Abi and Farmers Weekly, more Red Tractor revelations

[slackjawedyokel]

At last it's now got to the stage that Heads NFU lose and Tails We the farmers win.

Let’s not get too carried away. Yet. There’s going to be a whole lot of backpedaling and buck-passing to come.

 

[tullah]

Let’s not get too carried away. Yet. There’s going to be a whole lot of backpedaling and buck-passing to come.

We can sit back and watch "thieves falling out"

 

[SilliamWhale]

It’s going to be fascinating to see firstly the conclusions of the first ‘independent’ NFU review into RT (its governance), and secondly how the NFU attempts to spin itself away from blame for the debacle.

As @Abi Kay ’s article highlights, there have been big problems at RT for years, maybe for most/all of the time they have existed.
Why have the NFU and the AHDB allowed things to get this far? They must surely have realised the autocratic nature of RT!

If the NFU review is a whitewash (things are broadly ok at RT- only minor tweaks needed; no major reform necessary), then farmers simply will not have it. The freefall of NFU farmer-member numbers will continue. There will probably be a rebellion against RT, and AHDB will be on a sticky wicket.

If the NFU review reports that RT governance is rotten and needs major reform, then how on earth will the NFU remove itself from major blame? It’s no good the NFU turning around now and saying they’ve been agitating for change for years; they literally own RT and should have pulled the plug years ago. Same goes for AHDB: if they felt they were fighting a losing battle with RT they should’ve walked away well before now and told us why-no good pointing fingers now.

I suppose the most important thing is what comes next. Personally I now feel RT has betrayed our trust by attempting to launch GFC (in cahoots with BRC). I don’t think it needs reform I think it needs to go because I couldn’t now trust a body ‘overseen’ by NFU, AHDB and BRC. I’m not sure what comes next though, and that’s what AHDB and NFU should be directing their energy towards now. Unfortunately I can’t see that happening-all along the NFU has been full of how good/important RT is for its members. I think they’re wrong.

The NFU has had a massive ego at the helm for 6 years, which hasn't been reigned in properly and she was allowed to develop a personality cult. Remember a month ago we were gaslighted into having to believe the GFC was needed because "sustainability is a licence to trade"....

This ego was also employed by RT for a few years and promulgated the RT enterprise. Join the dots.

Where were the Blenkirons and Guy Smith's of world (the apparent farm "leaders" when this was all going on) - I'll tell you - sneering at any critics of RT which are just normal farmers.

The NFU I'm afraid have aided and abetted this toxic mix. So they deserve the criticism

 

[ski]

We are no out of the woods yet by a long way but to borrow from better thinkers than me, maybe we are at the end of the beginning of RT's demise. Could be time to ask either "who did this to us?' or 'what did we do wrong?'. The former gets us nowhere, the latter might.

 

[Clive]

The NFU has had a massive ego at the helm for 6 years, which hasn't been reigned in properly and she was allowed to develop a personality cult.

This ego was also employed by RT for a few years and promulgated the RT enterprise. Join the dots.

Where were the Blenkirons and Guy Smith's of world (the apparent farm "leaders" when this was all going on) - I'll tell you - sneering at any critics of RT which are just normal farmers.

The NFU I'm afraid have aided and abetted this toxic mix. So they deserve the criticism

 

[Clive]

We are no out of the woods yet by a long way but to borrow from better thinkers than me, maybe we are at the end of the beginning of RT's demise. Could be time to ask either "who did this to us?' or 'what did we do wrong?'. The former gets us nowhere, the latter might.

and what should we do to stop this ever happening again

 

[slackjawedyokel]

We are no out of the woods yet by a long way but to borrow from better thinkers than me, maybe we are at the end of the beginning of RT's demise. Could be time to ask either "who did this to us?' or 'what did we do wrong?'. The former gets us nowhere, the latter might.

… and how do we do it right next time.

 

[tullah]

… and how do we do it right next time.

Nothing complicated. Equal to imports.

 

[slackjawedyokel]

Nothing complicated. Equal to imports.

I think so. Supermarkets want extra, I’m perfectly happy for them to offer to pay me to provide those extras.

 

[Clive]

I think so. Supermarkets want extra, I’m perfectly happy for them to offer to pay me to provide those extras.

^^ this.

no more freebies

 

[Clive]

i recall a phone call with Jim Mosley in 2018 ……..

I would love to have a phone call with him now

 

[ski]

I think we are in or entering a time when change could be made due to supermarkets worrying about shortages. If we can't do it now perhaps we never will. I was speaking to 'supermarket supplier' who told me of a conversation at a high level with one of the German supermarkets. The 'supplier' who is also a producer and procurer was being pressed to find more product in return for a tempting longer term commitment. The supplier thought he would test the situation and suggested that he could not easily increase supply due to low margin and more importantly 'producer fatigue with assurance', 'I can give you supply or assurance but not both' he quipped, 'which do you want? ' A pause ensued after which came the reply, 'we need guaranteed supply".

 

[topground]

I think we are in or entering a time when change could be made due to supermarkets worrying about shortages. If we can't do it now perhaps we never will. I was speaking to 'supermarket supplier' who told me of a conversation at a high level with one of the German supermarkets. The 'supplier' who is also a producer and procurer was being pressed to find more product in return for a tempting longer term commitment. The supplier thought he would test the situation and suggested that he could not easily increase supply due to low margin and more importantly 'producer fatigue with assurance', 'I can give you supply or assurance but not both' he quipped, 'which do you want? ' A pause ensued after which came the reply, 'we need guaranteed supply".

Lidl have seen the writing on the wall with their new 5 year contracts COP plus for egg supplies.

 

[yellowbelly]

Red Tractor is dead, rats are now in save their own skin mode as this article demonstrates

We've got hold of one...

..just needs a bloody good shaking now.......can we get some more?....

 

[Henarar]

We've got hold of one...
View attachment 1155713
..just needs a bloody good shaking now.......can we get some more?....
View attachment 1155714

Front cover for that @Abi Kay ?

 

[DaveGrohl]

I think so. Supermarkets want extra, I’m perfectly happy for them to offer to pay me to provide those extras.

But to allow me/us to choose whether we think it’s worth it. Which RT patently wasn’t right from the start.

 

[OliverHuntx]

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.

 

[OliverHuntx]

^^ this.

no more freebies

Speed Test​

 

[Vader]

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.

Join BFU and join the fight back!