Accountability around farming comments?

[Chris F]

I think it fair to say farmers feel we are held accountable for absolutely everything. Yet when clear mistakes are made by leaders of organisations criticising farming, they never seem to be held accountable. Why is it that so much misinformation is deemed expectable - we have seen countless examples over the years. The growth hormone example yesterday, is particularly one that perpetuates, just because of this sort of thing.

https://www.facebook.com/TheFarmingForum/posts/pfbid02CZJkXH9gpeCCxcey7FCoGPdGJs4deMfrLmjczxWQtQt4CT38FpiiWTHAdaYfqSXAl

Response from James on Twitter - not exactly a proper apology, just a reply to a post with 5.9k views as of this morning, I'm sure more than that were watching BBC breakfast:

I see this as a massive blunder that should have a massive apology coming from River's UK. But I've not seen anything yet.

Worth noting that the BBC did correct this - but it was about 30 minutes later and that is not a SMALL correction.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1826359981454532728

 

[nick...]

This is all over Facebook but hey let's not let the facts get in the way of a good story.I don't trust the bbc one bit
Nick...

 

[hoff135]

Meant to say antibiotics, that's still bs I don't know any livestock farmers pumping their animals with those either.

 

[hoff135]

This is all over Facebook but hey let's not let the facts get in the way of a good story.I don't trust the bbc one bit
Nick...

You will have the bbc on and a picture of sir keir on the wall at all times, if you don't thou shalt go to jail

 

[Still Farming]

PFAS be the next big one.
Tom Heap on BBC 1 Countryfile Sunday going on about it all ?

 

[SilliamWhale]

"pump" with antibiotics.

Another wording which gets on my pip is "drenched" with pesticides.

 

[Chris F]

"pump" with antibiotics.

Another wording which gets on my pip is "drenched" with pesticides.

Is that even an accurate description of the average UK livestock farm?

 

[Henarar]

Meant to say antibiotics, that's still bs I don't know any livestock farmers pumping their animals with those either.

he meant to say just what he said then tried to dig himself out of a hole
also as you say no farmer is pumping their animals full of antibiotics

 

[Henarar]

Is that even an accurate description of the average UK livestock farm?

no have you any idea how much a cow could hold ? it would bankrupt us

 

[nick...]

You will have the bbc on and a picture of sir keir on the wall at all times, if you don't thou shalt go to jail

Bit worrying ain't it
Nick...

 

[Henarar]

You will have the bbc on and a picture of sir keir on the wall at all times, if you don't thou shalt go to jail

TTK
if you have said photo and the beeb on the tely you are upper tier if not you are lower

 

[Clive]

short “and finally” apologies simply don’t cut as they get no way near the exposure of the incorrect “fact”

in my book it’s liable against an industry and should be legally perused as such by the like of AHDB or NFU on behalf of farmers and compensation paid by those found guilty

 

[yoki]

"pump" with antibiotics.

Another wording which gets on my pip is "drenched" with pesticides.

Actually it's nothing new.

It's several decades since I seen someone on countryfile talking about "pouring" increasing amounts of chemicals in to our food.

The buggers need a few weeks of empty supermarket shelves to put manners on them.

Just like spoilt brats of weans, no appreciation of what they have or what they get.

 

[Chris F]

short “and finally” apologies simply don’t cut as they get no way near the exposure of the incorrect “fact”

in my book it’s liable agonist an industry and should be legally perused as such by the like of AHDB or NFU

I think the NFU are on the case, it might have been them that caused the BBC to do the correction. Abi who posted it is NFU I believe.

 

[yoki]

short “and finally” apologies simply don’t cut as they get no way near the exposure of the incorrect “fact”

in my book it’s liable against an industry and should be legally perused as such by the like of AHDB or NFU on behalf of farmers and compensation paid by those found guilty

Is the problem not that farmers are essentially too nice?

And nicer people are easier to tramp over.

Say something perceived to be out of line about some of our increasing raft of "minority" groupings, even if it has merit, and see the commenter back track very rapidly and very publicly.

 

[Treecreeper]

I didn't see the interview but saw the first corrected apology by Sally Nugent which was very prominent, someone is to be congratulatedfor being on the case so qui ckly.
Recently I picked up a book which I thought was about beekeeping, opening a random page it claimed that 95% of chemical applied to the land doesn't do any good.

 

[TelesnaAg]

I think it fair to say farmers feel we are held accountable for absolutely everything. Yet when clear mistakes are made by leaders of organisations criticising farming, they never seem to be held accountable. Why is it that so much misinformation is deemed expectable - we have seen countless examples over the years. The growth hormone example yesterday, is particularly one that perpetuates, just because of this sort of thing.

https://www.facebook.com/TheFarmingForum/posts/pfbid02CZJkXH9gpeCCxcey7FCoGPdGJs4deMfrLmjczxWQtQt4CT38FpiiWTHAdaYfqSXAl

Response from James on Twitter - not exactly a proper apology, just a reply to a post with 5.9k views as of this morning, I'm sure more than that were watching BBC breakfast:

I see this as a massive blunder that should have a massive apology coming from River's UK. But I've not seen anything yet.

Worth noting that the BBC did correct this - but it was about 30 minutes later and that is not a SMALL correction.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1826359981454532728

You can sue for defamation, not easy but you need to provide proof that the statement had a financial impact on sales.

Ant...

 

[wr.]

If hormones are being found in rivers, they need to look at the contraception pill coming through into the sewage for a start.

 

[Exfarmer]

You can sue for defamation, not easy but you need to provide proof that the statement had a financial impact on sales.

Ant...

essentially in England and Wales an industry cannot sue for defamation, only an individual can, and litigation costs here are completely unaffordable except for the mega rich or those on legal aid, which I don't think any farmer would qualify for.

 

[Clive]

I think the NFU are on the case, it might have been them that caused the BBC to do the correction. Abi who posted it is NFU I believe.

they have said thank-you to the BBC for correcting it (probally worried about their invite to the director generals Christmas party )

Not good enough IMO and i've said so

https://twitter.com/x/status/1826541916864864399