AHDB council "vote"

[Grass And Grain]

You got a visit because RT grassed you up , charmers

Yes, seems so.

Even after we had left RT membership, either RT or our local authority (or both) had retained our name, address and contact details, and must have told our local authority if we were RT members or not.

 

[dontknowanything]

I'd certainly be interested to hear why any of you would believe I'm a freeloader/NFU careerist/corporate shill, or anything else that would disqualify me from being a good representative on the AHDB Council?

Just as a starter, for those not on Twitter, here's a thread I posted recently about AHDB.

https://x.com/OOOfarmer/status/1709565256450593201?s=20

[David Walston, for those who don't know my username here]

 

[dontknowanything]

I read the brief biographies. Anyone with Nfu or Nfu Scotland I voted no for. Many of them very much seemed like greasy pole climbers. May have been unfair on the odd candidate (I have read articles by some of them but know none of them personally) but a very reasonable way of screening in my view. I also voted no to the “trade” member. I think that left me with 1 farmer and a Niab agronomist.
I nominate @Feldspar and @Clive to represent me.
On a serious note, how did the new members get nominated? By existing members? Seems very Nfu like, not exactly democratic . Without thorough extensive reform I’d vote no in a yes no referendum on the future of the ahdb.

I did suggest to @Feldspar that he should apply for the position earlier this year. I don't believe he or @Clive did apply, so can't really complain about not being involved. [Not that either of them are, to be very clear]

 

[willyorkshire]

I voted yes for DW. I voted for the younger contingent as I thought they'd have less baggage and more in touch with their generation - the generation that now matters in agriculture. Tin hat secure.

 

[warksfarmer]

I'd certainly be interested to hear why any of you would believe I'm a freeloader/NFU careerist/corporate shill, or anything else that would disqualify me from being a good representative on the AHDB Council?

Just as a starter, for those not on Twitter, here's a thread I posted recently about AHDB.

https://x.com/OOOfarmer/status/1709565256450593201?s=20

[David Walston, for those who don't know my username here]

Had the AHDB sent me the email allowing me to vote I would have voted for you without hesitation. Having had zero information from them even though a levy player, my hands are tied.

 

[ajd132]

Had the AHDB sent me the email allowing me to vote I would have voted for you without hesitation. Having had zero information from them even though a levy player, my hands are tied.

I think you had to have signed up for something earlier in the year.
i voted david in as i know he isn’t the usual type to frequent these boards and trust his motives.

 

[warksfarmer]

I think you had to have signed up for something earlier in the year.
i voted david in as i know he isn’t the usual type to frequent these boards and trust his motives.

I did and voted in the last one.

 

[dontknowanything]

I did and voted in the last one.

worth asking what has happened to your email, might be a technical problem?

 

[dontknowanything]

I should also say, I have worked with the other council memebrs up for another term, and would vote for them again, if I were allowed (cannot vote whwn you're on the ballot). I cannot say the same for the new memebrs, only because I've met them once briefly. However, I do trust Tom Clarke, who has been involve closely in recruiting them.

I understand the possible hesitation in voting for non farmer members, but it is plain to see that farmer levy payers make up the large majority of the council.

 

[SilliamWhale]

I'd certainly be interested to hear why any of you would believe I'm a freeloader/NFU careerist/corporate shill, or anything else that would disqualify me from being a good representative on the AHDB Council?

Just as a starter, for those not on Twitter, here's a thread I posted recently about AHDB.

https://x.com/OOOfarmer/status/1709565256450593201?s=20

[David Walston, for those who don't know my username here]

I don't think your a freeloader etc at all.

Didn't you say I a tweet though that you hadn't done a lot by your own admission in your time there?

So I suppose the question is, why do you think with more money you will be any different?

I suppose you have more experience and confidence now so that can make a difference.

My own view is this is good time for organisations to cut their cloth accordingly and save money, I mean it's what the farmer is being told to do constantly

 

[Levy Believer]

not nominated- the role is advertised, people apply and are interviewed, these are paid roles

if it’s like the way RT do it they probably use NFU’s HR department as well …. it’s actually defra that oversea this though i think as it’s a public appointment

basically a key requirement for any of these roles is complete allegiance to the NFU

Hi Clive, (Tom Clarke here)

We definitely do not use NFU HR department!

AHDB is a public body, set up by Government.

I have advertised, interviewed and selected the two new candidates, and put them forward for Ratification by Levy payers.

I also had to approve the existing Council members who wanted to serve a second and final term, and am putting them forward for Ratification by Levypayers too.

This is the process I myself went through last year to win a place on the Sector Council (before I applied to be the Chairman).

I am farmer and a levypayer, as well as having been appointed by Government ministers to be the Cereals & Oilseeds Sector Chairman and sit on the AHDB Board.

I am also an elected member of the Sugar Board (not a public body) for which any sugar grower can stand if nominated, and for which appointments are made following a full election (assuming there are enough candidates for it to be contested).

So I have experience of both full democracy via the Sugar Board, and the government appointment system through AHDB.

The ratification of appointments by Levypayers is a major step forward for AHDB in terms of accountability to levypayers. But you are right it isn't, yet, as democratic as the Sugar Board.

I certainly wouldn't be against getting the government to agree to fuller democracy for the AHDB. Off the top of my head though I can't think of any other public body that gives as much influence to its customers, even though at present this is limited to ratification of appointments and reappointments.

The reason they are being put before levypayers is because they have earned my own recommendation, and I believe they each bring something to the team - and this is very much a team effort.

I would ask all levy payers to support my recommendations and vote Yes to ratify.

I'll happily put my case in each individual in turn.

Look out for a new thread on here shortly.

 

[Levy Believer]

Be like all these types of vote, just keep redoing it till they get the answer they want, simples. like they think farmers are.

Absolutely not.

If the candidates I've put forward for Ratification by Levypayers don't get a majority "yes" vote they will not sit on the Sector Council.

I wouldn't have put them forward if I didn't want them on my team, and believe they can help me deliver more value to levy payers. So obvious I want them to be ratified, but if they aren't, they won't.

 

[Clive]

I don't deny that is true you are overlooking two important points.

1. The industry still appears to be stuck in a 1960's mindset with people born in 1960 or earlier being the bulk of the decision makers. Hence the persistence of things like the yellow peril and the FG which a lot of people buy no matter how much we try to deny it.

2. No amount of twitter waffle/google jangling will ever upset the same number of people as a nice big advert in FG landing in the lap of some old Joe at his own breakfast table.

can't disagree with either point (sadly)

 

[Clive]

I'd certainly be interested to hear why any of you would believe I'm a freeloader/NFU careerist/corporate shill, or anything else that would disqualify me from being a good representative on the AHDB Council?

Just as a starter, for those not on Twitter, here's a thread I posted recently about AHDB.

https://x.com/OOOfarmer/status/1709565256450593201?s=20

[David Walston, for those who don't know my username here]

Daivd - you are the only guy I actually feel might represent me on that list

My issue isn't wit any individual however its with the process, it should be a proper election and not juts a ratification of those selected IMO

 

[Levy Believer]

What proportion of the AHDB’s income comes from (compulsory) levies paid by farmers?
What actual real say do farmers get in deciding the direction of the AHDB?
What’s the point asking me to help crown their appointees when I had zero say in their appointment?

A sham exercise to give the veneer of democracy, and I’m paying for it.

It varies by sector.

In Cereals and Oilseeds growers currently pay about 83% of the levy, with merchants and processor paying the rest.

The Shape Your Future Vote last year was the first time levypayers have ever been directly consulted as to what activities should or should not continue.

You are now also being asked to ratify appointments and reappointments to the Sector Council, if you wish.

Not a full democracy, by any means, but more say in how your levy is invested that ever before, and more than in any other public body I can think of.

Always room for improvement though...

 

[Levy Believer]

The whole voting process is undemocratic, they don't have a list of levy payers so how can they have a vote? I for one have not been emailed. I would like to ask the AHDB how the list is constructed.

I would love to have a list of all levy payers.

We asked the government to allow us to have that information. They consulted with the "industry" who I understand said it would be too difficult/legally dodgy (just before my time), and so the government turned down our request.

Personally, I think it is ridiculous- akin to HMRC not being able to have the contact details of taxpayers. But we are where we are.

So, yes, we have contact details of roughly 75% of levy payers in Cereals and Oilseed (we think) all of which has been volunteered directly by levy payers themselves. But we are in the position where we rely on levypayers giving us their details, and keeping our permission to use it up to date.

 

[Levy Believer]

Daivd - you are the only guy I actually feel might represent me on that list

My issue isn't wit any individual however its with the process, it should be a proper election and not juts a ratification of those selected IMO

I agree. David does a fab job. One lots of Levypayers would be grateful for if they knew more about it.

Would have been nice (and constructive) if you would have voted for him, Clive.

 

[Clive]

Hi Clive, (Tom Clarke here)

We definitely do not use NFU HR department!

AHDB is a public body, set up by Government.

I have advertised, interviewed and selected the two new candidates, and put them forward for Ratification by Levy payers.

I also had to approve the existing Council members who wanted to serve a second and final term, and am putting them forward for Ratification by Levypayers too.

This is the process I myself went through last year to win a place on the Sector Council (before I applied to be the Chairman).

I am farmer and a levypayer, as well as having been appointed by Government ministers to be the Cereals & Oilseeds Sector Chairman and sit on the AHDB Board.

I am also an elected member of the Sugar Board (not a public body) for which any sugar grower can stand if nominated, and for which appointments are made following a full election (assuming there are enough candidates for it to be contested).

So I have experience of both full democracy via the Sugar Board, and the government appointment system through AHDB.

The ratification of appointments by Levypayers is a major step forward for AHDB in terms of accountability to levypayers. But you are right it isn't, yet, as democratic as the Sugar Board.

I certainly wouldn't be against getting the government to agree to fuller democracy for the AHDB. Off the top of my head though I can't think of any other public body that gives as much influence to its customers, even though at present this is limited to ratification of appointments and reappointments.

The reason they are being put before levypayers is because they have earned my own recommendation, and I believe they each bring something to the team - and this is very much a team effort.

I would ask all levy payers to support my recommendations and vote Yes to ratify.

I'll happily put my case in each individual in turn.

Look out for a new thread on here shortly.

Thanks Tom

good to hear you confirm that NFU HR don't recruit for AHDB ( I did say I knew that however, my comment was an attempt at sarcasm following revelations this week that RT chair was recruited by NFU HR !)

I know (my post did state) it's a public appointment but as you openly admit in your post that you "advertised, interviewed and selected the two new candidates". As you also say you are extremely heavily linked with the NFU (a likely future president some might say !) so excuse me for being not completely convinced there is no potential conflict of interest there

Why cant't levy payers themselves be asked to propose / nominate candidates they want to represent them and them vote on those candidates ? Thats the openly democratic process that it's clear from this thread and many others that farmers want to see


As an aside .................I applied for a board position myself once (change form within and all that !) and didn't even get an interview, the particular position IIRC not only wanted a levy payer experienced in cereals and oilseeds (I have been one for 30years) but I recall also wanted knowlage of digital ag (media and KE) where I'm pretty confident no-one has my level of experience or expertise or success, certainly a decent enough to at leats get opportunity for interview you would image ? I also stated on my application that any remuneration should go to farming charities.
However that aside I had a call from AHDB Chairman to discuss why they "couldn't possibly have someone with such alternative views on a board and I would surely understand that ?" firstly I'm shocked that a Chair would get involved with recruitment ! and secondly is it really healthy to have a board that DOESN'T have alternative views ?

Excuse my scepticism but there is a clear croos over between NFU / AHDB and RT boards that is a little beyond conicidence IMO

 

[Clive]

I agree. David does a fab job. One lots of Levypayers would be grateful for if they knew more about it.

Would have been nice (and constructive) if you would have voted for him, Clive.

I can't vote for a process that I don't agree with, doing so would be supporting that process / giving it credibility it does not deserve IMO

(Sorry David !)

 

[dontknowanything]

I don't think your a freeloader etc at all.

Didn't you say I a tweet though that you hadn't done a lot by your own admission in your time there?

So I suppose the question is, why do you think with more money you will be any different?

I suppose you have more experience and confidence now so that can make a difference.

My own view is this is good time for organisations to cut their cloth accordingly and save money, I mean it's what the farmer is being told to do constantly

The cloth has been cut, every year since the last levy increase. That’s a long time ago.

IMO the levy increase is not about more of the same, it’s about more, full stop. I detailed my vision for it in the Twitter thread linked above.