Are the NFU fit for purpose

[gone up the hill]

In the past GUTH you've said Peter Kendall was the worst NFU President ever. Then you said that about Meurig and now it's Minette. At least you think we are consistent!

I can assure you Minette is an excellent NFU President and represents our industry very well at a crucial time. I enjoy working alongside her as her deputy.

But as you aren't a member I hope you've joined another organisation to represent you that you are happy with.

Strong political representation of the farming industry is crucial at this time. 46-47000 farm businesses seem happy with being members of the NFU. But, as ever, I'm not complacent. We should always strive to do a better job for our members.

If this is the NFU's finest hour Guy then god help the industry!!

Please answer the question why the NFU did NOT respond to the 25 year TB review that was released this week and pull them up on facts like for example they said the culls are not really working when it was based on culls from 10 years ago and not the culls in the last 2/3 years??

Yep I did say that about Kendal/ MR but by god Minette Batters makes them look at the top of their game, she is bloody hopeless and well out of her depth (Which many senior NFU staff have told me privately in the last few weeks )

Oh and why would I as a farmer want to be a member of a union that is not only selling the industry down the river but intent on increasing my costs like EID in cattle for example for no gain to my business??

The NFU is doing a sterling job of pushing the agendas of the green lobby/ supermarkets etc at the expense of its farmer members!

 

[An Gof]

If this is the NFU's finest hour Guy then god help the industry!!

Please answer the question why the NFU did NOT respond to the 25 year TB review that was released this week and pull them up on facts like for example they said the culls are not really working when it was based on culls from 10 years ago and not the culls in the last 2/3 years??

Yep I did say that about Kendal/ MR but by god Minette Batters makes them look at the top of their game, she is bloody hopeless and well out of her depth (Which many senior NFU staff have told me privately in the last few weeks )

Oh and why would I as a farmer want to be a member of a union that is not only selling the industry down the river but intent on increasing my costs like EID in cattle for example for no gain to my business??

The NFU is doing a sterling job of pushing the agendas of the green lobby/ supermarkets etc at the expense of its farmer members!

I find it hard to believe that "Many senior NFU staff" are confiding in someone who is not a member.
But then i found it difficult to believe the numbers of cattle and sheep you claimed to be finishing in another of your posts.

I've yet to meet anybody, who has an open mind, that describes Minette as "bloody hopeless". You would do well to reflect on what you have written, it really doesn't reflect well on you.

 

[maen]

I attended a radio program where she was on the panel. She came across like a politician even though she was in a rural community. Her points were insipid, her argument weak and only partly true. She relies on a brief rather than instinct. I am sure she tried but she is not a natural communicater, she was unable to get people on her side in a room of country people. She does not have presence.

 

[matthew]

If this is the NFU's finest hour Guy then god help the industry!!

Please answer the question why the NFU did NOT respond to the 25 year TB review that was released this week and pull them up on facts like for example they said the culls are not really working when it was based on culls from 10 years ago and not the culls in the last 2/3 years??

Yep I did say that about Kendal/ MR but by god Minette Batters makes them look at the top of their game, she is bloody hopeless and well out of her depth (Which many senior NFU staff have told me privately in the last few weeks )

Oh and why would I as a farmer want to be a member of a union that is not only selling the industry down the river but intent on increasing my costs like EID in cattle for example for no gain to my business??

The NFU is doing a sterling job of pushing the agendas of the green lobby/ supermarkets etc at the expense of its farmer members!

Not 10 years. The ‘so called trial’ was started in 1997, and that on my calculator is 21 years ago. It’s leader also proudly told MPs and his staff that it had a foregone conclusion. That was what was used in this report, with a snide swipe at the current farmer led culls, in the same breath.

And no one quoted anything to correct or disprove that. It was the worst kind of Fake News. With blame and bile in equal measures hurled at our industry, to utter berluddy silence.

http://bovinetb.blogspot.com/2018/11/the-magic-roundabout.html

 

[Guy Smith]

https://www.nfuonline.com/news/latest-news/tb-strategy-review-nfu-comment/

 

[Osca]

You see, that gets me for a start - blazoned across that website - "NFU the voice of British Farming!"

But it isn't, is it.

Some of us can't join - here in Scotland (still part of Britain) I'm told that I would have to join NFU Scotland and that this is an entirely different organisation; so the NFU doesn't really have the right to claim to represent this bit of Britain, for a start.

Then a lot of us clearly choose not to join; how dare the NFU claim to represent the sizeable number of farmers who have decided that the NFU is mis- or under- representing them?

And that's quite apart from the present let-down to the paid-up members.

 

[Cowcorn]

https://www.nfuonline.com/news/latest-news/tb-strategy-review-nfu-comment/

Fair dues to you Guy, no body could accuse you of dodging the questions. Maybe if Madame Matters was as willing to appear on this forum for regular scourging the critics would be appeased ? I doubt it though the farmers reps lot is to be villifed and cursed until someday just before his final departure from this world his most trenchant critic will give the graveside oration where he will compare the late leader to a Saint and the assembled farmers with tears in their eyes will agree.
That day hopefully is a long way off for you le caibhir De.
Keep the faith and soldier on .

 

[Goweresque]

The NFU is an open, transparent organisation - no dodgy handshakes, no late night calls, no furtive deals, no favours or bungs, no black balls. To succeed as an office holder, be it branch chairman or president, all you need is the support of your peers.

Am I right in thinking that anyone elected in any NFU vote is not bound to represent the views of their electorate if they choose not to, and who they vote for at higher levels is kept secret?

 

[Guy Smith]

Most NFU posts are elected as two year terms so that's the review point and there are processes to call special meetings to de select during those terms. But generally anyone elected ,even MPs, aren't bound to represent the view of their electorate if they choose not to once they've been duly elected.

But the point I'm making is that the NFU is, in my experience, an open and fair organisation where anyone can progress as long as they get enough support from their peers. But it's any TFF readers prerogative to not trust me and assume my nose is as long as Pinocchio's. It's your judgement about my honesty that counts here.

 

[Clive]

I’m yet to hear a good or logical argument why it can’t be one member one vote ?

Only reason I can conclude is that it wouldn’t get the result that was “wanted” ?

If you are going to claim to represent people you fundementaly have to be as openly democratic as posible

Changing that would be the first step towards the restoration of the nfu’s crdibilty and I bet there would be a very different set of people in charge if it ever happened

 

[glasshouse]

I’m yet to hear a good or logical argument why it can’t be one member one vote ?

Only reason I can conclude is that it wouldn’t get the result that was “wanted” ?

If you are going to claim to represent people you fundementaly have to be as openly democratic as posible

Changing that would be the first step towards the restoration of the nfu’s crdibilty and I bet there would be s very different set of people in charge if it ever happened

Too right

 

[egbert]

If this is the NFU's finest hour Guy then god help the industry!!
The NFU is doing a sterling job of pushing the agendas of the green lobby/ supermarkets etc at the expense of its farmer members!

I would expect the NFU to try and help meet the two points meet.
It's no good just shouting at the either Joe Public, or Westminster, that they've got to buy our product, take away any regulation, let us do what ever we like, and , oh, we need some more subsidies to do that. It would be unrealistic.

That said, geography leaves me very restricted in what and how i produce, and the firm seem to be drifting further from acknowledging this.
(Guy, at least, doffs his lowland hat to this)

 

[egbert]

https://www.nfuonline.com/news/latest-news/tb-strategy-review-nfu-comment/

Our problem with stuff like that is that the instant 2 minute news slots couldn't care less.
While 'culling cuddly badgers' is a known audience attention trigger, and worth chucking in the mix.
Our interests are of no media value....we are not the target demograph.
I don't know how we overcome that. It was evident from TV and radio news, and news website coverage that no one, inc the NFU, managed to over come the shallow view from that report.

(I tried)

 

[Yorkshire lad]

Most NFU posts are elected as two year terms so that's the review point and there are processes to call special meetings to de select during those terms. But generally anyone elected ,even MPs, aren't bound to represent the view of their electorate if they choose not to once they've been duly elected.

But the point I'm making is that the NFU is, in my experience, an open and fair organisation where anyone can progress as long as they get enough support from their peers. But it's any TFF readers prerogative to not trust me and assume my nose is as long as Pinocchio's. It's your judgement about my honesty that counts here.

Being an active Nfu member I have huge concerens about the scucture of the Union
With the coming of digital communications information comes out from HQ brilliantly . But this has resulted in branch and county meetings being poorly attended . Resulting in feedback from members to HQ coming from a very narrow band of people usually commodity board and council delegates
Imo people are sitting on commodity boards and council for far to long . Not enough new blood is coming up through the ranks
I ve raised my concerens with you Guy last year at our county Agm . Only you and our County Chair opposed my views out of a room of 60 members
As I said then the union needs to reach out to its members and make them feel it' belongs to them.
One of the ways it can do this is by giving the members a say in the election of officials . After being short listed by council thus preventing a wildcard or someone with a lot of money and time being elected

 

[Top Tip.]

I have followed this thread with interest as I have had the opportunity to meet some of the head office team in the NFU and as a livestock farmer I can only say that I am very glad that they are not representing my interests. I really found it difficult to believe that the policies they were promoting were what the grass roots farmers would want. I came away with the impression that there was a big disconnect between hq and the grass roots. I am quite willing to be put right on this but it was the impression I came away with.

 

[Brisel]

That depends on whose grass roots you're talking about. So much diversity of member that one size will never fit all. Lowland vs highland, arable vs stock, big vs small...

 

[topground]

https://www.nfuonline.com/news/latest-news/tb-strategy-review-nfu-comment/

A weak response. Far to much emphasis on Govenment advise on 'preventative measures' ( How can I keep an imfected badger from distributing a grade 3 zoonotic pathogen around my grassland? answer: I cant!)
The success of eliminating disease by taking out infected wildlife elswhere in the world should have been the focus of the
piece, instead it is at the end by which time the lazy journalist would have lost interest.
A failure to expose the history behind the review is unforgivable since it did not refute the implication that the current cull is inefective.
Who are the NFU press office scared of upsetting, certanly not cattle farmers!
I am not a member and am not likely to join given the poor response to Badger fake news.

 

[matthew]

https://www.nfuonline.com/news/latest-news/tb-strategy-review-nfu-comment/

I read it. Hence the blog post which at least had some scientific (Lucy Brunton's paper) and relevant (Bourne) quotes in it.
The NFU response was a mirror image of Godfray's report. All the pain, interspaced with bio-garbage and vaccination myths with the single most important bit dumbed down at the bottom.
Or perhaps you all believe that?

If so, please absorb this table of results of badger removal on incidence of TB in cattle :

It was that RBCT 'trial', with its forgone conclusion, (8 night forays into an infected population) starting in 1997, and with a determinedly weak protocol for badgers caught, which Godfray quoted. Unchallenged.

A lazy, spoon fed media heaped it on, farmers shouldering bile and blame in equal measures. Unchallenged.

 

[Henarar]

I read it. Hence the blog post which at least had some scientific (Lucy Brunton's paper) and relevant (Bourne) quotes in it.
The NFU response was a mirror image of Godfray's report. All the pain, interspaced with bio-garbage and vaccination myths with the single most important bit dumbed down at the bottom.
Or perhaps you all believe that?

If so, please absorb this table of results of badger removal on incidence of TB in cattle :

View attachment 740548

It was that RBCT 'trial', with its forgone conclusion, (8 night forays into an infected population) starting in 1997, and with a determinedly weak protocol for badgers caught, which Godfray quoted. Unchallenged.

A lazy, spoon fed media heaped it on, farmers shouldering bile and blame in equal measures. Unchallenged.

Top post as always, why don't the NFU @Guy Smith give Matthew the brief on TB ? as she certainly runs rings around anyone else that I know off
to much fecking pussy footing around on the subject, high time folk were told how it is in no uncertain terms like it or bloody don't like it

 

[matthew]

That’s very kind @Henarar but the only contact (apart from MB wining and dining me while attempting to extract a contact number of a third party) was having my collar felt by Special. Branch.
That’s something you never forget.