Andrew Blenkiron

[snarling bee]

It shows how tone deaf the NFU are to put him that that position. they literally know better than the “average” farmer.

I think it's pretty poor judgement by the NFU.

I don't know, but he was possibly the only person prepared to take on the role for the next 2 years.
Do you think the "NFU" have a say in who is county chairman? It is whoever is voted in by the membership. If there is only one standing do you blame the NFU? or stand yourself next time around? I'm not sure the "NFU" can veto anybody chosen by the members even if they wanted to.

The fact the headline has called him Suffolk's "Top Farmer" is a phase entirely dreamt up by the journalist. If it was me I would have been very uncomfortable with that headline.

 

[ajd132]

Anyone from Suffolk on TFF care to

I don't know, but he was possibly the only person prepared to take on the role for the next 2 years.
Do you think the "NFU" have a say in who is county chairman? It is whoever is voted in by the membership. If there is only one standing do you blame the NFU? or stand yourself next time around? I'm not sure the "NFU" can veto anybody chosen by the members even if they wanted to.

The fact the headline has called him Suffolk's "Top Farmer" is a phase entirely dreamt up by the journalist. If it was me I would have been very uncomfortable with that headline.

I’m no longer a member so don’t really care and to be honest was never really communicated anything like this anyway. But i do agree with you, a lot of the time with these kind of jobs its a very small amount of people actually want to do them so I wouldn’t be surprised if he was the only option.

 

[MrNoo]

" Farm as your grandfather farmed ". He's growing on me............

Yup, stubble burning back, the most sensible thing he's said for eons

 

[T Hectares]

Yup, stubble burning back, the most sensible thing he's said for eons

Stubble burning, IPU, gramoxone, CTL and intervention stores, no adblue, NVZ’s CS or ELM’s

I’m now thinking he’s got one thing right

 

[Clive]

Firstly a prospective chairman needs to be proposed by 20 members, and then receive the majority vote at the AGM, if there was more than one candidate.
Bit like a lot of other organisations I suspect.

seriously bad judgment - really highlights how out of touch the NFU have become

 

[Clive]

Theory and practice, doesn’t always follow that procedure (which is allowable in the rules)

promise of another role was probably part of the resignation package

it‘s how politics works

 

[Humble Village Farmer]

It's an indication of the non farmers union losing touch with what remains of its farming membership.

They seem to be more of a commercial organisation or holding company, with the dead tractor and the insurance business as part of its portfolio, along with taking large sums of money in exchange for helping drive policy for the processing and retail sector. Countryside members make their own contributions to corporate profits.

It's really very difficult to see what good the nfu actually does for farmers; most of what I see is cost and real harm to consumers, producers and the environment with the only real benefit going to its corporate members. Avoid.

 

[texelburger]

I don't know, but he was possibly the only person prepared to take on the role for the next 2 years.
Do you think the "NFU" have a say in who is county chairman? It is whoever is voted in by the membership. If there is only one standing do you blame the NFU? or stand yourself next time around? I'm not sure the "NFU" can veto anybody chosen by the members even if they wanted to.

The fact the headline has called him Suffolk's "Top Farmer" is a phase entirely dreamt up by the journalist. If it was me I would have been very uncomfortable with that headline.

If there is a lack of people putting themselves forward it runs the risk of having, perhaps,people in charge without the desired qualities to be chairmen. These people can then work themselves into prime positions within the organisation.For such a large union it must be a little disconcerting that these people could be sat at the top table representing the NFU.

 

[graham mc]

why are some farmers still paying money to the nfu??

 

[Steevo]

It's an indication of the non farmers union losing touch with what remains of its farming membership.

They seem to be more of a commercial organisation or holding company, with the dead tractor and the insurance business as part of its portfolio, along with taking large sums of money in exchange for helping drive policy for the processing and retail sector. Countryside members make their own contributions to their corporate profits.

It's really very difficult to see what good the nfu actually does for farmers; most of what I see is cost and real harm to consumers, producers and the environment with the only real benefit going to its corporate members. Avoid.

Looking at the case of Natural England Knows Best (https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/natural-england-knows-best.299845/) on here, there is a SIGNIFICANT amount more the employees of NFU policy dept could be doing to help farmers at the moment before they end up in a situation like @ajcc .

 

[Will Blackburn]

I don't know, but he was possibly the only person prepared to take on the role for the next 2 years.
Do you think the "NFU" have a say in who is county chairman? It is whoever is voted in by the membership. If there is only one standing do you blame the NFU? or stand yourself next time around?

Typically in Cheshire it’s not a competitive appointment. More worryingly this person and the county representative cast the votes for top national positions. This is the biggest brake on the NFU doing the members bidding.

 

[snarling bee]

seriously bad judgment - really highlights how out of touch the NFU have become

I can't comment on Suffolk.

Typically in Cheshire it’s not a competitive appointment. More worryingly this person and the county representative cast the votes for top national positions. This is the biggest brake on the NFU doing the members bidding.

Ditto most counties I suspect.
Its up to the members to contact their county reps to give their opinion as to who they would like us to vote for. I've only had 3 conversations and the AGM is next week.

 

[Humble Village Farmer]

I heard that Tom Bradshaw is next in line to the throne so democracy not required.

 

[snarling bee]

It's an indication of the non farmers union losing touch with what remains of its farming membership.

They seem to be more of a commercial organisation or holding company, with the dead tractor and the insurance business as part of its portfolio, along with taking large sums of money in exchange for helping drive policy for the processing and retail sector. Countryside members make their own contributions to corporate profits.

It's really very difficult to see what good the nfu actually does for farmers; most of what I see is cost and real harm to consumers, producers and the environment with the only real benefit going to its corporate members. Avoid.

It would be nice to take you to council for the day so that you see what the NFU does do. Who is fighting to keep Urea, rebated diesel, fighting the EAs interpretation of rule 1, trying to bring some sense to ELM, getting silage wrap tax removed, arguing against a pesticide tax, etc etc.
If you don't like the rules that are coming out of Westminster you should see what the Govt came up with to start with.

 

[Will Blackburn]

I can't comment on Suffolk.

Ditto most counties I suspect.
Its up to the members to contact their county reps to give their opinion as to who they would like us to vote for. I've only had 3 conversations and the AGM is next week.

I had serious concerns over Meurig Raymond’s ability to do the top job. Voiced these to the county chair and council rep. Response was some mutterings about Adam Quinney’s (I think it was him) personal status bullsh1t. Total, complete fix, and 2 years of NFU PR disaster.

 

[Grass And Grain]

It would be nice to take you to council for the day so that you see what the NFU does do. Who is fighting to keep Urea, rebated diesel, fighting the EAs interpretation of rule 1, trying to bring some sense to ELM, getting silage wrap tax removed, arguing against a pesticide tax, etc etc.
If you don't like the rules that are coming out of Westminster you should see what the Govt came up with to start with.

Not many other organisations fighting for these things, so non-members also benefit.

 

[PSQ]

" Farm as your grandfather farmed ". He's growing on me............

With all of the fuss over Colstons statue, I cant see how we'd get away with using prisoners of war as 'free labour', especially sowing patches onto the thigh of their trousers, to give farmers somewhere to aim for when they run off.

But at least Adama will be delighted with Blenky's statement, as it will give them hundreds of 'off patent' chemicals to clone. I wonder what snappy new name they're going to give DDT?

 

[warksfarmer]

It would be nice to take you to council for the day so that you see what the NFU does do. Who is fighting to keep Urea, rebated diesel, fighting the EAs interpretation of rule 1, trying to bring some sense to ELM, getting silage wrap tax removed, arguing against a pesticide tax, etc etc.
If you don't like the rules that are coming out of Westminster you should see what the Govt came up with to start with.

I’ve been in twice so they can show me what they do. Lots of chat then nothing. They have perfected the art of delaying so they can carry on doing nothing robbing off their members.

 

[Sonoftheheir]

why are some farmers still paying money to the nfu??

Discount on farm insurance?

 

[thorpe]

2 subscriptions to pay nfu and rt, only got budget for 1 , which do i go for?