British Sugars Penultimate Sugar Campaign. 2021/22

[carbonfibre farmer]

He is no farmer. He’s corporate. It’s the same old same old corporate system. I used to work as an engineer. Over my 20 year career I saw the same kind of attitude as pervades corporate culture now. When I started we were paid overtime. By the time I finished we were expected to finish “the job” in however many hours it took on a fixed salary and they always underestimated the time required, Same old same old that every working man is experiencing. Zero hours contracts, travelling miles. Cut throat corporatism. Don’t know what the answer is, just glad I’m over 50.

Without wishing to stray too far off topic, This is exactly the sort of thing happening at the engineering (part time) job I'm (And @adzy) are in. We can both see the direction of travel.......

As for beet, my haulier mentioned that he'll need an auto tail gate to tip at bury in 2 yrs. New rules. I've said a number of times now not to rush out and buy something as will it be there in 2 yrs

 

[robbie]

I never did get an email about this meeting so I'll just have to rely on others filling me in.

I assume I haven't really missed too much just the usual BS corporate BS.

 

[spin cycle]

i just had a quick google...according to that you lot grow 8 million tonnes of beet.....if bs make £100 million profit.....then....a £5/t increase would eat a £40 million chunk....but that sounds a lot fairer to growers IMO

they're just 'playing you'?

 

[Daniel]

I never did get an email about this meeting so I'll just have to rely on others filling me in.

I assume I haven't really missed too much just the usual BS corporate BS.

Essentially:

Paul Kenward thinks beet has a bright future, he can see growers being offered an extra £1 a ton next year, maybe even £1.50 for a 3 year contract.

Given this, I would think British Sugar would have a que of prospective growers waiting to grow for them, in which case they wouldn't mind releasing current growers from their contracts without penalty?

But no, they are going to sue growers who don't honour their contracts.

 

[Breckland Boy]

Paul Kenward saying that he forecasts a rise in the sugar price which will allow a bonus of approximately £1/t for the 1 year deal and £1.50 for the 3yr for the 21/22 crop.
Peter Watson thinks the future is rosy!!

 

[Daniel]

Paul Kenward saying that he forecasts a rise in the sugar price which will allow a bonus of approximately £1/t for the 1 year deal and £1.50 for the 3yr for the 21/22 crop.
Peter Watson thinks the future is rosy!!

But I thought you could only link a small portion of your contract to the world sugar price anyway? Or is he going to pay this generous bonus to all tonnage?

 

[Breckland Boy]

But I thought you could only link a small portion of your contract to the world sugar price anyway? Or is he going to pay this generous bonus to all tonnage?

I thought all beet had the base price and a bonus scheme when sugar prices rose. I can't remember the trigger price in euros or dollars. It is lower for the beet on a longer deal, hence the extra 50p he anticipates.
Of course he doesn't actually know the price will rise. He just hopes it does.

 

[ajd132]

He speaks as if he personally owns British Sugar. He says 'It's cost me a lot of money' etc. It hasn't cost him anything, he still draws his full salary. It has cost us personally, because most farms are family partnerships.

Noticed that a few times with men in well paid jobs. Jim Mosley is also a ‘me, me, me’.

 

[Daniel]

Noticed that a few times with men in well paid jobs. Jim Mosley is also a ‘me, me, me’.

It's a bit odd, something to do with the person having considerable power but also knowing it can be removed at any moment? Have we a psychologist on here?!

 

[DrWazzock]

The future here is to keep the farm tidy by a simple cropping plan and do other things. Beet doesn't fit the "simple" cropping plan criteria being specialist, risky and hard work for a return not commensurate with the effort and risk required. I don't whether BS can see this coming but we can. Without a return to justify further investment, it's as dead as corduroy, to quote the cat on Red Dwarf.

 

[Breckland Boy]

He looked worried at times but deserves some credit for attending.
He was saying BS are 200000 tonnes short of sugar. He can buy it in from around the world but he can't magic up that tonnage of sugar and stick a red tractor logo on it.

 

[Hindsight]

The future here is to keep the farm tidy by a simple cropping plan and do other things. Beet doesn't fit the "simple" cropping plan criteria being specialist, risky and hard work for a return not commensurate with the effort and risk required. I don't whether BS can see this coming but we can. Without a return to justify further investment, it's as dead as corduroy, to quote the cat on Red Dwarf.

Are you on a multi year contract DrW as you said all these things for the past few months but I note on another thread you have just sown the 2021 crop? If you had been on a one year contract assumed have dropped the crop?

 

[ollie989898]

He looked worried at times but deserves some credit for attending.
He was saying BS are 200000 tonnes short of sugar. He can buy it in from around the world but he can't magic up that tonnage of sugar and stick a red tractor logo on it.

My heart bleeds...

 

[Suffolk Serf]

It's a bit odd, something to do with the person having considerable power but also knowing it can be removed at any moment? Have we a psychologist on here?!

I think that it's just the latest trendy way to do management speak.

 

[spider mike]

It seems the farmers supply chain has excuses for our low output price and also our high input price.
British sugar doesn't want to pay for the beet yet hell do they know how to charge for a by product. It's nothing to do with cost of production. It's just seeing how my they can squeeze out of you before you squeak or walk away. Fertiliser manufacturers are even more brazen !

 

[Pieces_of_Eight]

What would you spend all that extra money on?

I'd be having a look at some Tate & Lyle shares.

 

[Humble Village Farmer]

It seems the farmers supply chain has excuses for our low output price and also our high input price.
British sugar doesn't want to pay for the beet yet hell do they know how to charge for a by product. It's nothing to do with cost of production. It's just seeing how my they can squeeze out of you before you squeak or walk away. Fertiliser manufacturers are even more brazen !

They're all the same. They'll keep pushing and squeezing with no regard for the long term viability of their supply base. It's not as if they can substitute with another product. It's beet or nothing.

By the way if they're suing (?) farmers for breach of contract, how does that help persuade anyone to sign another one for an extra £1?

 

[Steevo]

They're all the same. They'll keep pushing and squeezing with no regard for the long term viability of their supply base. It's not as if they can substitute with another product. It's beet or nothing.

By the way if they're suing (?) farmers for breach of contract, how does that help persuade anyone to sign another one for an extra £1?

They’re as bad as they EU by the sound of it!

 

[Pieces_of_Eight]

They'll keep pushing and squeezing with no regard for the long term viability of their supply base. It's not as if they can substitute with another product. It's beet or nothing.

I'd love to see British Sugar's strategic plan for the next 5 years. ..

 

[Daniel]

I'd love to see British Sugar's strategic plan for the next 5 years. ..

They'll have one, they don't seem bothered that it can bear no relation to reality!