Farm Assurance - Poll

[matthew]

Almost a 'non-Conformist' slap for us this week. The spray chap had not put his inside leg measurement on his invoice. Fortunately, he was at home and the appropriate paperwork was filled in. His license number and MOT for the sprayer which out of date, but not when he sprayed here.
Notable that RT 2017 'Recommendations' included:
Only purchase stock from Assured farms.
and
Download a weed / pest management sheet from NFU.

WLA by the back door for the first, and no idea for the second - unless they are going to hand rogue docks and shoot badgers.

 

[Steevo]

It appears that the NFU must have taken note of the popularity(not) of the RT.

Tonight's weekly email had a couple of links to the reason why the RT was so great for farmers !!

http://assurance.redtractor.org.uk/contentfiles/Farmers-6777.pdf

"Our standards start with the consumer.
We monitor what they value the most
about their food and understand what
they expect from farmers.
These values are translated in to practical
on-farm standards so Red Tractor farmers
can demonstrate they are producing what
consumers want.
Food carrying the Red Tractor logo with the Union
Flag is 100% British, fully traceable and safe to eat."

"starts with the consumer" - really....or do they mean the SUPERMARKET? I'm not sure they start with the "eater of the food" as the average shopper doesn't even know what it is or stands for.
"what they value the most about their food" - assuming the above to mean SUPERMARKET - what they value most is protecting their own reputation....and not paying a penny more than they need
"practical on-farm standards" - I think there are quite a few that aren't practical....or do they mean "practical" as in practice rather than theory?!
"can demonstrate they are producing what consumers want" - surely it is not for us to demonstrate it, but more for them to demonstrate if is it not up to standard. If I go into a shop, do Tesco demonstrate that the carrots I buy are what I want?! No, I pick the ones I want...or go to another supermarket like Aldi who have fresher veg.
"Food carrying the Red Tractor logo with the Union Flag is 100% British..." - Well.....! The critical bit here is WITH THE -they'd like you to think that the RT logo alone is enough....but it isn't!
"fully traceable" - really?! where did my pork steak come from then please? which ear tag number? which farm? which farmer? Also, if it doesn't have the union flag does this mean it isn't fully traceable?!
"safe to eat" - well that's reassuring! There was me milling around the supermarket wondering which meat on the meat counter was edible and which was likely to kill me!



This is all clever marketing spiel aimed at selling the idea to farmers imo. The phrases above really gloss over the matter and leave your brain to fill in the blanks and give the illusion that they are leading you to, but without specifically claiming it.

Our own marketing gubbins that we are paying for is being used to market the scheme it back to us again! Sand and Arabs!!

 

[Steevo]

When we eventually leave the EU, if they wanted to rename Red Tractor - "British Food" then I think it might actually carry some weight.

 

[Steevo]

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q="...D8AKHdjNAcYQ_AUICCgB&biw=1920&bih=943#imgrc=_

Sixth image across...

 

[gone up the hill]

Almost a 'non-Conformist' slap for us this week. The spray chap had not put his inside leg measurement on his invoice. Fortunately, he was at home and the appropriate paperwork was filled in. His license number and MOT for the sprayer which out of date, but not when he sprayed here.
Notable that RT 2017 'Recommendations' included:
Only purchase stock from Assured farms.
and
Download a weed / pest management sheet from NFU.

WLA by the back door for the first, and no idea for the second - unless they are going to hand rogue docks and shoot badgers.

Just ignore that BS on only buying assured stock.

As for the weed thing from the NFU, its not compulsory ( ie part of the standards ) so they cannot do anything if you don't do it by the time of the next inspection.

 

[milkloss]

It's always been that anyone from any country that can meet the standards are entitled to use the rt logo. It's who does the audit that worries me.........and how much they get paid.

 

[Steevo]

Anyone else find this rather "looking down their nose"?

 

[Bruce Almighty]

Load of rubbish

We passed our dairy inspection, I'm proud to say I changed the rules !
I questioned the waste of paper involved in safety data sheets and you are now allowed to have them on an electronic device.

If you don't challenge them they'll walk all over you

 

[gone up the hill]

"Our standards start with the consumer.
We monitor what they value the most
about their food and understand what
they expect from farmers.
These values are translated in to practical
on-farm standards so Red Tractor farmers
can demonstrate they are producing what
consumers want.
Food carrying the Red Tractor logo with the Union
Flag is 100% British, fully traceable and safe to eat."

"starts with the consumer" - really....or do they mean the SUPERMARKET? I'm not sure they start with the "eater of the food" as the average shopper doesn't even know what it is or stands for.
"what they value the most about their food" - assuming the above to mean SUPERMARKET - what they value most is protecting their own reputation....and not paying a penny more than they need
"practical on-farm standards" - I think there are quite a few that aren't practical....or do they mean "practical" as in practice rather than theory?!
"can demonstrate they are producing what consumers want" - surely it is not for us to demonstrate it, but more for them to demonstrate if is it not up to standard. If I go into a shop, do Tesco demonstrate that the carrots I buy are what I want?! No, I pick the ones I want...or go to another supermarket like Aldi who have fresher veg.
"Food carrying the Red Tractor logo with the Union Flag is 100% British..." - Well.....! The critical bit here is WITH THE -they'd like you to think that the RT logo alone is enough....but it isn't!
"fully traceable" - really?! where did my pork steak come from then please? which ear tag number? which farm? which farmer? Also, if it doesn't have the union flag does this mean it isn't fully traceable?!
"safe to eat" - well that's reassuring! There was me milling around the supermarket wondering which meat on the meat counter was edible and which was likely to kill me!



This is all clever marketing spiel aimed at selling the idea to farmers imo. The phrases above really gloss over the matter and leave your brain to fill in the blanks and give the illusion that they are leading you to, but without specifically claiming it.

Our own marketing gubbins that we are paying for is being used to market the scheme it back to us again! Sand and Arabs!!

Disgusting how the NFU are actively working against their members best intrests by allowing/ supporting the RT quango ( who the NFU part own ) to get away with BS like the above as last week they were telling us the consumer is the supermarkets and now this week they are implying its actually the shopper's who buy our produce..

If the NFU/ RT really think that farmers will buy the above BS that they released today then they need a very strong cup of black coffee as proof is in the pudding and as long as you can stand in the Supermarket by a meat shelve for example and ask 100 random shoppers about RT and 90 of them haven't a clue what your talking about then nothing the RT quango say is worth the paper its written on.

 

[Steevo]

It's always been that anyone from any country that can meet the standards are entitled to use the rt logo. It's who does the audit that worries me.........and how much they get paid.

It does say to me they are more interested in £££ than anything else. Certainly not the interests of British farmers first. The photo title "Alternative logo options" says in marketing speaks "we'd like this to happen in case anyone abroad thinks the same...."

 

[matthew]

Just ignore that BS on only buying assured stock.

As for the weed thing from the NFU, its not compulsory ( ie part of the standards ) so they cannot do anything if you don't do it by the time of the next inspection.

Rat regs started as a 'recommendation'.

 

[gone up the hill]

It's always been that anyone from any country that can meet the standards are entitled to use the rt logo. It's who does the audit that worries me.........and how much they get paid.

If that's the case then the RT logo isn't worth the paper its printed off.

With Brexit we need a stamp to separate us from imports and if the RT logo isn't equipped to do then then it/ farm assurance should be scrapped and a complete rethink is needed on the way forward.

 

[gone up the hill]

Rat regs started as a 'recommendation'.

Aye true but as above we need to start challenging the inspectors a lot more when they come out with this BS like the weeds etc.

 

[caveman]

Rat regs started as a 'recommendation'.

Even a rat deserves a decent life before it dies

 

[spin cycle]

just saw a morrison advert...uk logo on the meat...but no red tractor....so wtf is the point

 

[gone up the hill]

just saw a morrison advert...uk logo on the meat...but no red tractor....so wtf is the point

Farmers = NO gain at all..

Supermarkets = more and more control over their supply sector

RT Quango = to make themselves loads of cash and keep themselves in a worthless job.

NFU = well no idea what their end game plan is but its certainly NOT in farmers best intrest's.

 

[FarmyStu]

@gone up the hill , do you have anything positive to say about the industry you work in? Something to encourage people to buy British farm produce? Have you ever done anything positive for British farming?

 

[gone up the hill]

@gone up the hill , do you have anything positive to say about the industry you work in? Something to encourage people to buy British farm produce? Have you ever done anything positive for British farming?

RT as it stands is NOT positive for British farming so I can hardly be positive about it can I!

 

[Wooly]

@gone up the hill , do you have anything positive to say about the industry you work in? Something to encourage people to buy British farm produce? Have you ever done anything positive for British farming?

Deja vu



Please don't start this again you two !!!!

 

[FarmyStu]

It appears that the NFU must have taken note of the popularity(not) of the RT.

Tonight's weekly email had a couple of links to the reason why the RT was so great for farmers !!

http://assurance.redtractor.org.uk/contentfiles/Farmers-6777.pdf

The six farmers shown on the leaflet saying positive things about RT, complete with names and pictures, have actually done something for their industry. Even if you disagree. Whereas this thread has, in the main, been one enormous whinge-athon. Confirming that there exists a group of people within the industry who like nothing better than to complain without offering any real alternative. Fortunately, other than me and a few other die hards, nobody is listening.