AHDB survey

DRC

Member
Sorry can’t remember the name, I think it was on the link posted the other day
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Grass And Grain

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Yorks
I had the survey call this morning (01904732249)

Yes AHDB do some very good work . . . But

I let them know my views about Red Tractor funding from AHDB etc

Reign in Red Tractor or lose the vote.

Don't miss the chance to tell them what you think
Nice.

Imagine there are many farmers who don't realise AHDB have been giving funding to RT, or that AHDB are guarantors to RT. Also imagine most farmers would disagree with levy payers funding RT - at least in the cereals sector.
 

simon w

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Hayling Island
It seems if I understand the article in this weeks FW correctly that the AHDB are not intending to have a vote on the continuation of the levy. They now want the vote that they had promised next year to be about what we want them to do with our money. I think this shows they have twisted their promises for a vote because they know if they give farmers a chance to vote on their future it could be the finish for them, . The potato and horticulture sectors forced their own vote and with a large majority voted to stop the levy, now 8 months have past and the minister has done nothing about it. As with RT it is time for an end of the deception and lies. We must call for a proper vote on the continuation of the AHDB and an investigation into their funding of RT.
 

Grass And Grain

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Yorks
It seems if I understand the article in this weeks FW correctly that the AHDB are not intending to have a vote on the continuation of the levy. They now want the vote that they had promised next year to be about what we want them to do with our money. I think this shows they have twisted their promises for a vote because they know if they give farmers a chance to vote on their future it could be the finish for them, . The potato and horticulture sectors forced their own vote and with a large majority voted to stop the levy, now 8 months have past and the minister has done nothing about it. As with RT it is time for an end of the deception and lies. We must call for a proper vote on the continuation of the AHDB and an investigation into their funding of RT.
They thought funding RT was a great idea, bringing consumer confidence etc.

Members of staff from AHDB sit on the RT boards and they are company guarantors to RT.

They didn't stop to think they were funding a private company which worked to cut off markets for levy payers. Levy payers either needed to join RT (and have that extra layer of cost) to gain the exact same market access as imports that didn't have any FA requirements imposed on them, or alternatively if the levy payer wasn't prepared to join RT then they now couldn't sell their grain to a simple local feed mill.

It was obvious backing RT was going to cause this.

A marketing and developmemt board which has helped cut off our own markets vs easier access for imports.

Words fail me.

Still, let's look forward. AHDB need to get us (grain sector) same market access that imports can have - via a pesticide declaration. Then with a bit of reform, we'll love the AHDB, and everyone is happy.
 
It seems if I understand the article in this weeks FW correctly that the AHDB are not intending to have a vote on the continuation of the levy. They now want the vote that they had promised next year to be about what we want them to do with our money. I think this shows they have twisted their promises for a vote because they know if they give farmers a chance to vote on their future it could be the finish for them, . The potato and horticulture sectors forced their own vote and with a large majority voted to stop the levy, now 8 months have past and the minister has done nothing about it. As with RT it is time for an end of the deception and lies. We must call for a proper vote on the continuation of the AHDB and an investigation into their funding of RT.
They may or may not have changed their intentions on giving farmers a vote on their future, but as far as I’m aware the fact that if enough farmers write to them asking for a ballot on their future, as happened in the potato and horticulture sectors, they still are bound to hold one.
 

simon w

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Hayling Island
The problem is they don't know who the levy payers are so how can we call for a vote? The potato and hort sectors paid directly on area or turnover so were registered. I grow potatoes and was please to vote to end the levy but nothing has been done and they will still try to collect the money.
 
The problem is they don't know who the levy payers are so how can we call for a vote? The potato and hort sectors paid directly on area or turnover so were registered. I grow potatoes and was please to vote to end the levy but nothing has been done and they will still try to collect the money.
In the Case of spuds I thought it was agreed to be ended, although not immediately, with 12 months or so to wind it up meaning another years levy would be payable, I don’t think that year has passed yet has it?

Presumably the cereal producers can call for a vote by writing to them and asking for one.
It would seem a lot would like a vote, social media could be used to coordinate letters all to be sent in together so that it was known how many were sent, if ahdb were to say these weren’t enough then presumably they must have an idea of the numbers.
 

neilo

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Montgomeryshire
Surely it would be extreme folly to vote to end the only independent research & marketing agency we have in the UK?

Maybe change/tweak it, but an awful lot of independent research and the associated information flow would just stop if AHDB was lost, handing power over to whichever large company could mount the most convincing marketing campaign.
Surely nobody thinks that can be a good move?
 

simon w

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Hayling Island
Surely it would be extreme folly to vote to end the only independent research & marketing agency we have in the UK?

Maybe change/tweak it, but an awful lot of independent research and the associated information flow would just stop if AHDB was lost, handing power over to whichever large company could mount the most convincing marketing campaign.
Surely nobody thinks that can be a good move?
The potato and Horticulture sectors thought it go move and £250,000 a year to RT not a good move either.
 

neilo

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Montgomeryshire
The potato and Horticulture sectors thought it go move and £250,000 a year to RT not a good move either.

The potato and horticulture sectors are the domain of fewer, and mostly huge, operations who have far less to gain from independent research and information flow.

I agree on the RT funding, but that has been/can be changed. Throwing the baby out with the bath water would be sheer folly imo.
 

steveR

Member
Mixed Farmer
Surely it would be extreme folly to vote to end the only independent research & marketing agency we have in the UK?

Maybe change/tweak it, but an awful lot of independent research and the associated information flow would just stop if AHDB was lost, handing power over to whichever large company could mount the most convincing marketing campaign.
Surely nobody thinks that can be a good move?
Probably not a good move at all. But does it need the threat of extinction to make AHDB change their ways with regard to supporting RT?

The removal of support for RT is a great first step, but not the end though.
 

Hindsight

Member
Location
Lincolnshire
In the Case of spuds I thought it was agreed to be ended, although not immediately, with 12 months or so to wind it up meaning another years levy would be payable, I don’t think that year has passed yet has it?

Presumably the cereal producers can call for a vote by writing to them and asking for one.
It would seem a lot would like a vote, social media could be used to coordinate letters all to be sent in together so that it was known how many were sent, if ahdb were to say these weren’t enough then presumably they must have an idea of the numbers.

The potato and Horticulture sectors thought it go move and £250,000 a year to RT not a good move either.

The potato and horticulture sectors are the domain of fewer, and mostly huge, operations who have far less to gain from independent research and information flow.

I agree on the RT funding, but that has been/can be changed. Throwing the baby out with the bath water would be sheer folly imo.


I sent some potato samples into Sutton Bridge last week for disease analysis. Member of staff told me the site will close on December 17th. The staff are working out redundancy period. A rare research institute - probably one of one in the world. Not aware of any rescue operations yet that might come to fruition. Thought major processors / packer etc would put together a package for Sutton Bridge. Never expected growers to do anything. Hey ho.
 

simon w

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Hayling Island
In the Case of spuds I thought it was agreed to be ended, although not immediately, with 12 months or so to wind it up meaning another years levy would be payable, I don’t think that year has passed yet has it?

Presumably the cereal producers can call for a vote by writing to them and asking for one.
It would seem a lot would like a vote, social media could be used to coordinate letters all to be sent in together so that it was known how many were sent, if ahdb were to say these weren’t enough then presumably they must have an idea of the numbers.
I have not heard from the AHDB sense the last email I enclose.It would be helpful if they clarified this issue as I have a suspicion they may be planning to avoid closing down.
Dear Grower,

Re: 2021 Potato Planting Levy Returns - Online Portal now open



We write to update you on the position for the AHDB levy in 2021 in light of the recent ballot in the Potato sector. As you may be aware the formal decision on what happens next to AHDB and grower/buyer levy lies with government Ministers in England, Wales and Scotland and has not been communicated to date. Ministers have instructed AHDB to collect a levy for 2021/22 which we are legally bound to do – at whatever levy rate Ministers approve. This means AHDB legally needs to send out returns to collect the data. However, we will not issue invoices for payment until the Ministers have considered and made a decision on any changes to the 2021/22 levy rates. We are not in control of the timing of that process but will let levy payers know as we soon as we do.

Please be assured that the team at AHDB has heard and is responding to the ballot, and whilst we have updated you on the legal position, we are looking to actively reduce costs and liabilities for the sector and cutting activity. We are doing this by planning to wind down and stop all activity other than where the work is of the highest use to the industry, already contracted research or a managed transition may be needed.

The intent is to use reserves to help manage this change to ensure the 2021/22 levy is at the lowest possible rate.

As we are using reserves in preference to collecting any additional levy, the level of reserves is key. Unfortunately, we have limited reserves in Potatoes so the flexibility to amend levy rates will be limited. At present the approved levy rate is the same as last year and whether that will be able to change will depend on how liabilities can be reduced and Ministerial decisions.



The portal is now open to submit your Potato Planting return. As a levy payer at this time, you remain legally obliged to make a Return by June 1st 2021. Action to collect outstanding Returns will be a shorter time later than usual given the timing of this communication to you. Note that an Estimate would have to be raised if your Return(s) has not been made at the point we enact a Ministerial decision. Submitting your levy return by the due date will safeguard from receiving an Estimate. Please note AHDB will continue to monitor and audit Returns, as we have done every year. This is to ensure a fair Levy mechanism in what we expect to be the last year of the current levy system.



We understand you may be dealing with operating pressures owing to the Coronavirus pandemic. If you are, then please contact us and we will work with you, supporting you making the Return in the time frame stated above.



Please use this link to access the portal https://levyportal.ahdb.org.uk. Your login information will remain the same as last year using your email address and password. We are no longer able to re-set or give reminders for passwords, to re-set your password please follow link for “Forgot Your Password?” Your email address must be registered on the system in order to re-set a password.



If you have any queries about your levy return or levy payment, please contact the team on 02476 978378 or [email protected] and they will be on hand to help and aim to respond within 2 working days.



The knowledge exchange team here at AHDB remain on hand as always. To contact the team please visit https://ahdb.org.uk/meet-the-team-potatoes



Yours faithfully





Naveen Gupta

Finance Director

Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

  • 0 %

    Votes: 79 42.2%
  • Up to 25%

    Votes: 65 34.8%
  • 25-50%

    Votes: 30 16.0%
  • 50-75%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 75-100%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 100% I’ve had enough of farming!

    Votes: 7 3.7%

Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

  • 1,289
  • 1
As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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