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  1. Austin7

    Potato Prices.

    My customers seem to think that our potatoes are way too expensive. So with a little time last week, during a rare shower, I looked up the data the Office of National Statistics website where they show the monthly retail value of ordinary white potatoes and also the RPI. I charted the inflation...
  2. Austin7

    long shot for barn conversion planning permission

    We are about to submit one wreck for formal Pre Application Advice. It was an interesting building, a Dovecote. I went back 400 years traced its history through Estate & Tithe plans and also 80 years of photographs. Google historic development guidelines in Historic England, National Planning...
  3. Austin7

    Build Back Bradshaw

    Less than a year into her Presidency, without any prior democratic consultation, Minette committed English Agriculture to Net Zero. Just 30 days before the NFU had responded to the Committee on Climate Change using these exact words: “There are no ‘silver bullets’ to deliver a net-zero-...
  4. Austin7

    Red Tractor Enviromental Module

    If "supporting the NFU is no longer constructive" what should farmers do? No doubt BFU provides an outlet for anger and frustrations of many but is it in the best collective interests of the dwindling number of farmers. BFU is draining the NFU of potential active membership. We will end up...
  5. Austin7

    AHDB can feck right off.

    Cows are innocent , sheep also
  6. Austin7

    Minette Batters NFU president

    For the avoidance of doubt about my position, it is that if ever there was an example where the precautionary principle applies it is climate change. Real or not real we all have a view, but doing nothing is clearly not an option. The issue with the NFU's position is they have laid out...
  7. Austin7

    Minette Batters NFU president

    Sadly Minette has got herself in a corner, so much political capital has been placed on Net Zero and so automatically support for the RT Green Module" it is difficult to see a way out. Our chance to get back to reality can only come with the new President. The NFU are not ignorant of the...
  8. Austin7

    Minette Batters NFU president

    Remember all this was 20 years ago, things will probably be different now. One thing won't have changed however, the NFU Council is the boss what it says goes. However the fundamentals don't change, effective democratic change in the NFU is totally dependent on getting the channels of...
  9. Austin7

    Minette Batters NFU president

    It is interesting that everyone came to the conclusion that staff doctored the MME reforms of 2002. I suspect what actually happen was that the Councils elders who enjoyed the London lifestyle put pressure on David Quayle then treasurer to water down our report, Ben was off sick. If you travel...
  10. Austin7

    Minette Batters NFU president

    Most of us in the group complained. Ben's reply answers your question as to who was really in charge then, I suspect not much has changed: 1. Contrary to what is stated in the Alan Roberts notes neither I nor any of the officeholder team have been involved in such an iterative process to...
  11. Austin7

    Minette Batters NFU president

    The conclusion is therefore that the NFU is currently not fit for purpose. This is nothing new. When Richard Watson Jones probably the youngest ever Office holder tragically died of a brain tumour in 2000 he left undone his work on the reform of the NFU. Ben Gill set up a group called Meeting...
  12. Austin7

    Minette Batters NFU president

    Yes, I do blame the "active" NFU members. If they don't do their homework and don't organise themselves and don't protest in the real world outside this forum then what happens is the NFU, AHDB and RT apologists get a free ride as what seems to have happened at the Norfolk AGM this week. This...
  13. Austin7

    RED value in wheat price

    That is outrageous. He can't possibly believe what he is saying. What hope is there for a sensible outcome when the chairman is so blinkered. Surely he was put right by the NFU Members.
  14. Austin7

    Minette Batters NFU president

    I hesitate to stick my head up for fear of having it cut off. There is plenty of justified criticisms of the NFU Office holders but being on a "gravy train" is not one of them. Any person who gets as far as these two are competent people who have taken often the most productive years of their...
  15. Austin7

    Potato Prices.

    I have not actually seen them but he admitted that they were cheap so I suspect recently dug had been waterlogged and probably bruised. He has taken a sample of ours so when he comes back I will question him further.
  16. Austin7

    AHDB live Q & A

    Not time to reply to all this but please have a look at this which is already up and running. If there was an alternative then we would all bail out of RT as would most inspectors. LA audit is a dead end proposal. a GB Northern Ireland Audit is a goer.
  17. Austin7

    AHDB live Q & A

    May I suggest you read my posts more carefully. I am no friend of Red Tractor. I am equally not happy with those who propose a solution which can be so easily shot down by those who seek to protect the Red Tractor monopoly. Using the Local Authority is a dangerous idea, luckily it will never...
  18. Austin7

    Potato Prices.

    We have just had a new pie and mash customer in asking why his potatoes are going black even before he cooks them. The market is swamped by spuds dug in a swamp. Don't give good spuds away our price for washed whites dug in September delivered London is £560.
  19. Austin7

    AHDB live Q & A

    Nobody can possibly defend Red tractor as it currently operates. Equally nobody can sensibly suggest that food production should not be regulated and that regulation should not be audited. Clearly the NFU who should have stood with their farmer members but have in fact gone native. Where I...
  20. Austin7

    AHDB live Q & A

    We have lost control because we have lost control of the NFU. The combined NFUs and the AHDB do form a controlling influence. I attach the "Farm Regulators Charter" You will see that Red Tractor does help to protect you from the attentions of other "Regulators". Frying pan and fire come to mind.
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