Commingle.......

As a farmer I think Scottish Quality Cereals (Northern version of RT) is something that I could live without, and since being sold to Accoura it looks more than ever like it's a nit picking money making venture that has lost it's way.

But as a consumer, I don't want to feed my family with any of the shite I see produced on sub standard units, by 'farmers' that clearly couldn't care less about the quality of their produce or the environment. Buck up your ideas, or make way for someone else who can. Assurance is no different in any other profession, as pretty much every industry has to do CPD, I don't see why you lot think you're so special.
I've actually just moved to RT from sqc as I was already doing produce and it means the inspection is all done at the same time. SQC was a bit light weight with the whole sprayer self certification nonsense and who wouldn't object to getting the sprayer checked once a year whe there's a lot of money going through it.
 
Guy says that Weetabix won't be happy with a RT lite scheme, well they'd better put their hand in their pocket, or the till, and pay more for it then so they're paying a premium that makes it worthwhile for the grower.

Not being funny but who gives a fudge what Weetabix or Warburtons or anyone else thinks of the RT scheme or what farmers do with or without it? Are Weetabix paying for the scheme in any way? No. Does the scheme benefit consumers in any way? Hardly, given that in many cases processers of foodstuffs are using imported supplies that can't possibly be RT assured. So what is the point?

Why should farmers incur the cost and time penalties involved with a scheme that delivers no tangible benefit to them? What's more, Red Tractor means absolutely fudge all to consumers to the point that retailers won't even use it.

What a Frenchman says about British food is of zero concern to me and it should be even less concerning to Guy Smith.
 

An Gof

Member
Location
Cornwall
I've actually just moved to RT from sqc as I was already doing produce and it means the inspection is all done at the same time. SQC was a bit light weight with the whole sprayer self certification nonsense and who wouldn't object to getting the sprayer checked once a year whe there's a lot of money going through it.

I am perfectly capable of keeping my sprayer in good order and do not need, nor want to pay, for an annual test that is beyond the legal requirement for a test every three years.
Must be a bit harder to earn the money here than it is for you.
 

Clive

Staff Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lichfield
I am perfectly capable of keeping my sprayer in good order and do not need, nor want to pay, for an annual test that is beyond the legal requirement for a test every three years.
Must be a bit harder to earn the money here than it is for you.

my sprayer applies hundreds of thousands of £ of product every year ........ i really do not need telling to calibrate or maintain it !

they treat us like bloody children ! its enough to put me off wanting to farm at all frankly
 

farmerm

Member
Location
Shropshire
again , interesting that the only people they can find to speak in favour are both on the Red Tractor gravy train ..... Sorry I mean “payroll”
A point that needs to be put back to FW! Where is the glowing endorsement of RT from our processing customers who are forced, sorry choose, to only accept UK produced grains if RT assured, Where are the endorsements from the end consumers who actively choose to purchase RT assured products over non RT products?
 

Clive

Staff Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lichfield
A point that needs to be put back to FW! Where is the glowing endorsement of RT from our processing customers who are forced, sorry choose, to only accept UK produced grains if RT assured, Where are the endorsements from the end consumers who actively choose to purchase RT assured products over non RT products?

i did make a lot more points in both the podcast and fw articles - editing to fit space looses a lot though sadly


i would love to see FW follow up this story with a more in-depth piece
 

Steevo

Member
Location
Gloucestershire
my sprayer applies hundreds of thousands of £ of product every year ........ i really do not need telling to calibrate or maintain it !

Not just this, but you have every incentive to ensure it is calibrated properly ever day of the year. The chap that does the sprayer test spends 30mins on your sprayer and then is off to the next customer and yours is forgotten. His motivations are totally different than that of the farmer.
 

Steevo

Member
Location
Gloucestershire
A point that needs to be put back to FW! Where is the glowing endorsement of RT from our processing customers who are forced, sorry choose, to only accept UK produced grains if RT assured, Where are the endorsements from the end consumers who actively choose to purchase RT assured products over non RT products?

I forsee the letters section having a few choice comments next week! Posibly from both sides.
 

solo

Member
Location
worcestershire
I do wonder in a season like this last one, whether companies such as weetabix would actually be able to source all their requirements from the chosen growers. Malting contracts are just as fickle, but can normally be sourced from within the Uk. The Molson Coors contract did stipulate requirements additional to the RT standards. If other products are substituted does the packaging change to reflect that the RT standard no longer applies to the the final product? RT certainly didn’t help to keep horsemeat out of the food chain.
 

Jamer

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Glos
i was told FW tried hard but could not find a single farmer !

as I say, speaks volumes
Shame they didn't put a note at the bottom of the piece to that effect. - Such as when news programmes make a point of stating that "We asked the govt for an interview but no one available for comment...." Says it all.
 

Steevo

Member
Location
Gloucestershire
Apart from Jim and Guy, who do you see comments coming from on the pro-RT side of the debate?

I wouldn't be at all surprised to hear some corporate bods extolling the virtue of RT and saying how crucial it is to their purchasing choices, quality, maintaining high standards etc.

I can see RT encouraging Weetabix, Carling and all their cronies to do so to justify the brand.
 

solo

Member
Location
worcestershire
Those corporate companies need to be squeaky clean on procurement to stick their head above the parapet. There is certainly no rush that I can see. That says a lot to me.
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

  • 0 %

    Votes: 79 42.0%
  • Up to 25%

    Votes: 66 35.1%
  • 25-50%

    Votes: 30 16.0%
  • 50-75%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 75-100%

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

    Votes: 7 3.7%

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

  • 1,292
  • 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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