Blenky resigns?

[tullah]

I really don't think "they" should be given more time.

Not long in their roles?

I'm sure AIC/RT et all wouldn't give US more time to comply with new regs they have dreamed up.

Strike while the irons hot.

Before 2555 votes becomes watered down to say 5000 votes/industry bodies need to 2nd it to be able to enact a vote for example.

After all they are only being asked to explain their own rules they made up to blackmail us. Can't be too onerous.

 

[carbonfibre farmer]

Yes no point in letting things drag on!

sharpen them up if nothing else

I'm not militant in any way shape or form.

But when you get pushed, constantly, unnecessarily, it gets to you.

And civil service/quangos etc with there obstruction in everyday life and business to serve their own ends leads me to be somewhat cynical that change will happen.

 

[Nigel Wellings]

I am interested in the various comments re the French Farmers CO-OP model. I too was enthusiastic about this model when I first farmed in France. The large combinable cropping farm I ran when I first went there purchased all crop inputs from the CO-OP, sold all grain to the CO-OP and was bankrolled through the year by the co-op (i.e cost of inputs was deducted from our crop sales to them). All crop walking carried out by CO-OP technicians (no independent agronomy avaliable at all). All grain storage provided by CO-OP in inefficient 5000 tonne grain stores every 5 miles.
Agrochems were never priced before delivery. They expected to deliver whatever product their technician reccomended without pricing it. When asked-" we cant give you an accurate price until the end of the season when the discounts are calculated". They actually paid us the discount every year just prior to harvest (before we had paid for the inputs!) which was great for harvest cashflow.
The service provided by the CO-OP was very good, but some of their pricing was a joke (Roundup 7euros/litre, first year, 3 euros year 2, as I bought some from elsewhere. I shopped around for seed, fertiliser and chems, most of which we ended up buying from private merchants. Some years sold 50% of crops away from co-op because there prices were not good.
French co ops in my experience are just like the majority of Mutual companies, they are run for the benefit of the senior management and board directors and they dont give a stuff about the farming members. The coop I was a member of regularly made profits in excess of 150 million euros per annum and little was ever returned to the members. People dealt with them because they always had, they never looked elsewhere and they paid through the nose because of it. The coop I used was one of the largest arable ones in france, had taken over countless smaller coops over the years. I have other farming friends and neighbours in France that have similar views on the French coops.
Interesting if certain others ON THE Forum in France have a different view.

 

[Renaultman]

I am interested in the various comments re the French Farmers CO-OP model. I too was enthusiastic about this model when I first farmed in France. The large combinable cropping farm I ran when I first went there purchased all crop inputs from the CO-OP, sold all grain to the CO-OP and was bankrolled through the year by the co-op (i.e cost of inputs was deducted from our crop sales to them). All crop walking carried out by CO-OP technicians (no independent agronomy avaliable at all). All grain storage provided by CO-OP in inefficient 5000 tonne grain stores every 5 miles.
Agrochems were never priced before delivery. They expected to deliver whatever product their technician reccomended without pricing it. When asked-" we cant give you an accurate price until the end of the season when the discounts are calculated". They actually paid us the discount every year just prior to harvest (before we had paid for the inputs!) which was great for harvest cashflow.
The service provided by the CO-OP was very good, but some of their pricing was a joke (Roundup 7euros/litre, first year, 3 euros year 2, as I bought some from elsewhere. I shopped around for seed, fertiliser and chems, most of which we ended up buying from private merchants. Some years sold 50% of crops away from co-op because there prices were not good.
French co ops in my experience are just like the majority of Mutual companies, they are run for the benefit of the senior management and board directors and they dont give a stuff about the farming members. The coop I was a member of regularly made profits in excess of 150 million euros per annum and little was ever returned to the members. People dealt with them because they always had, they never looked elsewhere and they paid through the nose because of it. The coop I used was one of the largest arable ones in france, had taken over countless smaller coops over the years. I have other farming friends and neighbours in France that have similar views on the French coops.
Interesting if certain others ON THE Forum in France have a different view.

Thanks for that.

 

[Nigel Wellings]

Just looked up above coops profit for 2019-20. 139 million euros, aren't coops wonderful!

 

[Flat 10]

Just looked up above coops profit for 2019-20. 139 million euros, aren't coops wonderful!

If its all reinvested for the good of its members then maybe?

 

[Spud]

When is Guy Smith going then because he won’t answer questions and just says his family is at risk from a terrorist attack so he can’t say anything. The bloke is the Chris Packham of the farming world.

Also when will the Nfu get rid of Minette who’s out of her depth and admit they have no connection to the farmers of this country then we can open up the new farming union at a much cheaper price?

Interesting, some hard words there Lee.

Batters is one of the best Nfu presidents we've had, imho. I'm guessing you're still not a member, but hey, feel free to chirp, just don't expect to be listened to.

Who's this 'We'? Are you going to start up the Sutton farming union or something and show us all how it should be done?
Or are you all waff & no action?

 

[yellowbelly]

Who's this 'We'? Are you going to start up the Sutton farming union or something and show us all how it should be done?

Well, I for one wish somebody would.
I think there are a lot of us 'We's' out here who would like to belong to some sort of farming union / organisation but, sure as hell, the NFU aren't it.

 

[tullah]

Well, I for one wish somebody would.
I think there are a lot of us 'We's' out here who would like to belong to some sort of farming union / organisation but, sure as hell, the NFU aren't it.

I don't want to join a union that owns RT and cuts off our markets.

 

[Renaultman]

Well, I for one wish somebody would.
I think there are a lot of us 'We's' out here who would like to belong to some sort of farming union / organisation but, sure as hell, the NFU aren't it.

I know @Clive really doesn't want to get involved in this and I respect his views and wishes. However this site could be the catalyst to set up something that could really frighten the NFU red tractor and all the others who are supposed to be supporting us.
Not saying Clive himself could or should do it, but possibly allow a group on here to gauge the interest in setting up some sort of funded farmers action group.

 

[Clive]

I know @Clive really doesn't want to get involved in this and I respect his views and wishes. However this site could be the catalyst to set up something that could really frighten the NFU red tractor and all the others who are supposed to be supporting us.
Not saying Clive himself could or should do it, but possibly allow a group on here to gauge the interest in setting up some sort of funded farmers action group.

TFF users can use the platform however they like (as long as legal / decent)

TFF itself is not a lobby organisation, its just a “place”


i personally am happy to be involved with anything that’s for the good of uk agriculture and farmers

 

[colhonk]

Clive for president yee haa.

 

[Renaultman]

TFF users can use the platform however they like (as long as legal / decent)

TFF itself is not a lobby organisation, its just a “place”


i personally am happy to be involved with anything that’s for the good of uk agriculture and farmers

As a start could you or Chris put an across board poll up, asking how many members might be interested in this, and more importantly how many would be prepared to invest in it both with time and money?
I certainly would. I also believe that this may be the optimum time to set something up, we arable men are finished or close to it. The Stockmen hopefully aren't too busy yet. We have issues with fert, slaughter houses, inflation, the loss of BPS and Brexit to name but a few.

 

[Flat 10]

As a start could you or Chris put an across board poll up, asking how many members might be interested in this, and more importantly how many would be prepared to invest in it both with time and money?
I certainly would. I also believe that this may be the optimum time to set something up, we arable men are finished or close to it. The Stockmen hopefully aren't too busy yet. We have issues with fert, slaughter houses, inflation, the loss of BPS and Brexit to name but a few.

The TFA are an excellent alternative to the Nfu, you only need to rent 1 acre, contract farming agreement s also count.

 

[Clive]

As a start could you or Chris put an across board poll up, asking how many members might be interested in this, and more importantly how many would be prepared to invest in it both with time and money?
I certainly would. I also believe that this may be the optimum time to set something up, we arable men are finished or close to it. The Stockmen hopefully aren't too busy yet. We have issues with fert, slaughter houses, inflation, the loss of BPS and Brexit to name but a few.

doesn't need me or Chris to do that - anyone can start a poll, I'm not being obstructive but if farmers REALLY want this they are going to have to start acting and helping themselves

 

[Renaultman]

doesn't need me or Chris to do that - anyone can start a poll, I'm not being obstructive but if framers REALLY want this they are going to have to start acting and helping themselves

I totally see where you are coming from and would be happy to set up a poll but only you or admin can put it across each section of the board I believe, without having to post in each section and diluting the results. We need at the very least, to make the current establishment sit up and take notice, sorry to throw it back at you.

 

[le bon paysan]

I am interested in the various comments re the French Farmers CO-OP model. I too was enthusiastic about this model when I first farmed in France. The large combinable cropping farm I ran when I first went there purchased all crop inputs from the CO-OP, sold all grain to the CO-OP and was bankrolled through the year by the co-op (i.e cost of inputs was deducted from our crop sales to them). All crop walking carried out by CO-OP technicians (no independent agronomy avaliable at all). All grain storage provided by CO-OP in inefficient 5000 tonne grain stores every 5 miles.
Agrochems were never priced before delivery. They expected to deliver whatever product their technician reccomended without pricing it. When asked-" we cant give you an accurate price until the end of the season when the discounts are calculated". They actually paid us the discount every year just prior to harvest (before we had paid for the inputs!) which was great for harvest cashflow.
The service provided by the CO-OP was very good, but some of their pricing was a joke (Roundup 7euros/litre, first year, 3 euros year 2, as I bought some from elsewhere. I shopped around for seed, fertiliser and chems, most of which we ended up buying from private merchants. Some years sold 50% of crops away from co-op because there prices were not good.
French co ops in my experience are just like the majority of Mutual companies, they are run for the benefit of the senior management and board directors and they dont give a stuff about the farming members. The coop I was a member of regularly made profits in excess of 150 million euros per annum and little was ever returned to the members. People dealt with them because they always had, they never looked elsewhere and they paid through the nose because of it. The coop I used was one of the largest arable ones in france, had taken over countless smaller coops over the years. I have other farming friends and neighbours in France that have similar views on the French coops.
Interesting if certain others ON THE Forum in France have a different view.

Generally happy with my livestock co op. Have a bonus and a divvy every year. Put 90% through them.

 

[SilliamWhale]

I don't want to join a union that owns RT and cuts off our markets.

That's how I feel about it.

If people want to think the NFU are not actively acting against their own farmers interests that's fine they can pay their money and fund them. I personally cannot fricking stand double standards, hippocrasy and lying. AHDB are also complicit in acting against farmers interest too.

Spud I think is naive, sorry to say.

 

[Bury the Trash]

Generally happy with my livestock co op. Have a bonus and a divvy every year. Put 90% through them.

is that finished stock ? as part of the membership do you get insurance cover on them as in the case of an abattoir/buyer going bust ? aamoi ?

 

[Grass And Grain]

As a start could you or Chris put an across board poll up, asking how many members might be interested in this, and more importantly how many would be prepared to invest in it both with time and money?
I certainly would. I also believe that this may be the optimum time to set something up, we arable men are finished or close to it. The Stockmen hopefully aren't too busy yet. We have issues with fert, slaughter houses, inflation, the loss of BPS and Brexit to name but a few.

If NFU and RT don't shape themselves I think they will be challenged by the setting up of alternatives. Probably not just yet, but getting ever closer imho.

NFU can't be all things to all people, but they can improve with RT. They're losing members left right and centre over this. More pressure being applied over coming weeks. We're sick of it all, and not prepared to take "no" for an answer. If they think we're going to go away and forget about it, then they've got another thing coming. We're just limbering up atm.

Edit. And we're sick of the NFU, AHDB, RT, AIC SQC cosy club.