- Location
- Northumberland
Smacks a bit too much of I’ll scratch your back…
Snouts in the trough.
Snouts in the trough.
Well said Andrew Ward!
- Thread starter Scrambler
- Start date
no point - I have applied for several RT and AHDB roles in the past to try the "change form within" - I don't even get interviewed but I do get a call Chairman / CEO etc (who would never usually be involved in recruitment !) explaining why despite being beyond qualified and experienced they couldn't possibly have someone with different views to them on their board
YES men get these jobs not people like me and the NFU control who is in 99% of these positions so usually appoint NFU people
SilliamWhale
Member
Yes tweet it, I'm not sure how to tweet a pdf
alistair macintosh nfu straight into red tractor, wheres he at these days?
Tarw Coch
Member
- Location
- Bottom of Wats Dyke
Evidently they know who Clive is and most likely who grass and grain is too, I don’t think he’s tried to hide his identity at all so they will be out straight away as potential trouble makers.
Odds on whoever is appointed will be “known “ to them for all the “right” reasons
- Location
- Northumberland
If that happens, it will guarantee the status-quo.
Tarw Coch
Member
- Location
- Bottom of Wats Dyke
Isn’t that what they want
- Location
- Northumberland
Maybe. If they want dwindling farmer membership and increased reliance on cash from ‘other sources’. It will accelerate the farmers’ rush for the exit though as it becomes more and more apparent that they aren’t even bothering to pay lip service to what farmers want/need. Eventually they will be a husk of an organisation, with ‘Farmers’ in the title but purely representing interests up the food-chain. At that point their supermarket members will probably dump them as they will be doing the same thing as the BRC. They will presumably then fold.
They need to have a hard reset, starting with a declaration about who they intend to represent because you can’t ride two horses (particularly when they are travelling in different directions).
Pretty much yes
which is what they want ........ so it IS what happens
I have tried to get onto various board, I really am very genuinely more than qualified and experienced / proven vs those that do often end up on them, I have even offered to donate remuneration to farming charities, yet I have never even had a interview ......... just "apology" calls and excuses from various chairs and CEO's. (who would never usually get involved in recruitment, so i'm clearly a very special case !)
if you upset the NFU (as I royally have for the last 10 years) ......... you have no hope of getting on anything. Minette actually told me this at OFC even, others like Tom Clarke and Joe Stanley with me on the same scholarship clearly listened to her and decided to play the game that I find objectionable ....... both are likely future presidents / chairmen etc
Playing devils advocate.
Didn’t he say he was going to tell all on the Wednesday, but when it rolled round not a dicky bird? Then a scripted piece about the “ownership” on the Sunday
Were there some puppet masters just out of shot perhaps?
Do you think everyone one does exactly what there told to do by red tractor or hse
there’s a lot more perfect people out there than I imagined
Similiar to me early experiences of FABBL.Have you got a medicine book?
Yes, somewhere.
Have you got a Movement Book?
Yes.
Sheep look alright.
Thank you.
You are Farm Ashewered then (in a soft Cumbrian accent).
That is how I remember it
But dropped it anyway soon after...
farmideas
Member
- Location
- Herefordshire and West Wales
Have you tried Osma drain pipes for pedestals? Featured in Prac Farm Ideas
- Location
- Moreton-in-Marsh, Glos
I bet you have had the “The is an exiting role for you, if you don’t rock the boat and keep you nose clean. I can then see you will go a long way” speech too, haven’t you?
I have, but I’ll not compromise my principles to follow any ‘Party (or Union) lines’ agenda.
If I think something is right, I’ll say so. But I will not promote anything or any principals that I believe are wrong.
And neither should and I hope would, anybody else!
- Location
- Essex
They're saving you up for the independent review of the dead tractor!
Beatifully put!
They are rattled , big time
Open Letter from Christine Tacon to Red Tractor members |
| Dear Red Tractor Member, Red Tractor is the subject of much discussion at the moment. As the Chair, I can assure you that we are listening to you and engaging with all our stakeholders to explain, learn, discuss, and find ways to move forward. We understand the pressures facing farmers in all sectors. We want to offer a positive contribution and the views of our members matter to us very much. In the past couple of weeks, we have been having numerous daily conversations about the range of opinions expressed and continue to do so. Greener Farms Commitment The Greener Farms Commitment (GFC) is being designed around the first core principle of assurance – to find a common approach which limits the number of demands on farmers. To achieve something which offers this, it was necessary to work with the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and its members to ensure their commitment. Throughout that process we have sought to represent and protect the interests of Red Tractor farmers, which is why our preparatory work last year included trials with twenty-five farms, for example. In turn, those customer stakeholders have made it very clear how urgent this is. There is a risk they will use alternative, possibly global standards, which will not differentiate British produce from overseas. In some sectors we can already see sustainability marks being required which are adding cost and complexity for farmers. Involving farmers in the continued development of the GFC is absolutely essential. We had to have an approved framework for a common industry approach before that work could accelerate in a meaningful way. Following the Red Tractor Board’s agreement on that common approach last month, we announced a six month timetable to do more work with farmers and growers, to refine the content of the GFC and consider how it will be practically applied in different sectors. Last week saw our Technical Advisory Committees discuss the GFC across every sector as part of that work. The process is already giving us a huge amount of valuable feedback. Strong views are being shared on the approach and those conversations continue. To call out three examples: Whilst the GFC aligns with the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) in England wherever possible, we need to do more work to ensure this happens as the devolved schemes are developed. We are also focused on important questions about how to incorporate indoor farming operations, and short term rented land. We will continue to listen carefully to farmers’ feedback and work hard to better understand their point of view. We need to explore every option for achieving as much flexibility as possible for farmers, without diluting the common industry approach. The last several weeks have clearly given us a great deal to consider. The new Development Advisory Panel (DAP), which is being created at the moment, will have a vital role to take full account of the first-hand experience of farmers and we will look for other ways too. We will continue to answer questions as quickly and openly as we can. For example, quite rightly farmers are concerned about protecting their data. Red Tractor has a clear policy on data sharing – the farmer controls their own data and, as with current systems, nothing is shared without the farmers express permission, which they can withdraw at any time. I am also aware that much of the concern is about how farmers are recompensed for the overall cost of participating in the GFC. Clearly this is a fundamental question. Will it be paid for by the market, by government incentives or a mix of both? We expect the GFC to align directly with government schemes to enable that funding, wherever possible. Red Tractor has also done cost benefit analyses to understand in detail what costs need to be considered. Ultimately though, the final price paid by the market has to be the result of a commercial negotiation between farmers or growers and their customers. The GFC is very different from Red Tractor’s core standards – it’s a commitment, a journey for farmers to become more environmentally focussed. It is not pass or fail standards. Farmers upload their plans and actions, as opposed to being physically audited, and the GFC will recognise other programmes and national schemes to prevent duplication. We clearly need to do a better job of explaining what’s intended and how this is different. We will work hard to achieve this. Red Tractor This subject has revealed strong feelings across the membership about Red Tractor’s governance which we need to listen to and understand. I want to share my observations as there are some misunderstandings emerging about our organisation and its role. Ownership Twenty years ago, British farming was in crisis. A series of food scandals – BSE, salmonella, and foot and mouth – had devastated the industry. People had lost trust in British produce, threatening the very livelihood of our farming industry. The industry came together to restore confidence in British farming and created Red Tractor (or Assured Food Standards (AFS)) as a new business and standard. The NFU and the farming unions of Ulster and Scotland are joint owners alongside AHDB, Dairy UK and the British Retail Consortium. The owners are obliged to meet once annually at the AGM and their remit is limited to appointing the Chair, passing resolutions to appoint Directors and, where necessary, amending the Articles. Any request for a review of Red Tractor should be considered by the Ownership Body, who would then instruct Red Tractor's Main (AFS) Board as appropriate. The team at Red Tractor would cooperate fully to ensure openness and pace. The owners have no transactional or funding relationship with Red Tractor and they delegate the running of the organisation to the Red Tractor (AFS) Board. The Red Tractor (AFS) Board, which is responsible for approving the business plan, includes many of the major industry stakeholder bodies and external advisors. The composition, together with those of the Sector Board and Technical Advisory Committees, is available on the Red Tractor website. Funding None of the ownership bodies fund Red Tractor. We operate as a not-for-profit organisation with around 30 employees. We raise our income through farmer membership fees, which account for around 40% of total income, and a licence fee charged to processors and packers, for the use of the scheme and the logo. The license fees fund the marketing of the logo and scheme to consumers. The audits are conducted by accredited independent businesses. Purpose Our purpose is simple: to provide maximum market access for British farmers at minimum cost by developing common standards that meet the majority of the market’s needs. And we provide competitive advantage by differentiating produce through the consumer-facing logo. Red Tractor is recognised and trusted by consumers more than any other assurance mark in the UK. Standards To achieve its purpose Red Tractor develops standards that meet the needs of consumers, and the organisations that supply them, and provide reassurance that food is safe and farmed with care. We continuously balance the needs of the market, with what is viable for farmers and the supply chain. We consider many other influences on the supply chain, including overseas competitors, the work of Government and Devolved Administrations, and other groups that impact shopping criteria and buying decisions. The demands of these stakeholders are evolving, particularly in relation to sustainability. Red Tractor has become one of the world’s most comprehensive food chain assurance schemes and our logo now appears on more than £15 billion of food and drink every year. The organisation assures every stage of the food chain from farm, transport, markets, processors and packers, right through to retailers and restaurants. We will continue to listen to your feedback and find ways to work together with our members to improve our partnership. Yours sincerely, Christine Tacon Chair, Red Tractor |
