AHDB cereals poll and Red Tractor

[Drillman]

yet its “not for profit”


£ 4.5 million is keeping someone in gravy !

Well I don’t know what gravy there using but it can’t be ASDA, Bisto or OXO gravy as non of that has the RT sticker logo thing on the packet.

I just checked in the cupboard

 

[stroller]

interesting that Nicholas Saphir (AHDB chairman). is a current director

significant conflict of interest given the £250,000 of levy payers cash ?

No doubt when he's finished at AHDB he will get a nice job at RT, but no conflict of interest , a gravy train of corruption, nepotism and back scratching, I'm beginning to think the whole rotten lot need to go.

 

[Stevethemeat]

Not only that but non rt members will be funding rt through Levy payments! You really can’t make this sh!t up

Now that has boiled my blood this morning
I support the Ahdb fully as I personall have gained a vast amount of knowledge from many years but I never have joined red tractor as I never did believe they could add value to the business
If this is the case then Ahdb need to distance themselves and concentrate on what they do best and not get involved with our money in others

 

[Stevethemeat]

Not only that but non rt members will be funding rt through Levy payments! You really can’t make this sh!t up

Now that has boiled my blood this morning
I support the Ahdb fully as I personall have gained a vast amount of knowledge from many years but I never have joined red tractor as I never did believe they could add value to the business
If this is the case then Ahdb need to distance themselves and concentrate on what they do best and not get involved with our money in others

 

[Clive]

[

No doubt when he's finished at AHDB he will get a nice job at RT, but no conflict of interest , a gravy train of corruption, nepotism and back scratching, I'm beginning to think the whole rotten lot need to go.

he seems a decent sort and i’m told he’s no fan of Red Tractor

but then it seems very odd he’s on their board and surety that has to be a massive conflict of interest at the very least ?

 

[colhonk]

Seems the more we are finding out about rt the more we find we Farmers are being screwed.We need to keep the momentum up to get these parasites stopped and off our backs.

 

[Grass And Grain]

AHDB chair is on RT board.

NFU crops board member on RT cereals board.

Ex FW editor now at AHDB.

2 x AIC people on RT cereals board.

AIC are one of the owners of SQC.

RT cereals chair was deputy pres of NFU.

Voluntary Initiative features as well. Google it.

Every so often someone presses a button, and everyone shifts over to a new role.

etc.

You can see how we've got into the current situation. Seemingly the current cross posting of positions is arguably dissfunctional for the interests of farmers on the ground.

I've nothing against these people as individuals. Far from it. In fact I've spoken to some of them and they've been very knowledgeable, bright, well intentioned and generally had agriculture at heart. And arguably they're the best individuals for the jobs, or at least who is better qualified?

In fact, imho some NFU and AHDB people really do want to get some change at RT and AIC. AHDB have tried to be helpful by getting a discussion going between the interested parties, to be told by RT they 'saw no value in that discussion'. I believe AHDB might since have been a slightly more forceful in their language, so they are trying to enter into meaningful discussion. It's going to be frustratingly slow progress, but Paul Temple and Martin GS at AHDB have been good.

Thing is, what to do if they get nowhere? They can't make RT or AIC change their rules. All they can do is lean on them, withdraw funding etc.

If we reach a point where RT/AIC won't shift, then I think we need to ask AHDB to put levy payers interests first, that might mean withdrawing RT funding and using it to better effect. That would probably be schemes to rival RT and AIC. I see very little other course of action, unless NFU get firm and suggest we all leave.

Unfortunately AHDB are going to find themselves stuck in the middle of all this. They are the best people to help us get fair market access arrangements, I would imagine it's within their remit to do so, and hope they can sort it out for us.

Another thought. As far as AHDB livestock goes, can they trust AIC to run the UFAS scheme when they differentiate on acceptable cereals standards based on country of origin. Surely something is safe under a certain set of rules or it isn't. AIC requiring RT for feed mills is increasing costs for our industry, both for the cereal farmer and then resultantly for the livestock farmer.

 

[SilliamWhale]

I detest RT ....... BUT I wouldn’t throw the baby out with the bath water and throw away AHDB Cereals if AHDB cannot distance themselves completely from RT. I agree that there should be NO funding of levy payers money from AHDB to RT.
If the industry lost AHDB cereals because of RT it would be a tragedy.

Maybe, in the first instance, considering the impact TFF and social media had on the RT consultation, there should be a concerted effort from all levy payers to AHDB to withdraw their funding of RT.

Why would it be a tragedy?

 

[SilliamWhale]

List of Directors - ASSURED FOOD STANDARDS - Officers (free information from Companies House) (company-information.service.gov.uk)

List of key staff - Red Tractor Staff | Red Tractor Assurance

The auditors are , we belive, freelance

And the point is we are paying all this lot for not adding value and for adding cost to our produce.

 

[Clive]

And the point is we are paying all this lot for not adding value and for adding cost to our produce.

20 years of Red Tractor - if it's costing 4.5million a year that 90 million they have wasted - its not for profit so they have spent ever £ of that for us

that's before the additional costs we all have of compliance probably many times that 90 million

 

[Old apprentice]

AHDB stop funding rt and get on and set up opposition system to aic rt that's it job done wasting time never change the un changeable stuck in a rut with their ideas of more red tape . And aic easy access of import to uk grains.

 

[SilliamWhale]

20 years of Red Tractor - if it's costing 4.5million a year that 90 million they have wasted - its not for profit so they have spent ever £ of that for us

that's before the additional costs we all have of compliance probably many times that 90 million

They basically positioned themselves as a go between between the farmer and the marketplace but for no gain beyond self interest.

It's a great business model and yet farming leaders are stupid enough to support it. It's always perplexed me and always will.

 

[Grass And Grain]

AHDB chair is on RT board.

AHDB Cereals and Oilseeds chair is also chair of Voluntary Initiative, and ex NFU vice chair.

NFU crops board member on RT cereals board.

Ex FW editor now at AHDB.

2 x AIC people on RT cereals board.

AIC are one of the owners of SQC.

RT cereals chair was deputy pres of NFU.

etc.

You can see how we've got into the current situation. Seemingly the current cross posting of positions is arguably dissfunctional for the interests of farmers on the ground.

I've nothing against these people as individuals. Far from it. In fact I've spoken to some of them and they've been very knowledgeable, bright, well intentioned and generally had agriculture at heart. And arguably they're the best individuals for the jobs, or at least who is better qualified?

In fact, imho some NFU and AHDB people really do want to get some change at RT and AIC. AHDB have tried to be helpful by getting a discussion going between the interested parties, to be told by RT they 'saw no value in that discussion'. I believe AHDB might since have been a slightly more forceful in their language, so they are trying to enter into meaningful discussion. It's going to be frustratingly slow progress, but Paul Temple and Martin GS at AHDB have been good.

Thing is, what to do if they get nowhere? They can't make RT or AIC change their rules. All they can do is lean on them, withdraw funding etc.

If we reach a point where RT/AIC won't shift, then I think we need to ask AHDB to put levy payers interests first, that might mean withdrawing RT funding and using it to better effect. That would probably be schemes to rival RT and AIC. I see very little other course of action, unless NFU get firm and suggest we all leave.

Unfortunately AHDB are going to find themselves stuck in the middle of all this. They are the best people to help us get fair market access arrangements, I would imagine it's within their remit to do so, and hope they can sort it out for us.

Another thought. As far as AHDB livestock goes, can they trust AIC to run the UFAS scheme when they differentiate on acceptable cereals standards based on country of origin. Surely something is safe under a certain set of rules or it isn't. AIC requiring RT for feed mills is increasing costs for our industry, both for the cereal farmer and then resultantly for the livestock farmer.

Quoting myself, the cross posting of positions is arguably dissfunctional for the farmer on the ground.

I'd like to see anyone argue that it's been a success. It doesn't work for farmers. I'm afraid the people who've previously held these positions have messed up big time.

NFU and AHDB (therefore farmers) could have run the schemes and kept full control.

They've given control away, and should now fix it.

Easier for imports to access our own markets. What a complete and utter failure.

I'd be ashamed to have been responsible, and certainly couldn't support the status quo.

It's repairable, but we need AHDB and NFU to be strong, decisive and action it. The time of nice cosy meetings has ended.

Edit.
P.S. I don't blame anyone who's there now on a board. They've got to sort the mess out that's been handed down to them from previous officeholders. 20 years of messing up needs to be sorted in a few months by the current people. It's a right disaster, so good on the current folk if they can sort it.

 

[tullah]

They basically positioned themselves as a go between between the farmer and the marketplace but for no gain beyond self interest.

It's a great business model and yet farming leaders are stupid enough to support it. It's always perplexed me and always will.

Yes that was their only purpose for setting it up. It had nothing at all to do with assurance it just a money-making thing for all on their payroll. Totally immoral And we know who all these people are. Not the sort of people we would like to do any kind of business with.
Maybe worth checking in future whose on the board / payroll of firms one does business with and act accordingly.
No different to boycotting Chinese crap

 

[SilliamWhale]

Quoting myself, the cross posting of positions is arguably dissfunctional for the farmer on the ground.

I'd like to see anyone argue that it's been a success. It doesn't work for farmers. I'm afraid the people who've previously held these positions have messed up big time.

NFU and AHDB (therefore farmers) could have run the schemes and kept full control.

They've given control away, and should now fix it.

Easier for imports to access our own markets. What a complete and utter failure.

I'd be ashamed to have been responsible, and certainly couldn't support the status quo.

It's repairable, but we need AHDB and NFU to be strong, decisive and action it. The time of nice cosy meetings has ended.

Edit.
P.S. I don't blame anyone who's there now on a board. They've got to sort the mess out that's been handed down to them from previous officeholders. 20 years of messing up needs to be sorted in a few months by the current people. It's a right disaster, so good on the current folk if they can sort it.

I dunno. Blenky has been in his position for a while yet he appears to think any criticism of his wondrous work is a disgrace

 

[Grass And Grain]

I dunno. Blenky has been in his position for a while yet he appears to think any criticism of his wondrous work is a disgrace

That's true. People like Blenky seem to think there's nothing wrong with the current situation. Doesn't take Einstein to work out there's a problem. Makes you wonder if someone's fit for the job.

 

[SilliamWhale]

That's true. People like Blenky seem to think there's nothing wrong with the current situation. Doesn't take Einstein to work out there's a problem. Makes you wonder if someone's fit for the job.

How can you be if you are paid by them? Especially if it's "not for profit"

 

[tullah]

How can you be if you are paid by them? Especially if it's "not for profit"

There's no profit. It's allbeing siphoned off to employees.
Its a good company to work for.

 

[Grass And Grain]

How can you be if you are paid by them? Especially if it's "not for profit"

Yea, forgot to say that. Anyone who gets paid isn't going to want to upset the apple cart.

 

[SilliamWhale]

Yea, forgot to say that. Anyone who gets paid isn't going to want to upset the apple cart.

They wouldn't even be employed in the first place! Another part of the massive flaws