attention of farmers of all ages who don’t use social media, like it or not there must be plenty that don’t .
This is a serious question that needs considering if one ever wants BFU to be brought to the attention of farmers of all ages who don’t use social media, like it or not there must be plenty that don’t .
These people now listen to us.
I'd chuck another few quid at this as a one off, if all of the current members did the same just to try and get the thing launched, it would probably be achievable. And that in itself could be the basis of press coverage - "farmers are so hacked off with the current regime that they're prepared to put their hands in their pockets and create a proper union." Shock horror - could this actually amount to positive collaboration?! Unheard of...
Is there any other way for a democratic union to operate?
- Location
- Shropshire
You could get someone to crash the NFUs social media platforms then set up BFU immediately with any NFU google search linking to BFU?
not sure where you would find anyone with the expertise to do that? 🫣
- Location
- Scottish Highlands
I was interested but then learnt that only 'proper' farmers were welcome. Having been officially declared "not a proper farmer" by the SNFU (my farming ancestors are turning in their graves!) I didn't bother further as I guess I'm probably also one of the "undesirables" mentioned earlier! Am I bovered? Certainly not!
suffolksmallholder
Member
- Location
- Suffolk
I finally joined and it looks like my application has been accepted.
My Father would have been interested as he was a great supporter of Farmers, tenant or otherwise.
SS
- Location
- Montgomeryshire
I was interested but then learnt that only 'proper' farmers were welcome. Having been officially declared "not a proper farmer" by the SNFU (my farming ancestors are turning in their graves!) I didn't bother further as I guess I'm probably also one of the "undesirables" mentioned earlier! Am I bovered? Certainly not!
Do you have a holding number? That’s all that’s required as evidence of being a ‘farmer’ iirc, regardless of acreage.
To spread the word could we not knock up some sort of stand with placards etc? doesn't need to be too substantial, something that could be set up in some of the auction marts.
Rural policing had a table in my local mart today, various dairy products are out on big dairy days, if we had eg a committee member with a few local members who could draw people in as a familiar face it would raise awareness and membership.
I would be prepared to give time to man a stall as a familiar face to back up the main man and I'm sure others would.
If we got really adventurous we could do shows but that would have a cost and might look a bit feeble beside the NFU.
a simple stand at livestock markets across the UK would reach a lot of farmers for little cost.
Couple of banners, couple members to be there to talk.
Freebie cuppa/biscuits.
Bet most auctions would not want any payment for the stand space.
.