Cancel your NFU membership now

kiwi pom

Member
Location
canterbury NZ
in my experience they will do nothing on this particular issue, just look at the attitude demonstrated by leadership this last month, there is a massive conflict of interest over this RT issue and they will support Red tractor to moon and back

you membership is your only direct vote on this ....... if / when they do as the majority clearly want then simply rejoin, if they don’t they are no longer fit for purpose

It's always about the same thing, RT.
I don't really get it, yes there are lots of stupid rules (where isn't there these days) but pretty much every farm in the UK is in the same boat. So if everyone does it you're all still equal and competing against each over. Just like you would if every rule was scrapped.
I asked in another thread, why the hate towards RT and the NFU? I think you should be pushing them to make RT compulsory for every farmer, that way those that don't do it but are still able to sell their produce, aren't getting an unfair advantage.
You may find it reduces your competition.
Just trying to see it from a different side.
 

Cowcorn

Member
Mixed Farmer
in my experience they will do nothing on this particular issue, just look at the attitude demonstrated by leadership this last month, there is a massive conflict of interest over this RT issue and they will support Red tractor to moon and back

you membership is your only direct vote on this ....... if / when they do as the majority clearly want then simply rejoin, if they don’t they are no longer fit for purpose
The can support the Red Tractor scam to the moon and back if the like but without fuel it wont be long before the Red tractor airlocks !!! If enough farmers cancel their membership the inner NFU circle will soon get the message .
Better still if enough combineable crop farmers pull out of the red tractor the mills and other end users will either have to buy non assured or source elsewhere at a premuim and the aint going to do that .
The NFU has been out of touch with its members for decades . The feudal form of " buggins turn " by which the elect their office holders has been under fire since the eighties . I well remember the debates from the pages of FW from then . Now the have foisted a scam that would make Tony Soprano envious called Red Tractor on its members . Hopefully this time the revolt will achieve a result and long overdue reform but the will need to be starved of cash before the start to see the light .
In a way its a pity you tore up your membership card you would be just the man to lead a walkout at the annaul conference .....(y)(y)
 

Two Tone

Member
Mixed Farmer
Difficult decision - I agree the 'NFU' is not fit for purpose - we cashed in our membership four or five years ago.
However all our insurances; tractors, buildings, house, vehicles are still with NFU Mutual and we get on well with the agents. Competitive when you factor in terms of cover, excess, claims service etc

What a pity they're under the same umbrella....
Do not confuse the NFU Mutual Insurance Society Ltd. with the NFU.
The words Mutual and Ltd. have a very significant meaning here.
You do not have to be an NFU member to insure with the NFU Mutual.

Though it might be worth considering mentioning to them that their continued business with you might be at risk if the NFU itself doesn’t seriously review its position regarding RT.
 

Clive

Staff Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lichfield
It's always about the same thing, RT.
I don't really get it, yes there are lots of stupid rules (where isn't there these days) but pretty much every farm in the UK is in the same boat. So if everyone does it you're all still equal and competing against each over. Just like you would if every rule was scrapped.
I asked in another thread, why the hate towards RT and the NFU? I think you should be pushing them to make RT compulsory for every farmer, that way those that don't do it but are still able to sell their produce, aren't getting an unfair advantage.
You may find it reduces your competition.
Just trying to see it from a different side.

in simple terms being forced by buyers to be RT assured adds cost to our production, thousands in some cases, Those same buyers then buy imported grain that is not farm assured ........ this places our product at a disadvantage in our own country

the NFU are supposed to represent farmers yet despite it being very clear in the Uk that the major of farmers want something done to fix the above situation the are about to support a proposal to raise the RT standards and costs. The NFU own a big part of red tractor so a conflict of interest exists

Our leaders seem to increasingly ignore those they represent, they seem to think they know better and a lot seem to be involved more for the power and employment. The same few faces often appointing each other etc

In short I think a lot of farmers are reaching breaking point on all this and the desire for change is growing rapidly now
 
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Clive

Staff Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lichfield
What do you actually gain by being a member. What does it actually add to your bottom line or your mental health. PLEASE don’t say you get cheap pickups! As I bet I can beat your discount with a few phone calls! When have they actually helped you?

I actually saw an advert on Facebook promoting NFU membership today ......... said I would get a discount on a pickup !
 
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Clive

Staff Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lichfield
Do not confuse the NFU Mutual Insurance Society Ltd. with the NFU.
The words Mutual and Ltd. have a very significant meaning here.
You do not have to be an NFU member to insure with the NFU Mutual.

Though it might be worth considering mentioning to them that their continued business with you might be at risk if the NFU itself doesn’t seriously review its position regarding RT.

also remember the NFU mutual are worth over £6,000,000 per year to the NFU in payments according to their accounts
 

Clive

Staff Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lichfield
The can support the Red Tractor scam to the moon and back if the like but without fuel it wont be long before the Red tractor airlocks !!! If enough farmers cancel their membership the inner NFU circle will soon get the message .
Better still if enough combineable crop farmers pull out of the red tractor the mills and other end users will either have to buy non assured or source elsewhere at a premuim and the aint going to do that .
The NFU has been out of touch with its members for decades . The feudal form of " buggins turn " by which the elect their office holders has been under fire since the eighties . I well remember the debates from the pages of FW from then . Now the have foisted a scam that would make Tony Soprano envious called Red Tractor on its members . Hopefully this time the revolt will achieve a result and long overdue reform but the will need to be starved of cash before the start to see the light .
In a way its a pity you tore up your membership card you would be just the man to lead a walkout at the annaul conference .....(y)(y)

I could always rejoin ............
 

kiwi pom

Member
Location
canterbury NZ
in simple terms being forced by buyers to be RT assured adds cost to our production, thousands in some cases, Those same buyers then buy imported grain that is not farm assured ........ this places our product at a disadvantage in our own country

the NFU are supposed to represent farmers yet despite it being very clear in the Uk that the major of farmers want something done to fix the above situation the are about to support a proposal to raise the RT standards and costs. The NFU own a big part of red tractor so a conflict of interest exists

Our leaders seem to increasingly be seem to ignore those they represent, they seem to think they know better and a lot seem to be involved more for the power and employment. The same few faces often appointing each other etc

In short I think a lot of farmers are reaching breaking point on all this and the desire for change is growing rapidly now

Do you think if RT went the your buyers would just drop all requirements? My guess is buyers/processors/retailers will still want something.

Do UK mills bring in foreign feed wheat and barley?
 
It's always about the same thing, RT.
I don't really get it, yes there are lots of stupid rules (where isn't there these days) but pretty much every farm in the UK is in the same boat. So if everyone does it you're all still equal and competing against each over. Just like you would if every rule was scrapped.
I asked in another thread, why the hate towards RT and the NFU? I think you should be pushing them to make RT compulsory for every farmer, that way those that don't do it but are still able to sell their produce, aren't getting an unfair advantage.
You may find it reduces your competition.
Just trying to see it from a different side.

RT isn't much over and above what trading standards would expect, and everyone is subject to that , so why have and pay for RT on top?
 

snarling bee

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Bedfordshire
I have emailed my regional branch today. I have expressed my concerns regarding rt and how the nfu are failing to represent me as a paid up member (£700/yr).
I await their reply
Speak to your County Chair or Council Delegate, that's what they are for.
I've heard nothing directly from members, but I will be ringing some to gauge opinion.

I assume you've all done the consultations. I have already complained about those.
Must go, frost to work on.
 

MrNoo

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Cirencester
I’ll have to join so I can cancel again :unsure:
Snap, when I withdrew my membership the chap pleaded to me to stay pointing out that I could get 20% discount of my next Land Rover purchase, pretty much sums them up, told him to leave me alone. Although insurance is through NFU so will look to change next renewal
 

Hfd Cattle

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Hereford
Cancelled mine .
Had a phone call asking me why from local office . Gave them my reasons , told that my comments would be passed on to central office . A few weeks later a phone call from central office saying they noticed my membership hadn't been removed and was it by mistake . When I said "you will have been contacted by my local office with my reasons for not renewing " they had heard nothing !!
The NFU is a corrupt organisation and needs rebranding with 'one member one vote ' then change would happen ! I might then rejoin .
ps.. I still get everything through the post as if I'm still a member .
Same with CLA
 
I asked someone on here the same question a while ago and they didn't know.
How much cheaper do they import it for?
Doesn't the UK export feed wheat and barley?

I don't know how much feed wheat and barley we import. I'm sure we import some from time to time - along with other stuff eg oilseed rape.

Feed Mills are perfectly within their right to import non assured stuff, though mills won't buy non assured from UK farmers.

Most of us are complaining about the moral issue (which turns honest farmers into liars) and the lack of premium for our efforts. Its a two tier system but created by our own agricultural representatives in the past and used by them against us to increase their profits and relavence.
 
Because its what your customers want?

But they don't want it from imports.

They want it from us because our representatives have created a system whereby we pay for a auditing to be able to sell something to them and then we offer the benefits of that auditing for free to the customer. We are having to pay for market access essentially - worst of all, on our home market!
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

  • 0 %

    Votes: 77 43.5%
  • Up to 25%

    Votes: 62 35.0%
  • 25-50%

    Votes: 28 15.8%
  • 50-75%

    Votes: 3 1.7%
  • 75-100%

    Votes: 3 1.7%
  • 100% I’ve had enough of farming!

    Votes: 4 2.3%

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

  • 1,285
  • 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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