Abi and Farmers Weekly, more Red Tractor revelations

[Grass And Grain]

Governance at Red Tractor seems to be all over the place according to these reports.

We've thought RT was out of control. Looks like it is?

Question is, is a governance review going to be good enough? Does RT need scrapping? It doesn't seem to be working very well for farmers.

Red Tractor ‘culture of secrecy’ driving poor decisions - Farmers Weekly

Poor decision-making at Red Tractor has been driven by a culture of secrecy and a refusal to accept criticism that stretches back years, according to

www.fwi.co.uk

 

[MrNoo]

No it won't be good enough, it'll be a whitewash despite all the rhetoric dished out by ADHB etc etc. It's clear as mud to those at the coalface it's not worth anything at all and yet to the gravy train riders it's the best thing since sliced bread. It wants scrapping and power needs to come back to farmers. The NFU shouldn't have anything to do with it either as they have too many vested Corporate interests.

 

[Wombat]

Way to go Abi, keep digging.

 

[milkloss]

Great respect to Abi for getting some real reporting done. Must be insanely difficult to get some sources she can quote and verifiable facts together.
Many rumours commented about on here, don't know if any of it is factual, and it's makes me worry we as farmers are sitting back waiting for someone else to 'do something'.

 

[milkloss]

Way to go Abi, keep digging.

I agree but this was the point I was trying to make above: she's got a career and reputation to worry about, she won't be sinking RT or the NFU anytime soon on her own.

 

[Tamar]

I think that AHDB need to be VERY careful how they support RT, as they are far too closely linked.

I can see that if the RT review is whitewashed, then us peasants will soon demand a vote on wether to continue paying the levies for AHDB. That vote will lead them to receive their P45's !

Just saying @AHDB

 

[Drillman]

Every time I read something about red tractor it seems to fish out some new scandal there involved in. Yes Im a critic of the operation but as a paying member I’m pretty disgusted about how they carry on as well. As ive said before UK Agriculture needs to distance itself from this organisation as it’s damaging our reputation!

 

[onthehoof]

Let's face it Red Tractor is set up for supermarkets, they are the only ones who gain from it, it's no benefit for farmers and no benefit for the public.
The Nfu are the Pipers playing the Supermarkets' tune

 

[tullah]

Great respect to Abi for getting some real reporting done. Must be insanely difficult to get some sources she can quote and verifiable facts together.
Many rumours commented about on here, don't know if any of it is factual, and it's makes me worry we as farmers are sitting back waiting for someone else to 'do something'.

The farming press are not going to let this one go now. Brilliant article.

 

[ploughman1963]

I agree but this was the point I was trying to make above: she's got a career and reputation to worry about, she won't be sinking RT or the NFU anytime soon on her own.

No, the BFU have, and continue to assist. Every farmer should join up - we are making a difference

 

[Grass And Grain]

I think that AHDB need to be VERY careful how they support RT, as they are far too closely linked.

I can see that if the RT review is whitewashed, then us peasants will soon demand a vote on wether to continue paying the levies for AHDB. That vote will lead them to receive their P45's !

Just saying @AHDB

As a farmer, I don't really want to be associated with Red Tractor, but we've got no choice. The brand is tarnished imho.

Presuming all Abi's article is true, then why would AHDB want to be associated with RT. AHDB should withdraw ASAP.

No, the BFU have, and continue to assist. Every farmer should join up - we are making a difference

Finally does feel like we're making a difference. If the article is correct, to me it looks like RT hasn't been operating correctly or with integrity (personal opinion).

Have things been done honestly and above board?

I wonder who's running the show? Is the position of the RT bosses tenable?

More applicable to us guys, what have NFU/AHDB been doing to let this happen?

If anyone wants to help, please do join us at the British Farming Union. £10/annum membership fee. We need to be united together to fight this. I'm disgusted by NFU and their (in)action over the years. They've let this mess happen imho. They must know what's been going on. They part own RT for goodness' sake.

Fault of the NFU top team imho. They've backed Red Tractor all the way, and we've paid the cost.

We're going to keep fighting. Please join.....

British Farming Union – …securing a better future for farmers

 

[SilliamWhale]

I think that AHDB need to be VERY careful how they support RT, as they are far too closely linked.

I can see that if the RT review is whitewashed, then us peasants will soon demand a vote on wether to continue paying the levies for AHDB. That vote will lead them to receive their P45's !

Just saying @AHDB

AHDB should not be supporting a single private company with a monopoly in distorting the marketplace. Its just not right. It will eventually be their downfall.

It is fine for AHDB that they think that it is important that the consumer/ Customer needs "assurance" and there are a myriad ways of doing that but you cannot expect the support of levy payers if you are allowing a company to distort the marketplace. This is not about "standards" its about having to pay for market access, its wrong

 

[upnortheast]

Fault of the NFU top team imho. They've backed Red Tractor all the way, and we've paid the cost.

Spent the last hour cancelling NFU sub DD & writing them a letter telling them why.
That`s £500 going to do more good in our account than NFU`s.

 

[graham mc]

hope you use a small % of that £500 to join up to the bfu apologies if you have allready

 

[texelburger]

AHDB should not be supporting a single private company with a monopoly in distorting the marketplace. Its just not right. It will eventually be their downfall.

It is fine for AHDB that they think that it is important that the consumer/ Customer needs "assurance" and there are a myriad ways of doing that but you cannot expect the support of levy payers if you are allowing a company to distort the marketplace. This is not about "standards" its about having to pay for market access, its wrong

Trouble is the public don't care one iota for RT,if they did why do they buy all the non assured imported food with no flashy symbol on the packaging. I wonder what % of all foods the supermarkets sell is RT,I suspect very little.Come to think of it what % of food that local butchers,bakers and small grocery shops sell is RT,again I suspect very little.
We seem to be jumping through more and more hoops and paying more and more money for what ? I suspect the BRC and Jim Moseley have control over RT and the unsuspecting NFU,AHDB et al have been sleeping at the wheel and the wool has been firmly pulled over their eyes.

 

[Qman]

I agree with everything that has been said and well done Abi. I would get rid of RT, AHDB, NROSO and the NFU if they carry on like they are doing. Batters and Bradshaw should remember that the F in NFU is farmers, not effing supermarkets.

We keep hearing that the consumer is asking for more rules , no they are not...they couldn't give a flying toss about RT and most have never heard of it and Sainsburys and M&S don't seem to use it and manage.

This post will go on for many pages and at the end we won't get a vote on AHDB, they aren't that daft, we will get the GFC whether we like it or not. The inquiry will be a whitewash and I told David Exwood so at our AGM. And there's bugger all that we can do about it.

I have joined the BFU and hope they can be successful and don't get carried away with power and the bright lights!

 

[Henarar]

Well done again @Abi Kay

RT needs putting out of its misery

 

[SilliamWhale]

Spent the last hour cancelling NFU sub DD & writing them a letter telling them why.
That`s £500 going to do more good in our account than NFU`s.

Sadly the NFU top team are entirely culpable in this process. Either they have been nefarious or neglectful. I think it's the former because enough people have made complaints about RT and they have wilfully ignored it and sided with BRC and RT.

The NFU Council should be fuming at what has happened

 

[SilliamWhale]

Trouble is the public don't care one iota for RT,if they did why do they buy all the non assured imported food with no flashy symbol on the packaging. I wonder what % of all foods the supermarkets sell is RT,I suspect very little.Come to think of it what % of food that local butchers,bakers and small grocery shops sell is RT,again I suspect very little.
We seem to be jumping through more and more hoops and paying more and more money for what ? I suspect the BRC and Jim Moseley have control over RT and the unsuspecting NFU,AHDB et al have been sleeping at the wheel and the wool has been firmly pulled over their eyes.

Sure but it could be worse than you think. The AHDB and NFU have been told and exhorted that something is rotten for over 2 years now. Has their been any curiousity about this at all on their part? Not really, not until pushed into action.

So it's not that they had the wool pulled over, they are in on it on but not on behalf of the farmer

 

[SilliamWhale]

I agree with everything that has been said and well done Abi. I would get rid of RT, AHDB, NROSO and the NFU if they carry on like they are doing. Batters and Bradshaw should remember that the F in NFU is farmers, not effing supermarkets.

We keep hearing that the consumer is asking for more rules , no they are not...they couldn't give a flying toss about RT and most have never heard of it and Sainsburys and M&S don't seem to use it and manage.

This post will go on for many pages and at the end we won't get a vote on AHDB, they aren't that daft, we will get the GFC whether we like it or not. The inquiry will be a whitewash and I told David Exwood so at our AGM. And there's bugger all that we can do about it.

I have joined the BFU and hope they can be successful and don't get carried away with power and the bright lights!

This will be going in front of the ag minister and shadow minister in due course. And the CMA will have to act in 2024.