and here come the NFU....

[Derrick Hughes]

It’s not waste if it’s fed to animals

If it finds its way back to animals no
There is two classes of waste though isn't there. The mis shaped veg and stuff like cider apple waste brewery waste beet pulp etc

 

[gone up the hill]

When are you going to join the NFU to contribute properly rather than mudslinging from a safe distance?

I was a NFU member, had 2 issues that I badly needed help with and are what the NFU should be helping members with, on 1 issue I was told I wasn't a large enough farmer to receive help and on the other issue ( getting a TB buying licence ) the NFU staff member who's job remite was to deal with the TB issue didn't have a clue what he was talking about and had no idea about TB ( ie for example didn't know what a IR was ) and told me that I should sort it out myself!

And the above person was on over 50k a year and basically did sweet FA to help members!

So what the hell is the point of being a NFU ,member when they wont help you when you need them @kfpben ???

As someone said to me the other day: I have been a lifelong NFU member ( chap is 70 ) but have quit because the NFU are failing to stand up for the very people they are meant to be representing! what can you say to that when its true??

They trying to get me to rejoin currently I should mention!

 

[delilah]

R4 have just carried the Goldsmiths College story. An NFU spokesperson was quoted as saying "To single out one food item is simplistic".
Er, no. It's not simplistic. It's wrong. Say so.
Simplistic is half way to apologetic. It's like all these graphs that say 'cows only produce x% of pollution, but aeroplanes produce y%'.
Stupid, stupid, stupid.
Do you see the vegan society producing graphs showing the environmental damage of almond milk ?
attack, attack, attack !

 

[Dave6170]

Goldsmith university have banned beef! Ffs a place of research and learning!

 

[icanshootwell]

What's all this about Herefordshire apples ? Thousands of apple trees are being ripped up in the county because the cider producers of Hereford can import dehydrated apple juice from France . We were encouraged to plant more trees and they were even supplied by Bulmers 8 yrs ago saying these are the varieties we will want for the next 20 yrs only to be told 2 yrs ago we are not renewing contracts as we find it more economical to get it in in powder form and just add water !!
The NFU are obviously not aware of that !

Is the one from Marcle buying from France too.

 

[Hilly]

T the time is long past FOR PR MARKETING ETC needs professional people company’s to take that on not tweed clad old farmers .

To be fair, Tesco have been expanding their producer groups in recent years, so will have a larger dedicated UK supply.

And yet the Germans support us without the fuss/bulls**t without scrutinising accounts etc and giving Tesco a good run for their money.

 

[neilo]

And yet the Germans support us without the fuss/bullpoo without scrutinising accounts etc and giving Tesco a good run for their money.

However, those German supermarkets are buying very cheap UK meat to ‘support us’, whilst the various supermarket dedicated producer groups are all getting premiums, to one degree or another. Which model is ‘supporting’ better?

 

[Hilly]

However, those German supermarkets are buying very cheap UK meat to ‘support us’, whilst the various supermarket dedicated producer groups are all getting premiums, to one degree or another. Which model is ‘supporting’ better?

They are all buying it cheap due to supply, why do Tesco want to see accounts ?

 

[Henarar]

one is supporting us and the other is supporting a few to look good while dividing and ruling

 

[Henarar]

They are all buying it cheap due to supply, why do Tesco want to see accounts ?

quite
why not just offer a price

 

[neilo]

They are all buying it cheap due to supply, why do Tesco want to see accounts ?

That’s just the model they’ve chosen, where they base the group price on COP (which includes a salary that most farmers wouldn’t be earning normally). In order to do that, they have to establish what COP is somehow. Most of the data they get is already freely available through freely published coatings figures.
Other supermarkets are requiring carbon audits, locomotion scoring, antibiotic reductions plans, etc.

Of course, it’s all about PR, so those buyers can point to a group of suppliers and show how they are supporting them, whilst buying the majority of their supply as cheaply as those Germans are.

 

[Hilly]

quite
why not just offer a price

Indeed why not ? What are they up to ? Cos what ever they doing it ain’t working .

 

[Hilly]

That’s just the model they’ve chosen, where they base the group price on COP (which includes a salary that most farmers wouldn’t be earning normally). In order to do that, they have to establish what COP is somehow. Most of the data they get is already freely available through freely published coatings figures.
Other supermarkets are requiring carbon audits, locomotion scoring, antibiotic reductions plans, etc.

Of course, it’s all about PR, so those buyers can point to a group of suppliers and show how they are supporting them, whilst buying the majority of their supply as cheaply as those Germans are.

How generous of them, I wonder what the share holders think of their generosity of offering mr farmer a wee wage over cop and a wee wage over other farmers while their profits tumble?

 

[neilo]

How generous of them, I wonder what the share holders think of their generosity of offering mr farmer a wee wage over cop and a wee wage over other farmers while their profits tumble?

Would you be happier if they just bought it all as cheaply as they can, like your German heroes?

Clearly it’s just a PR exercise, none of the supermarkets have any loyalty to anyone but their shareholders, but at least some producers get to see a benefit from it. The dairy groups have been going for 10 years or more now, and you would struggle to find a member that would let you prise one of those contracts out of their hands.

 

[milkloss]

Would you be happier if they just bought it all as cheaply as they can, like your German heroes?

Clearly it’s just a PR exercise, none of the supermarkets have any loyalty to anyone but their shareholders, but at least some producers get to see a benefit from it. The dairy groups have been going for 10 years or more now, and you would struggle to find a member that would let you prise one of those contracts out of their hands.

Yes but it’s disingenuous of them to say they are paying ‘farmers’ a fair price. What the customer doesn’t know is that the land that is farmed on the other side of their garden hedge is very likely not a Tesco farm.

 

[matthew]

Our small independent dairy had Lidl as one of their first big customers.
I understand that they were very fair to deal with. Needed much less credit and paid a good price. Their profit comes from no frills stores, and no frills staff.
Another local independent dairy now supplies them.

It was the mighty Tescopoly who boasted of pushing purchase prices down on their producers / processors - while using dedicated producer groups as window dressing..

 

[Hfd Cattle]

Is the one from Marcle buying from France too.

Not at the moment . But if a take over was to happen then it might change

 

[Northernlights]

Just to be even handed in my opinion Goldsmiths should refuse to take students or employ lecturers who fly more than once a year.

 

[Poncherello1976]

Just to be even handed in my opinion Goldsmiths should refuse to take students or employ lecturers who fly more than once a year.

Surely even students from abroad full stop. Though I think they pay higher fees, so cant see that happening.

 

[Tarw Coch]

The dairy groups have been going for 10 years or more now, and you would struggle to find a member that would let you prise one of those contracts out of their hands.

Some have walked away from supermarket contracts as they’re too much mither, plenty of others who talk the talk.