I don't think for a moment NFU careers are all about money - it's more about power and Knighhoods historically
It does tend to lead to a long list of jobs that pay better the most farmers earn or pay themselves however
The UK Farmers Union - is it time ?
- Thread starter Clive
- Start date
I don't think for a moment NFU careers are all about money - it's more about power and Knighhoods historically
It does tend to lead to a long list of jobs that pay better the most farmers earn or pay themselves however
Have there ? Has there been a specific thread that, rather than starting with a whinge as an OP, started with 'What, specifically, would you like to see change with regards the NFU ?'
OK, don't moderate, I was just meaning keep it on track. Remind folks what the point of the thread is when they inevitably start whingeing.
edit: or @snarling bee start it. Or someone else in an elected position who is on here.
Another issue I see with our industry is 99% of the time we are on the defensive and often not particularly forward thinking with how we combat issues.
Example: veganism. Marketing the hell out of the health benefits of a healthy balanced diet including meat and dairy products. Take the emotion out of our responses to the public and reply with solid facts, which needs to happen across the whole industry. Farmers as a collective group find it very easy just get angry in our responses and say fudge you, because we are a more common sense breed or Real men and women. Vegans are wiley little weasels and know how to appeal to the public.
Marketing doesn't have to cost much, if anything. Get young farmers more involved in the positive use of modern technology, video, social media and campaigning to the public.
I'm barely touching the surface of the thoughts I've been having a lot of late, about the ag industry in general.
I love the industry, even though I wasn't born into it and it's somewhat alien to most of my family. I have a burning desire to make some real changes for the better, but I'm so tied up with my day job and "life" right now that I don't have the time.
Example: veganism. Marketing the hell out of the health benefits of a healthy balanced diet including meat and dairy products. Take the emotion out of our responses to the public and reply with solid facts, which needs to happen across the whole industry. Farmers as a collective group find it very easy just get angry in our responses and say fudge you, because we are a more common sense breed or Real men and women. Vegans are wiley little weasels and know how to appeal to the public.
Marketing doesn't have to cost much, if anything. Get young farmers more involved in the positive use of modern technology, video, social media and campaigning to the public.
I'm barely touching the surface of the thoughts I've been having a lot of late, about the ag industry in general.
I love the industry, even though I wasn't born into it and it's somewhat alien to most of my family. I have a burning desire to make some real changes for the better, but I'm so tied up with my day job and "life" right now that I don't have the time.
I agree. In these times of cheap food, imports, and a general meh attitude from Joe public we need a union more than ever. I used to have great respect for the NFU, but after 20 years of polices that have cost my business a lot of money, arrogant attitude, and general bafflement at what the NFU actually do, I've had enough.
1 Listen to their members
2 stop all the affiliation nonsense
3 Better voting system
4 Stick up for farmers
5 Listen to their members....
..oh yeah your right.Still I think competition would be a good thing.
I have been mulling over cancelling my subscription for a time & the only thing stopping me is that the industry needs representation but when I see/hear what the NFU comes out with sometimes they certainly don't represent me.
- Location
- North Yorkshire
Hmmm 30,000 uk farmers agreeing on something
Good luck with that one
Good luck with that one
Suffolk Serf
Member
- Location
- Bury/Thetford
About twenty years ago we in the pig sector felt that NFU wasn’t representing us adequately at a very difficult time. With NFU blessing (they were probably happy to be rid of us) and financial and practical backing, the National Pig Association was formed.
One benefit of being a small sector is that NPA has a very short chain of command and a very small dedicated executive team that is highly regarded by their members. They really do punch above their weight and are very effective lobbyists.
Everyone is very approachable too.
I’m not suggesting this as a future model for the larger sectors but it works well for us. I really can’t see how NFU can be all things to all sectors.
One benefit of being a small sector is that NPA has a very short chain of command and a very small dedicated executive team that is highly regarded by their members. They really do punch above their weight and are very effective lobbyists.
Everyone is very approachable too.
I’m not suggesting this as a future model for the larger sectors but it works well for us. I really can’t see how NFU can be all things to all sectors.
kfpben
Member
- Location
- Mid Hampshire
What will you actually achieve though?
Without the specialists (the wage bill you go in about) you won’t have the expertise or time to do the job properly.
As a UK union you’ll have to deal with four separate governments, as well of all manner of local authorities.
Take the livestock transport consultation- will UKFU have the resources to properly rebuff the government ideas using hard scientific evidence?
Will you have regular meetings with Ministers in Defra, DIT, Defra, the Treasury. Will you have the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition addressing your members as they did the NFU virtual conference yesterday?
Will your leader be high profile enough to appear on question time?
Where do you draw the line at the ‘farmer members only’ policy?
I am a farmer, but I milk for another farm on a Friday. @Clive owns a website. Some farmers own slaughterhouses. Some run grocers. Some farm as a hobby and work for Goldman Sachs. Should managers not be allowed to join? How about tenants? Or landed estate owners who never get their hands dirty?
We all have far more that unites us than divides us, however you may feel about Red Tractor or the voting system!
I’m not even in Red Tractor- still happily an NFU member.
Without the specialists (the wage bill you go in about) you won’t have the expertise or time to do the job properly.
As a UK union you’ll have to deal with four separate governments, as well of all manner of local authorities.
Take the livestock transport consultation- will UKFU have the resources to properly rebuff the government ideas using hard scientific evidence?
Will you have regular meetings with Ministers in Defra, DIT, Defra, the Treasury. Will you have the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition addressing your members as they did the NFU virtual conference yesterday?
Will your leader be high profile enough to appear on question time?
Where do you draw the line at the ‘farmer members only’ policy?
I am a farmer, but I milk for another farm on a Friday. @Clive owns a website. Some farmers own slaughterhouses. Some run grocers. Some farm as a hobby and work for Goldman Sachs. Should managers not be allowed to join? How about tenants? Or landed estate owners who never get their hands dirty?
We all have far more that unites us than divides us, however you may feel about Red Tractor or the voting system!
I’m not even in Red Tractor- still happily an NFU member.
Depends on the personal integrity of those elected eg a sub on direct drilling or chopping straw may suit the home farm ,but would one as a representative of the whole industry vote to support this type of gov interference on the whole industry ?
lloyd
Member
- Location
- Herefordshire
I think it's a ridiculous idea ,I can get
an extra 1% off the discount of a Toyota pickup
by joining the NFU.
an extra 1% off the discount of a Toyota pickup
by joining the NFU.
- Location
- Lincolnshire
Another union with a fresh start or reset is a good idea. I would welcome it.
The NFU appears toothless really. The supermarkets say “jump” and the NFU asks “ how high?”
What’s needed is a Union that is prepared to say as a last resort “ we are not accepting that and we won’t do it.”
It wouldn’t hurt to have a few “ picket lines” either, nothing major, just a few representatives out and about to make a bit of a fuss about imports coming in that don’t have to go through the same checks and procedures as U.K. produce.
I agree with the idea. I’d join.
It does make me wonder though if we’d better off with an arable farmers association to mirror the pig, sheep and beef associations. I know there is crossover and overlap but I really think combinable crops farmers have lost out big time over the last few years particularly with loss of actives. Our biggest break crop OSR is on the rocks and you hardly hear a peep about it from the NFU. It’s left us in quite a crisis here but nobody seems bothered. I think an arable farmers association would provide a bit more focus where it is needed whereas another “farmers Union” will just mean so many different things to so many different people that it will end up like the NFU. A bit meaningless.
The NFU appears toothless really. The supermarkets say “jump” and the NFU asks “ how high?”
What’s needed is a Union that is prepared to say as a last resort “ we are not accepting that and we won’t do it.”
It wouldn’t hurt to have a few “ picket lines” either, nothing major, just a few representatives out and about to make a bit of a fuss about imports coming in that don’t have to go through the same checks and procedures as U.K. produce.
I agree with the idea. I’d join.
It does make me wonder though if we’d better off with an arable farmers association to mirror the pig, sheep and beef associations. I know there is crossover and overlap but I really think combinable crops farmers have lost out big time over the last few years particularly with loss of actives. Our biggest break crop OSR is on the rocks and you hardly hear a peep about it from the NFU. It’s left us in quite a crisis here but nobody seems bothered. I think an arable farmers association would provide a bit more focus where it is needed whereas another “farmers Union” will just mean so many different things to so many different people that it will end up like the NFU. A bit meaningless.
You can beat the nfu discountI think it's a ridiculous idea ,I can get
an extra 1% off the discount of a Toyota pickup
by joining the NFU.
- Location
- Yorks
I'm afraid I think we need an alternative farmers union.
My thoughts are it should bring all the producers together. So Tesco milk producers could form a negotiating group. Walkers crisp growers. Etc. Don't know the legalities of that.
So partly a union, partly producer groups, with dedicated discussion forums for each group. Members would build over time.
My thoughts are it should bring all the producers together. So Tesco milk producers could form a negotiating group. Walkers crisp growers. Etc. Don't know the legalities of that.
So partly a union, partly producer groups, with dedicated discussion forums for each group. Members would build over time.
kiwi pom
Member
- Location
- canterbury NZ
So who could join? Define farmer.
Tenants farmers yes?, will their landlords be allowed to join?
Contract farmers would be in I'm guessing but what about the people they work for, who claim to be farmers but they're only doing it for tax reasons?
What about 20 acre hobby farmers, there's probably thousands of them, they could bugger things up for real farmers.
How many full time employees would it need to succeed?
UK Ag/ land owners have too many individual needs to stick together.
Tenants farmers yes?, will their landlords be allowed to join?
Contract farmers would be in I'm guessing but what about the people they work for, who claim to be farmers but they're only doing it for tax reasons?
What about 20 acre hobby farmers, there's probably thousands of them, they could bugger things up for real farmers.
How many full time employees would it need to succeed?
UK Ag/ land owners have too many individual needs to stick together.
kfpben
Member
- Location
- Mid Hampshire
You are basically describing the structure of the NFU.
Ah the French solution
glasshouse
Member
- Location
- lothians
Definitely no landlords
Or contract farmers who will do their bidding.
They do have assurance schemes in france and a premium goes with it , they wouldn't put up with this shiteAh the French solution
Mindset.....could take alot of changing