AHDB would like to make clear its position regarding annual funding provided to Red Tractor

[SilliamWhale]

AIC are next in the sights.

The other thing that has been revealed by the emails is the AHDB behaviour in all this. They have actively teamed up with other organisations to act against farmers interests and we have seen these emails thanks to FOI. Its a terrible stain on our industry - diabolical. I'm not sure how this can go ignored going forward - you really need ethical people in the right positions employed by these levy boards and if there is a feeling there are the wrong ones then we will need to lobby to get the right sort of people in to represent us even if we accept compulsory levy

 

[Luke Cropwalker]

Well done to the AHDB for listening to the levy payers, you would almost think there is some sort of industry consultation and vote in the near future.

 

[Chris F]

Already doing the rounds on whatsapp:

 

[Vader]

Personally I think it reads not great.
They have wrote it to look good, but at same time left loophole.
They can/will fund RT if think its a good reason to. Who decides that?

All smacks of trying to save their fat pay cheques as worried levy payers will vote to disband them.

I won't trust them until the board is replaced and replaced by ppl voted on by levy payers.
Current board were happy to pi$$ in the same pot as rt/NFU/aic until they seen risk to their positions.
They said this to save own skins, not to help farmers.

 

[teslacoils]

If have provided seed funding via a loan, especially if I was a guarantor of the receiving company. Just writing a cheque seems, well, stupid.

 

[Clive]

Finally AHDB beginning to stand up for their levy payers

there are parts of that statement I don't believe are 100% correct BUT its a good start

Dead Tractor management and the NFU will NOT be amused by this

 

[willy]

AHDB are only UK - so I read it as UK. We know consumers want assurance. Sometimes that assurance is just that it is UK and legal product, sometimes its more. I talk to loads of my non-farming friends (mostly men) and very few know about Red Tractor - but they all know about a union jack on food and associate that with better standards.

We know what consumers from supermarkets want, cheap prices... But go to local butchers and they will pay a premium and the butcher will most likely know the farm. Its a real simple system

 

[principal skinner]

Finally AHDB beginning to stand up for their levy payers

there are parts of that statement I don't believe are 100% correct BUT its a good start

Dead Tractor management and the NFU will NOT be amused by this

The NFU ignored us to its peril.
Big changes ahead in the next few years and we need/want and demand people on our side

 

[Chris F]

We know what consumers from supermarkets want, cheap prices... But go to local butchers and they will pay a premium and the butcher will most likely know the farm. Its a real simple system

When asked for advice - that tends to be it. Buy from a local butcher and if you still have one, as local green grocer.

It is that simple.

 

[Clive]

The NFU ignored us to its peril.
Big changes ahead in the next few years and we need/want and demand people on our side

Well now AHDB have made their position clear its time the NFU at least did the same IMO ............ I won't hold my breath however !!

 

[tullah]

These corrupt jokers hiding behind that reassuring word assurance, have cost all farmers many thousands in lost income over the years and the next stage is to get substantial recompense from them.

Wait and see what the outcome of all this is going to be.

 

[robbie]

It reads to me as typical government body waffle, there's several loopholes and it does seem like they're saying what we want to hear to keep us quiet.
The whole top levels of AHDB needs a refresh.
I was talking to someone connected to the AHDB and he said on the ground there was a lot of very good staff doing very good things but at the top it was rotten to the core and he was pretty sure it wouldnt be here in a few years time, perhaps this reality has now dawned on then and theyre scrambling around trying to save there own skins.

 

[Clive]

It reads to me as typical government body waffle, there's several loopholes and it does seem like they're saying what we want to hear to keep us quiet.
The whole top levels of AHDB needs a refresh.
I was talking to someone connected to the AHDB and he said on the ground there was a lot of very good staff doing very good things but at the top it was rotten to the core and he was pretty sure it wouldnt be here in a few years time, perhaps this reality has now dawned on then and theyre scrambling around trying to save there own skins.

There are some good guys at the top as well

but also a LOT of rot as well


I sincerely hope they make the changes they need to before its too late, this is a big statement for AHDB. Just yesterday I was reading a email from RT to AHDB obtained under a FOIR saying they should get together to make sure their statements and responses were aligned - that just shows how in bed with one another these organizations WERE ......... clearly not now ........ this is divorce !

 

[ajd132]

It reads to me as typical government body waffle, there's several loopholes and it does seem like they're saying what we want to hear to keep us quiet.
The whole top levels of AHDB needs a refresh.
I was talking to someone connected to the AHDB and he said on the ground there was a lot of very good staff doing very good things but at the top it was rotten to the core and he was pretty sure it wouldnt be here in a few years time, perhaps this reality has now dawned on then and theyre scrambling around trying to save there own skins.

The top has just had a whole refresh in the last year

 

[robbie]

The top has just had a whole refresh in the last year

I didn't know that, it's just what he said and he is heavily involved with them.

 

[SilliamWhale]

We must never allow our industry to be polluted with parasites like Red Tractor ever again for the sake of all the farmers who come after us.

Remember we are not talking about breaking laws, regulations or anything like that. The standards of the product we produce do not change.

We are taking about providing produce for our home markets and we must resist any attempt for RT to claim they have absolutely anything to bring to the party - they've had 20 years to get their act together and they've proved themselves useless at providing any sort of premium for 20 years.

 

[carbonfibre farmer]

Was this statement to placate you today, @Chris F in your meeting with them?

I'm very cynical about what they are trying to achieve and their ability to "listen" and "change"
The duplicity from the FOI makes me think not, regardless of this statement. It certainly helps BUT has typical civil service like speak. Ability in there to twist and turn.

Can you say what was discussed and reactions from the meeting @Chris F ?

 

[warksfarmer]

There is nothing good in the RT, AHDB, NFU and AIC. It’s all corrupt and they are all now trying to hide and delete evidence.

 

[tullah]

We must never allow our industry to be polluted with parasites like Red Tractor ever again for the sake of all the farmers who come after us.

Remember we are not talking about breaking laws, regulations or anything like that. The standards of the product we produce do not change.

We are taking about providing produce for our home markets and we must resist any attempt for RT to claim they have absolutely anything to bring to the party - they've had 20 years to get their act together and they've proved themselves useless at providing any sort of premium for 20 years.

Right from the start it was never their intention to produce us a premium.
It was instigated purely for their own financial gain at our expense. There are people involved who should have known better and they saw us as a financial opportunity, never thinking for a moment that they could be overturned.

 

[robbie]

How long is it before we can request the emails from today's statement????

I wouldn't mind betting there's a email somewhere saying "right chaps(AIC/NFU/RT) were going to release a statement it'll say lots of things but don't panic its business as usual, we've just got to be SEEN to be doing something to quieten those pesky levy payers who are belly aching about us all"