BFU signs up 25 new members in a week.

[spin cycle]

right enough bollox.....why do certain members have a fixation with how many members the bfu has?

is it that ,whatever the number, they're going to shout 'HA...call that representative'?

given the 'calibre' of those 'picking/moaning' it's ,quite frankly, sad IMO....akin almost to trolling

FACT....bfu has more members than it did last year. last week

if you don't like the bfu concept then don't join...keep 'carping ' if you like but it's pathetic if you do I think

 

[warksfarmer]

Why is everything such a big secret surely transparency is needed.

I’ve asked the NFU for a breakdown of their membership but they refuse to release it.

 

[Tamar]

I’ve asked the NFU for a breakdown of their membership but they refuse to release it.

The government should know this number, as they go to the NFU to listen to them as representatives of farmers.

As their membership declines and BFU increases, it should be known whe really represents farmers.

 

[MrNoo]

A lot of speculation re % membership of the NFU who are actually farmers, I only know of two in my area, one an old boy who's always been a member and the other our county chairperson I believe. Nobody I have spoken with has a good thing to say about them. So where do we think the membership is 20%?? 30%?? I certainly wouldn't expect it to be over 50% and that's being generous.
We need a mole to find out.
I hazard a guess they are petrified of this information getting out and so they should be as it would expose the organisation for what it really is, one that doesn't represent who they say they do.

 

[neilo]

Post 354

A question for Ollybloggs Oliver Harrison

It's worth remembering that not all options are applicable to all farms, very much depends what land use code your fields are, temporary grass=happy days, permenant pasture, not so much. Very true. The offer I was referring to is applicable to PP though.

thefarmingforum.co.uk

Ah right, so somebody said that somebody said...

 

[neilo]

right enough bollox.....why do certain members have a fixation with how many members the bfu has?

is it that ,whatever the number, they're going to shout 'HA...call that representative'?

given the 'calibre' of those 'picking/moaning' it's ,quite frankly, sad IMO....akin almost to trolling

FACT....but has more members than it did last year. last week

if you don't like the bfu conept then don't join...keep 'carping ' if you like but it's pathetic if you do I think

I only raise the issue because:

1. We keep getting the echo bouncing round in here that it's somehow bad that the NFU keeps their membership numbers secret, yet the same is true of BFU (and obviously I understand why that should be). What's good for the goose is good for the gander.

and 2. There are frequent demands that BFU should have a seat at the table to have input into various things because they alone represent 'real' farmers. Nobody deserves a place at any table just because they think they should. You need to prove that you do represent a reasonable number.

 

[Humble Village Farmer]

Ah right, so somebody said that somebody said...

Perhaps @Beefsmith would clarify who actually said this?

 

[Humble Village Farmer]

I only raise the issue because:

1. We keep getting the echo bouncing round in here that it's somehow bad that the NFU keeps their membership numbers secret, yet the same is true of BFU (and obviously I understand why that should be). What's good for the goose is good for the gander.

and 2. There are frequent demands that BFU should have a seat at the table to have input into various things because they alone represent 'real' farmers. Nobody deserves a place at any table just because they think they should. You need to prove that you do represent a reasonable number.

Sauce for the goose as you say, how many farmer members do the NFU have?

 

[Beefsmith]

Perhaps @Beefsmith would clarify who actually said this?

Happy to. My local Nfu secretary told me directly. It’s not second hand information from a mate down the pub. If you can’t believe an Nfu group secretary then who can you believe. This secretary has been Nfu for a long while and provides an excellent insurance service (we still use them as they are the best value at the moment. My renewal is soon hence the direct meeting). They are perplexed with the union though as they are not listening to what they are being told by the people on the ground who liase directly with the farmer members.

 

[tullah]

I only raise the issue because:

1. We keep getting the echo bouncing round in here that it's somehow bad that the NFU keeps their membership numbers secret, yet the same is true of BFU (and obviously I understand why that should be). What's good for the goose is good for the gander.

and 2. There are frequent demands that BFU should have a seat at the table to have input into various things because they alone represent 'real' farmers. Nobody deserves a place at any table just because they think they should. You need to prove that you do represent a reasonable number.

But the major difference between the non farming union and The BFU is that the Nfu membership includes the hoi polloi, as well as those businesses with whom farmers have to negotiate.
A Union such as that which is in cahoots with those people isn't a farmers union to me and can easily make up the numbers for its own ego.

 

[Henarar]

I only raise the issue because:

1. We keep getting the echo bouncing round in here that it's somehow bad that the NFU keeps their membership numbers secret, yet the same is true of BFU (and obviously I understand why that should be). What's good for the goose is good for the gander.

and 2. There are frequent demands that BFU should have a seat at the table to have input into various things because they alone represent 'real' farmers. Nobody deserves a place at any table just because they think they should. You need to prove that you do represent a reasonable number.

When the BFU is over 100 years old member numbers will be disclosed

 

[spin cycle]

I only raise the issue because:

1. We keep getting the echo bouncing round in here that it's somehow bad that the NFU keeps their membership numbers secret, yet the same is true of BFU (and obviously I understand why that should be). What's good for the goose is good for the gander.

and 2. There are frequent demands that BFU should have a seat at the table to have input into various things because they alone represent 'real' farmers. Nobody deserves a place at any table just because they think they should. You need to prove that you do represent a reasonable number.

how many members does the bfu need for it's seat?

 

[Hilly]

Good comments made by you @gone up the hill , it's very difficult when it's a fledgling organisation to get going , however, in just over 12mths the BFU have succeeded in negotiating various things on behalf of all farming sectors . This has happened by farmers giving up valuable time .
A full page advert was taken out in the FW ,paid for by the steering committee members own money ( no cost to BFU) , leaflets designed and printed , paid for by individual members ( no cost to BFU )
Steering committee members have travelled to various parts of the country at their own expense (ie no cost to BFU )

I agree subscriptions are too low at £10 and this ,at sometime , will need reviewing as the workload increases and expenses incurred .
I am at a loss to understand how many are sitting back and criticising the BFU when it's got as far as it has with limited funds .
All sectors of the Ag industry will gain from the work the BFU have achieved with little funds

right enough bollox.....why do certain members have a fixation with how many members the bfu has?

is it that ,whatever the number, they're going to shout 'HA...call that representative'?

given the 'calibre' of those 'picking/moaning' it's ,quite frankly, sad IMO....akin almost to trolling

FACT....but has more members than it did last year. last week

if you don't like the bfu conept then don't join...keep 'carping ' if you like but it's pathetic if you do I think

Its interesting i guess and even more so that it seems no one knows.

 

[Henarar]

Its interesting i guess and even more so that it seems no one knows.

Once BFU is over 100 years old time will be found for a count up

 

[Hilly]

Once BFU is over 100 years old time will be found for a count up

The line of defence over a simple question is very intriguing , to many to count ? Or not enough to be taken serious ? Hmm the mind boggles.

 

[MrNoo]

I only raise the issue because:

1. We keep getting the echo bouncing round in here that it's somehow bad that the NFU keeps their membership numbers secret, yet the same is true of BFU (and obviously I understand why that should be). What's good for the goose is good for the gander.

and 2. There are frequent demands that BFU should have a seat at the table to have input into various things because they alone represent 'real' farmers. Nobody deserves a place at any table just because they think they should. You need to prove that you do represent a reasonable number.

Oh the irony, and the NFU? Guess it doesn’t need to prove anything??? It’s been hanging off the coat tails of farmers for years, like a giant leech.
But as a “fanboy” of them I’m sure you’ll continue to fight their lost cause until you’re in a wooden box!! Bravo for predictably and stamina!!

 

[SilliamWhale]

Half fancy re joining but total membership is a secrete , why ? Not joining until simple questions can be answered.

Dont worry about it. I'm sure things will be ok without you

But the BFU isn't about being anti NFU, it's origins are because the NFU were not representing them properly and in fact creating things that work against them. That is the nub of it. If it's not worth a tenner of your money to allow an aggregation of dissenting voices then it's not a problem, those who want to push back against RT etc will continue to push back against what they see as wrong

 

[belac]

Half fancy re joining but total membership is a secrete , why ? Not joining until simple questions can be answered.

High numbers might encourage more folk to join, low numbers the opposite. some folk just can`t break with tradition, £10 hardly going to break the bank.

 

[neilo]

how many members does the bfu need for it's seat?

Enough that they represent more than a handful of folk that don't like RT?

 

[spin cycle]

Enough that they represent more than a handful of folk that don't like RT?

Good news then...the widely held definition of 'a handful' is upto 5 on one hand...stretching to 10 if both hands used....typically 3 to 7. ..cos 2 is a couple

thus bfu is up and running

in the interests of 'full disclosure' up here in Northern Norfolk we use the figures 6 to 12