Concerned about Red Tractor collapse.

Clive

Staff Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lichfield
Here’s a thought.

I know that RT assurance has cost me quite a bit over the past 20+ years; directly in terms of the fees charged and indirectly in terms of levys on my produce and the extra office- time required to jump through the extra hoops that are presented.

What I have received in return for my money is unclear. As far as I remember the scheme was originally sold as a way to realise a premium for our produce. This rapidly seemed to morph into RT being a ‘gatekeeper’ organisation, whereby I have to be assured to send my grain to the local silo, and I have to be assured to send my cattle to the abattoir (they’re organic, so I can’t take them to the mart without losing the small but real premium on them).

Like everyone else who is farm assured, I’ve regularly had guff through the post extolling RTs brilliance and I strongly suspect it’s all a load of rubbish because I don’t believe it’s something that customers seek out therefore it adds no value.

Just wondering; could we commission a piece of independent research into what factors customers take into account when buying products in the supermarket? Thinking about, say, beef and lamb (my main areas), I strongly suspect that customers will buy mainly on factors such as price and maybe where the animals were produced and how long the meat has been aged. I suspect that virtually no-one goes into a shop looking for the red tractor symbol, or could take a stab at its meaning if asked.

It would be good to have something concrete to throw back at RT next time we’re told what a good job they’re doing on our behalf.

What do you think @Clive @Chris F ? Personally I’d be happy to sling a few tenners in a fund for such a piece of research, but personally I wouldn’t have a clue how to start organising it.


Red tractor have research that they say proves consumers recognise the brand - I strongly suspect that its the union flag part of the brand that is recognised however, I mean who doesn't recognise that ! Their own research also doesn't ask more critical questions such as are you prepared to pay a premium for the brand / logo or id it ACTUALLY just the British bit that you value and nothing to do with the assurance etc ...... which again I strongly suspect to be the case


Trouble with commissioned research is you can get whatever answer you want simply by changing how you ask the questions !
 

Clive

Staff Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lichfield
Or just Quality Tractor

How about this - "BRITISH". ?



I've even knocked up a nice logo for you ............. doesn't need a lot of marketing budget, I think most understand what it means !



1641487353406.png
 
I think there is a risk that some vet practices may be unwilling to supply meds for farmers to administer, if they have no input into how, where and how appropriately they are used.
The health plan meeting with coffee, at least let's vets see the farm once a year to continue to justify the supply of appropriate antibiotics, etc for the farmer to responsibly administer, without the need tor vet to sign each treatment off.
Personally I think it a very worthwhile hour spent.

It is true that you can't expect anyone to let you buy whatever drugs you like if a vet hasn't been on the premises in 12 months. Those days are gone. My wife wouldn't want to let people have a load of drugs without ever laying eyes on the place, even if it was legit.
 

Clive

Staff Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lichfield
All very nice.. and I get 100% at what you're saying.

But



View attachment 1008273

View attachment 1008274

The Bottom one being prefered here then Scottish. The Union Jack is Red Tractor.... From anywhere


Errrrrrr No. - the UNION flag is all 3 nations


I didn't suggest this did I ! 😜

1641488205394.png




I suspect the Union flag is the worlds most recognised logo ......... on the basis we used to own quite a lot of it !!
 

JeepJeep

Member
Trade
Errrrrrr No. - the UNION flag is all 3 nations


I didn't suggest this did I !

View attachment 1008275



I suspect the Union flag is the worlds most recognised logo ......... on the basis we used to own quite a lot of it !!
You never no... Well done on your Flag Knowledge.

You did say this "I strongly suspect that its the union flag part of the brand that is recognised, however" regarding red tractor

Cracking Idea to make a difference,... Use part of the same logo
 
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JeepJeep

Member
Trade
And Exaxctly all 3.....or 4 where I come from Nations.... Brilliant. When you want Welsh or Scots
 
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Here’s a thought.

I know that RT assurance has cost me quite a bit over the past 20+ years; directly in terms of the fees charged and indirectly in terms of levys on my produce and the extra office- time required to jump through the extra hoops that are presented.

What I have received in return for my money is unclear. As far as I remember the scheme was originally sold as a way to realise a premium for our produce. This rapidly seemed to morph into RT being a ‘gatekeeper’ organisation, whereby I have to be assured to send my grain to the local silo, and I have to be assured to send my cattle to the abattoir (they’re organic, so I can’t take them to the mart without losing the small but real premium on them).

Like everyone else who is farm assured, I’ve regularly had guff through the post extolling RTs brilliance and I strongly suspect it’s all a load of rubbish because I don’t believe it’s something that customers seek out therefore it adds no value.

Just wondering; could we commission a piece of independent research into what factors customers take into account when buying products in the supermarket? Thinking about, say, beef and lamb (my main areas), I strongly suspect that customers will buy mainly on factors such as price and maybe where the animals were produced and how long the meat has been aged. I suspect that virtually no-one goes into a shop looking for the red tractor symbol, or could take a stab at its meaning if asked.

It would be good to have something concrete to throw back at RT next time we’re told what a good job they’re doing on our behalf.

What do you think @Clive @Chris F ? Personally I’d be happy to sling a few tenners in a fund for such a piece of research, but personally I wouldn’t have a clue how to start organising it.

Very few people know what RT is. At BBQ a few months ago I asked everybody (about 30) what RT was and only a couple knew and even they weren’t bothered.
 

neilo

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Montgomeryshire
A nice, simple, recognisable Union Jack on all food produced to UK legal standards, that doesn't contain ANY imported ingredients. Job done. (y)

Of course, we will still be able to add value for well known better brands like Welsh lamb (& I suppose Scotch beef), with a Welsh flag on the packaging as well.
 

JeepJeep

Member
Trade
A nice, simple, recognisable Union Jack on all food produced to UK legal standards, that doesn't contain ANY imported ingredients. Job done. (y)

Of course, we will still be able to add value for well known better brands like Welsh lamb (& I suppose Scotch beef), with a Welsh flag on the packaging as well.
A Compromise on flags you mean?.... I could cope with that one. What about you @Clive
 

slackjawedyokel

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Northumberland
Very few people know what RT is. At BBQ a few months ago I asked everybody (about 30) what RT was and only a couple knew and even they weren’t bothered.
That’s my point. Anecdotally we all know this. It would be nice to have it independently confirmed. The question then would be “What have I paid all that money for??”
 

Grass And Grain

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Yorks
You never no... Well done on your Flag Knowledge.

You did say this "I strongly suspect that its the union flag part of the brand that is recognised, however" regarding red tractor

Cracking Idea to make a difference,... Use part of the same logo

A nice, simple, recognisable Union Jack on all food produced to UK legal standards, that doesn't contain ANY imported ingredients. Job done. (y)

Of course, we will still be able to add value for well known better brands like Welsh lamb (& I suppose Scotch beef), with a Welsh flag on the packaging as well.
Packer could choose to use either Union Flag or individual country flag.
 
A lot of the anti-red tractor noise on this forum is related solely to combinable crops (albeit not exclusively).

For those sectors one or two steps above in the ‘food chain’ producing meat and dairy etc I feel the red tractor provides a good, defendable platform to work from even if end users insist on their own to audits to ensure standards are met. That is not to say there is not room for improvement.

Without red tractor I would be very concerned about what might come in its place - for Instance our produce is on the shelves of probably 5 supermarkets and I would not want to be meeting the criteria of each of their own rules. This was one of the main rationales for red tractor in the first place and that has not gone away.

While change is often welcomed and reform probably needed, we should be careful not to shoot ourselves in the the foot.

Red tractor means nothing in the marketplace. You surely recognise this?

Why the heck any dairy farmer would be in favour of RT I have no idea, most of them are obliged to work under far more stringent requirements anyway.

Arable farmers are bound by trading standards and the sale of goods act when selling grain. That is ample for the bulk of UK grain that gets moved. If a buyer wants product which is more tightly regulated they can offer a premium for it, but it should be on a voluntary basis.

If you feel red tractor is offering a worthwhile premium for your efforts why would you be opposed to multiple schemes offering more of a premium? Surely you recognise that RT is a joke if your are forced to send product under RT only to see it sit alongside non RT product?!
 

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

  • 1,290
  • 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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