Blood sucking ahdb

Lives at work applies to most of the office based work at home people now too, and it’s not a nice way to be when the furthest you can get away from your work is 30 yards and two doors. It’s no fun when you’re doing it, I know, so folks who do need to be sympathised with and not slagged off as WR has been doing - implying they aren’t doing anything when the evidence is there that they are.
I should like to see the evidence do you have it, even the ahdb are saying they have not been good enough, so really highland mule you are trying to defend someone who as admitted they have been giving poor value.
 

Highland Mule

Member
Livestock Farmer
I should like to see the evidence do you have it, even the ahdb are saying they have not been good enough, so really highland mule you are trying to defend someone who as admitted they have been giving poor value.

Evidence of what? I see plenty adverts initiated by AHDB on television, which proves to me that they are buying advertising and arranging that, as a minimum. I also recall that there have been AHDB arranged emergency authorisations, so they are working on that too.
 

Hindsight

Member
Location
Lincolnshire
Totally agree but what are AHDB doing about this,this has been going on for years,if they could change things it should have been done long ago.

I have no skin in the game HAM, as not a levy payer. So appreciate you view. And understand where you are coming from.

I tend to the view that the levy boards as they stand have to go. Then without it maybe a case of seeing what you miss. Which may well be nothing. Your problem, I suspect is government sees them as conduit for co funded public R&D. But we shall see. Am sure the industry will step up to replace the R&D, or the industry will piggy back off Wagenigen, INRA and the Germans for a while. Or commercial set ups - Agrii, Hutchinsons, Frontier, Agrovista etc. There will no doubt be plenty of R&D available without having to pay for it.
 
I'm still worried about who is going to fund independent R&D to the tune that ahdb does @White rabbit

Why was there not an option to retain but reform the levy?
Stuart j do you really use ahdb because if you look at the results of 61% a lot of growers think the are of no use, we wouldn’t want to get rid of something that we thought was vital, if we do the r and d ourselves we could get 230% tax relief, jack ward of the British growers association is now in talks with his members setting up a group to do it themselves which will be a lot leaner and not top heavy in administration.
 

Hindsight

Member
Location
Lincolnshire
I'm still worried about who is going to fund independent R&D to the tune that ahdb does @White rabbit

Why was there not an option to retain but reform the levy?

As Saphir said a vote Yes was a vote for reform. But what is reform? The ballot is like the 2016 referendum. Leave meant 17.4 million different things. A vote to 'reform' the levy funding will be same - how do you achieve consensus on how to spend the money - where to spend the money. There are countless threads on TFF slating AHDB for not focussing on the right things. If Agriculture were not so important to environment, food safety and security, and UK based Research organisations, I think if I were the minister I would say, feck em. Close it down. Allow any imports and let them get on with it!!
 

Stuart J

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
UK
Stuart j do you really use ahdb because if you look at the results of 61% a lot of growers think the are of no use, we wouldn’t want to get rid of something that we thought was vital, if we do the r and d ourselves we could get 230% tax relief, jack ward of the British growers association is now in talks with his members setting up a group to do it themselves which will be a lot leaner and not top heavy in administration.

I wish you luck, but it'll be a sad day indeed if we lose the ahdb, however flawed it may be.

I remain adamant that there is no way what you replace it with will continue R&D to a fraction of the extent ahdb does.
 

ExAHDBstaff

Member
Arable Farmer
Firstly I object to be called a liar , I was not at the town hall meeting because I am not a potato grower and would not be allowed in and after going to the horticultural meeting I wouldn’t waste my time again , I have had a meeting this afternoon with a large group of potato growers who do know what was said and indeed they were told adrian was not on gardening leave and frankly no one believed it , what you forgot to say in your rant was when asked if Sutton bridge was closing they dodged the question by saying the couldn’t answer that while the ballot was on no I bet they couldn’t, personally it does not make any difference to me if it stays or goes, but what I would like is an apology from you.

WR - I thought you were John Bratley who was at the town hall, if you are not then I apologise for the case of mistaken identity. Not for calling you a liar however, as you have lied on this thread often. As I say Adrian Cunnington himself was in the Town Hall meeting from 11th of Feb, so there is the proof for at least one of your lies.

I only ever came on to this thread to correct what at the time I hoped were honest mistakes about the information you were posting, it has become plainly obvious that you will post anything you think will help your cause. It is a shame because I think you are quite entitled to the ballot and your opinions. You're not entitled to your own made up facts though.
 

Henarar

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Somerset
Lives at work applies to most of the office based work at home people now too, and it’s not a nice way to be when the furthest you can get away from your work is 30 yards and two doors. It’s no fun when you’re doing it, I know, so folks who do need to be sympathised with and not slagged off as WR has been doing - implying they aren’t doing anything when the evidence is there that they are.
you could shut the doors
 

Highland Mule

Member
Livestock Farmer
you could shut the doors

I do, but it’s still there, behind two thin panels with hinges. If you’re used to going home and leaving work behind, it’s not easy to share a roof with it. Fine for a vocation such as farming when you’re fully invested and engage in the job, not so much when it’s more of a job.

Point I was trying to make is that we shouldn’t trivialise the pressures and stresses that home workers are going through.
 

Henarar

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Somerset
I do, but it’s still there, behind two thin panels with hinges. If you’re used to going home and leaving work behind, it’s not easy to share a roof with it. Fine for a vocation such as farming when you’re fully invested and engage in the job, not so much when it’s more of a job.

Point I was trying to make is that we shouldn’t trivialise the pressures and stresses that home workers are going through.
And the point I made was that most farmers just happen to live at work which is very sensible IMHO, just think of all the emissions we save not having to drive to work, just open the door and there it is.
couldn't you build a shed in the garden and use it for an office ? you could even get the misses to hand you a mug of coffee as you pass through the kitchen on your way to work, it would be just like you stopped off at costa without the stupid price LOL
 

Highland Mule

Member
Livestock Farmer
And the point I made was that most farmers just happen to live at work which is very sensible IMHO, just think of all the emissions we save not having to drive to work, just open the door and there it is.
couldn't you build a shed in the garden and use it for an office ? you could even get the misses to hand you a mug of coffee as you pass through the kitchen on your way to work, it would be just like you stopped off at costa without the stupid price LOL

I’m a Highlander - we don’t spend money unnecessarily, so haven’t had Costa for years and certainly never when commuting.

I’m lucky that my house is an old farmhouse and has a spare room to work on. Plenty of my project colleagues are stuck in small city centre flats and perching on the kitchen table, doing the best they can but constantly reminded that the emails from the boss and customer are next to the kettle, just behind a little red switch. No chance to unwind after work (but also no commute, which you’re eight is a bonus).

Some poor sod is doing that for AHDB and trying their best. All day on Zoom calls and the likes and managing the procurement of research, pulling together ad campaigns to sell our stuff for us, contract negotiations to get as good value as they can for your levy and compiling market reports. Then we have some sod who is slandering them, making up lies about them and blaming his poorly performing business on them, all whilst claiming they’re sat at home doing nothing.
 
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Henarar

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Somerset
Why can't they unwind after work ?
Brother is an IT manager and has worked from home for most of the last year, he is in his "office" from 9 to 5 with an hour for lunch and is strict about it, no 45 min commute though so he can unwind by taking the dog for a walk instead of sat in a car, much more relaxing I would think. All about discipline I spose
 
WR - I thought you were John Bratley who was at the town hall, if you are not then I apologise for the case of mistaken identity. Not for calling you a liar however, as you have lied on this thread often. As I say Adrian Cunnington himself was in the Town Hall meeting from 11th of Feb, so there is the proof for at least one of your lies.
You seem to be pretty clued up for what’s happening within ahdb for someone who no longer works for them
 

ExAHDBstaff

Member
Arable Farmer
Why can't they unwind after work ?
Brother is an IT manager and has worked from home for most of the last year, he is in his "office" from 9 to 5 with an hour for lunch and is strict about it, no 45 min commute though so he can unwind by taking the dog for a walk instead of sat in a car, much more relaxing I would think. All about discipline I spose

Don't forget AHDB employs plenty of younger people too. Many move to the area after their degrees and live in shared housing with people they've not met before. Not all of them in that bracket, far from it, but lots from the markets, comms and admin teams are.
 

simon w

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Hayling Island
I’m a Highlander - we don’t spend money unnecessarily, so haven’t had Costa for years and certainly never when commuting.

I’m lucky that my house is an old farmhouse and has a spare room to work on. Plenty of my project colleagues are stuck in small city centre flats and perching on the kitchen table, doing the best they can but constantly reminded that the emails from the boss and customer are next to the kettle, just behind a little red switch. No chance to unwind after work (but also no commute, which you’re eight is a bonus).

Some poor sod is doing that for AHDB and trying their best. All day on Zoom calls and the likes and managing the procurement of research, pulling together ad campaigns to sell our stuff for us, contract negotiations to get as good value as they can for your levy and compiling market reports. Then we have some sod who is slandering them, making up lies about them and blaming his poorly performing business on them, all whilst claiming they’re sat at home doing nothing.
Are you renovating the spare room or do you not know the difference between "on" or "in".Just checking you grammer|!
 

Highland Mule

Member
Livestock Farmer
Are you renovating the spare room or do you not know the difference between "on" or "in".Just checking you grammer|!

Unless you're taking a look at my tractor seat, the word is grammar ;). My error wasn't so much a problem with grammar though as a typo - which is easy to do on a small phone and with the letters next to each other on the virtual keyboard - what's your excuse?

FWIW, I don't tend to worry so much about perfection when it's a forum, but I would have proof checked that at least once if it was an important message.

I take it though that if that's your only problem with my post 2173 then you agree that WR is well out of line with his earlier posts. Whatever the position is on the worthwhile or not of the wider organisation and levy, we need to remember that the careers and livelihoods of well meaning individuals who want to do the best for our industry is at stake here, and they deserve a fair and honourable critique, at least.
 
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SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

  • 0 %

    Votes: 78 42.9%
  • Up to 25%

    Votes: 63 34.6%
  • 25-50%

    Votes: 30 16.5%
  • 50-75%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 75-100%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 100% I’ve had enough of farming!

    Votes: 5 2.7%

Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

  • 1,286
  • 1
As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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