GFC disgrace: Here's what NFU, AHDB and RT have signed us up for

Andy Nash · Dec 10, 2023

ajd132 said:
Sophie Throup, she is just doing her job and well it seems. Can’t begrudge that.

Very well.I think she must have a lot more leverage than her 1 vote on a board of 18 would suggest.
Ms Batters was saying in one of her podcasts how she held regular meetings with Tesco and other retailers.
One wonders what is discussed at these meetings. I am beginning to think it is nothing that will benefit the people who she claims to represent.

Andy Nash · Dec 10, 2023

suffolk tup said:
What has happened to a proud and honest profession. I’ve loved farming. I’m lucky to have come from many generations of family farmers. Depressions wars we have managed to scrape through. But today I do wonder if there is a future for the next generation.

This is what the BFU is all about. There will be a future if we stand together.

ajd132 · Dec 10, 2023

Andy Nash said:
Very well.I think she must have a lot more leverage than her 1 vote on a board of 18 would suggest.
Ms Batters was saying in one of her podcasts how she held regular meetings with Tesco and other retailers.
One wonders what is discussed at these meetings. I am beginning to think it is nothing that will benefit the people who she claims to represent.

Exactly, twitter is full if people solely blaming the BRC, which i find pretty incredulous.

L P · Dec 10, 2023

Andy Nash said:
This is what the BFU is all about. There will be a future if we stand together.

I hope so, it's a glimmer of light at the end of a very long tunnel. This has been coming upon us for a long time, I hope BFU can grow fast enough, its not a crack it needs to cover, it's a tardess... its going to take a lot of people a lot of time to unpick all this.... unless one of the big guns comes clean.

Andy Nash · Dec 10, 2023

ajd132 said:
Exactly, twitter is full if people solely blaming the BRC, which i find pretty incredulous.

Me too, the BRC are only representing their members. They appear to have bought out the main farming union, which is a pretty smart move for their members. Not so great if you’re a farmer though.

L P said:
I hope so, it's a glimmer of light at the end of a very long tunnel. This has been coming upon us for a long time, I hope BFU can grow fast enough, its not a crack it needs to cover, it's a tardess... its going to take a lot of people a lot of time to unpick all this.... unless one of the big guns comes clean.

It’s going to be a numbers game. The BFU is gaining numbers all the time and uncovering some very dodgy dealings which are only just coming to light. We also have a farming press which has just woken up, with no small thanks to one particular journalist who seems to be determined to uncover the truth.
The main farming union is by contrast losing members. Even now, people are questioning whether it has enough members to claim that it can represent farmers as a whole. If things carry on as they are they are going to be completely sidelined with no mandate from farmers. The BFU is going to have to step up and take over as the voice of grass roots farmers. Something it should never have had to do.

Birdlipper · Dec 10, 2023

ajd132 said:
Sophie Throup, she is just doing her job and well it seems. Can’t begrudge that.

Think you will find Morrisons aren’t signatories to the WWF basket of doom. Not all retailers are.

tullah · Dec 10, 2023

Andy Nash said:
Me too, the BRC are only representing their members. They appear to have bought out the main farming union, which is a pretty smart move for their members. Not so great if you’re a farmer though.

It’s going to be a numbers game. The BFU is gaining numbers all the time and uncovering some very dodgy dealings which are only just coming to light. We also have a farming press which has just woken up, with no small thanks to one particular journalist who seems to be determined to uncover the truth.
The main farming union is by contrast losing members. Even now, people are questioning whether it has enough members to claim that it can represent farmers as a whole. If things carry on as they are they are going to be completely sidelined with no mandate from farmers. The BFU is going to have to step up and take over as the voice of grass roots farmers. Something it should never have had to do.

Reform is having to do just that with the Tory Party. ...something it should never have had to do.

An Gof · Dec 10, 2023

I suppose that RT, as a private company, are not covered by a Fredom of information request. That’s a shame as it might possibly unearth some very interesting emails. But what if they were copied to AHDB?

L P · Dec 10, 2023

Andy Nash said:
Me too, the BRC are only representing their members. They appear to have bought out the main farming union, which is a pretty smart move for their members. Not so great if you’re a farmer though.

It’s going to be a numbers game. The BFU is gaining numbers all the time and uncovering some very dodgy dealings which are only just coming to light. We also have a farming press which has just woken up, with no small thanks to one particular journalist who seems to be determined to uncover the truth.
The main farming union is by contrast losing members. Even now, people are questioning whether it has enough members to claim that it can represent farmers as a whole. If things carry on as they are they are going to be completely sidelined with no mandate from farmers. The BFU is going to have to step up and take over as the voice of grass roots farmers. Something it should never have had to do.

That is my greatest concern. BFU is made up of farmers, I'd like to give more time, but as a one man band it's just hard, somehow we all need to give our time to put things straight. BFU is excellent, the team cannot do it alone for uk agriculture though, any way of all pulling together here and really putting any minute of spare time to good use?

Jsmith2211 · Dec 10, 2023

tullah said:
Reform is having to do just that with the Tory Party. ...something it should never have had to do.

Maybe not a good comparison to make given that with the system we have reform will never get anywhere near government. If we had proportional representation though…

J 1177 · Dec 10, 2023

L P said:
Perhaps he would like to haunt Minette and Tom without a moments peace

Minnette has gone very quiet, trying to keep her head down until she has a chance to bugger off incase she says the wrong thing and messes up her move into her inevitable promotion.

delilah · Dec 10, 2023

Andy Nash said:
Ms Batters was saying in one of her podcasts how she held regular meetings with Tesco and other retailers.
One wonders what is discussed at these meetings.

Here you go:

22nd May

Tesco

Senior Meeting

Terry Jones and Minette Batter’s met with senior management to discuss current landscape and areas of mutual interest.

delilah · Dec 10, 2023

And the week before that meeting, this one.

The NFU were in a minority of one in supporting the Tesco takeover of Booker. Everyone else could see that it was bad news. Why did they support it ? Because Dave told them to.

14th May

Tesco

CEO Meeting

Minette Batter met with Dave Lewis to understand the impact of the Tesco/booker merger.

JP1 · Dec 10, 2023

The more you read the more you worry

NFU stand in all the political party's annual conferences. Meetings at the HoC with that Conservative animal rights lot. Who knows what's really been said ?

delilah · Dec 10, 2023

12 months previous: Dave tells Minette and Terry "We are buying Booker because the one thing folks go to the corner shop for is milk. We are going to corner that market. You are going to support us in this."

18th April

Tesco (Senior Management, President and DG)

Senior management update

Tesco and Booker merger was covered, it was viewed that this was an opportunity to extend existing commitments such as TSDG. Discussions were also had on AMR, Argentinian beef, sugar sourcing, crop protection and Brexit. Tesco committed to reported back more details on the Argentinian beef trial to the NFU.

L P · Dec 10, 2023

delilah said:
And the week before that meeting, this one.

The NFU were in a minority of one in supporting the Tesco takeover of Booker. Everyone else could see that it was bad news. Why did they support it ? Because Dave told them to.

14th May Tesco CEO Meeting Minette Batter met with Dave Lewis to understand the impact of the Tesco/booker merger.

I find you terribly depressing @delilah .... because you are right on so many fronts none of us wished to accept.

Andy Nash · Dec 10, 2023

delilah said:
And the week before that meeting, this one.

The NFU were in a minority of one in supporting the Tesco takeover of Booker. Everyone else could see that it was bad news. Why did they support it ? Because Dave told them to.

14th May Tesco CEO Meeting Minette Batter met with Dave Lewis to understand the impact of the Tesco/booker merger.

Christ alive, the NFU actually voted for it ..!
I’m struggling to think of any other reason they could use to justify doing that.

Andy Nash · Dec 10, 2023

delilah said:
12 months previous: Dave tells Minette and Terry "We are buying Booker because the one thing folks go to the corner shop for is milk. We are going to corner that market. You are going to support us in this."

18th April Tesco (Senior Management, President and DG) Senior management update Tesco and Booker merger was covered, it was viewed that this was an opportunity to extend existing commitments such as TSDG. Discussions were also had on AMR, Argentinian beef, sugar sourcing, crop protection and Brexit. Tesco committed to reported back more details on the Argentinian beef trial to the NFU.

I am fascinated by exactly what Tesco would share with the NFU about the Argentinian beef trial?

slackjawedyokel · Dec 10, 2023

Why don’t we all ask AHDB to come here and explain themselves?

RT, GFC and “WWF Basket”.
Dear AHDB Board and Leadership Team,
I’m a beef, sheep and cereals farmer from Northumberland and I’m very concerned regarding the future of UK farming in the light of the ongoing revelations regarding Red Tractor’s proposed Greener Farming Commitment, particularly with the possibility/likelihood of it being a tool for supermarkets to use in order for them to meet their ‘WWF Baskets’ commitments.

I know I am not alone. The anger and dismay at what appears to be planned for UK agriculture is growing. Farmers are asking pressing questions about the involvement of our representatives (AHDB very much included!) in these matters. In the absence of any answers we are left to draw our own conclusions and they do not reflect well on the AHDB.

I would like to ask you, the AHDB top team, to participate in discussion at The Farming Forum (thefarmingforum.co.uk) in order that you can explain what’s happening from your point of view. I think this is particularly important at this time because many are now questioning whether they are getting the representation they thought their levies were paying for at a time when increases have been proposed.

I look forward to your participation.

Yours Sincerely,
David Renner.

(nb- I’ve sent this email to everyone on the board and leadership team that has an email address on the AHDB website, which is around half of you).

Andy Nash · Dec 10, 2023

L P said:
That is my greatest concern. BFU is made up of farmers, I'd like to give more time, but as a one man band it's just hard, somehow we all need to give our time to put things straight. BFU is excellent, the team cannot do it alone for uk agriculture though, any way of all pulling together here and really putting any minute of spare time to good use?

Sooner or later, preferably sooner really, we are going to have to professionalise it with paid staff and a CEO. Raise subs to £100, have a proper election for the steering committee and start making a real difference.

GFC disgrace: Here's what NFU, AHDB and RT have signed us up for

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100% I’ve had enough of farming!

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