Cancel your NFU membership now

[tullah]

They won't change their name because there's a certain status amongst them they crave. They like to come across as countryfied instead of the word "tescos Union" which would be more appropriate.

 

[Tarw Coch]

Just goes to show they are not interested in trying to keep the backbone of farmers supported pandering to others. If they really supported the farmerst they would have a significantly more members then they would be no reason to look elsewhere where for extra money, stupid idea going down that root . Time for a change in direction ! If only grass roots members had a vote!

The government has insisted just about every other Union is one member one vote.
Why not the NFU?
Is it because they do the governments bidding?

 

[Old apprentice]

Some one dig out union law to see what it says about one member one vote . It could be the game changer we are all looking for . Could turn things upside down on many issues and get rid of some hiden faces and others in nfu. If it is law one member one vote is the way forward for rt to be sorted out.

 

[wrenbird]

Is there away of finding a top investigative journalist to do a story on this? It might be a strange thing to say, but the huge success of Clarkson’s Farm may be a help to generate interest. Many of the favourable reviews, from people who had no previous interest or knowledge of farming, say they are surprised at the level of red tape and government interference.
The media is always keen to find and follow trends, imagine a Panorama programme on how the country’s biggest farming union, which boasts of having the ear of the government and being able to shape policy, is not only so undemocratically run that ordinary farmers have no way to register their dissatisfaction except by leaving, but the leadership fully expect, and even bizarrely, appear to welcome the fact that many of their core membership will be out of a job in the near future, while they except money, and is influenced by, what could be seen as the opposition.

 

[Hilly]

Has anyone a viable reason for being a member ?

 

[tullah]

Has anyone a viable reason for being a member ?

Interesting question

 

[7610 super q]

So cancelled as said and heard nothing so I thought I’d get back in touch to see why nobody has bothered to contact me. The very polite lady said that they were more concerned about none farming members as that’s where they see the future. She went on to say the Nfu expect around 30% of farms will cease to exist within the next 10 years which is why they are pushing for none farming members.
I have to say I applaud her honesty and she was genuinely very nice, but clearly a union needs to support their membership which if is none farming then that’s what they’ll do. So the Nfu has officially morphed into a countryside club for village life by the looks of things.

Well that explains a lot...

 

[Hilly]

Well that explains a lot...

Looks like they want rid of 30% not they just think their will be less .

 

[Old apprentice]

New headline nfu want rid of farmers.

 

[JP1]

Is there away of finding a top investigative journalist to do a story on this? It might be a strange thing to say, but the huge success of Clarkson’s Farm may be a help to generate interest. Many of the favourable reviews, from people who had no previous interest or knowledge of farming, say they are surprised at the level of red tape and government interference.
The media is always keen to find and follow trends, imagine a Panorama programme on how the country’s biggest farming union, which boasts of having the ear of the government and being able to shape policy, is not only so undemocratically run that ordinary farmers have no way to register their dissatisfaction except by leaving, but the leadership fully expect, and even bizarrely, appear to welcome the fact that many of their core membership will be out of a job in the near future, while they except money, and is influenced by, what could be seen as the opposition.

Clarkson got his NFU help in in tight trousers so I'm not sure he'd be much help ...

 

[dairyrow]

I think I've read most the posts and maybe forgot alot of comments.

The problem with alot of farmer representatives is they are there too long and it's most probably a popularity vote rather than a strategic vote for someone who can steer the industry.

People should have 2 terms and out. ICOS I think they were called did that in Ireland. Governance thing. If they were bad no loss, but some times if they were good it was.

There must be a mechanism within the constitution of the NFU to get every member to have a meaningful vote on it's future role and it's governance going forward. We've just got that vote with the ADHB, surely there must be some where?

I do wonder if we need a investment fund that starts buying into food retailers and maybe make everyone a owner and supplier to share the COP contracts. Rather than to the chosen few.

Just some of my thoughts

 

[alex04w]

Some one dig out union law to see what it says about one member one vote . It could be the game changer we are all looking for . Could turn things upside down on many issues and get rid of some hiden faces and others in nfu. If it is law one member one vote is the way forward for rt to be sorted out.

The NFU is not a Union. According to Wikipedia, it is registered as an 'association of employers' under the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act 1974.

Section 28(2) of that Act states

(2)In this Act, except so far as the context otherwise requires, " employers' association " means an organisation (whether permanent or temporary) which either—

(a)consists wholly or mainly of employers or individual proprietors of one or more descriptions and is an organisation whose principal purposes include the regulation of relations between employers of that description or those descriptions and workers or trade unions; or

(b)consists wholly or mainly of—

(i)constituent or affiliated organisations which fulfil the conditions specified in paragraph (a) above (or themselves consist wholly or mainly of constituent or affiliated organisations which fulfil those conditions), or

(ii)representatives of such constituent or affiliated organisations;

and in either case is an organisation whose principal purposes include the regulation of relations between employers and workers or between employers and trade unions, or include the regulation of relations between its constituent or affiliated organisations.

When you read that and think that Tesco etc are supposedly members of the NFU, it really makes you wonder who the NFU represent.

 

[borderterribles]

I don't know, as I left the NFU, the best part of thirty years ago, but just as there used to be a minimum annual subscription, is there an upper limit? If I remember correctly it used to be a per acre amount. I agree that it is shameful that they seem to be blithely accepting of the fact that they expect a third of farmers to leave the industry, in the relatively short term, but the majority of the land that those who leave, relinquish, will continue to be farmed. Who by? The bigger ones left in the game . The ones who accept RT as a necessary part and parcel of access to markets. Smaller farmers are seen as, (and always have been) nothing but a nuisance to the NFU and its hierarchy.

 

[Grass And Grain]

Isn't it a dreadful state of affairs when farmers can't support the NFU.

Not certain if the NFU are deaf or daft. They certainly don't seem to be smart or willing to evolve to become stronger, but rather cling on to the same policies and diminish.

It isn't likethe problem hasn't been mentioned.

Very strange.

 

[bumkin]

Isn't it a dreadful state of affairs when farmers can't support the NFU.

Not certain if the NFU are deaf or daft. They certainly don't seem to be smart or willing to evolve to become stronger, but rather cling on to the same policies and diminish.

It isn't likethe problem hasn't been mentioned.

Very strange.

don't confuse the mutual with the NFU the problem with the union is it is run by amateurs a lot of them are only there to be on the gravy train and expand their ego's in Westminster some of them are considered a joke

 

[turbo]

You only have to look on here at different threads to see what a difficult job the Nfu have to do! You have Clive and his re gen lot hoping to get all the subs for their way of farming and grassland farmers trying to claim their way should get it all,it’s a fine line to tread to keep everyone happy and one I am pleased that I don’t have to do!

 

[Grass And Grain]

You only have to look on here at different threads to see what a difficult job the Nfu have to do! You have Clive and his re gen lot hoping to get all the subs for their way of farming and grassland farmers trying to claim their way should get it all,it’s a fine line to tread to keep everyone happy and one I am pleased that I don’t have to do!

True. Requirements of all sectors need to be considered.
Grain farmers want high prices for grain. Liestock farmers want low grain prices.

NFU do do a lot of good work.

 

[colhonk]

Just not for farmers?

 

[Hilly]

True. Requirements of all sectors need to be considered.
Grain farmers want high prices for grain. Liestock farmers want low grain prices.

NFU do do a lot of good work.

Likes of ?

 

[wrenbird]

Clarkson got his NFU help in in tight trousers so I'm not sure he'd be much help ...

I wasn’t thinking that he would be of any help, more that the success of his series has brought farming into the view of people that would not usually think twice about it. Tv companies, newspapers etc are always looking for new angles on whatever people are talking about.