First step in the fight back.

[WOODCHIP]

I’m in let’s finish this corruption in uk ag.

 

[Jackov Altraids]

Really, really cannot see how it's easier to start from scratch than to reform the NFU.


For sure, I know all about the NFU and their mysterious 'affiliate' membership category, and i'm not denying for a second that they patently do not represent farmers and farmers alone.
If you think it will be easier to start a new organisation, than to get the NFU to pass a motion saying that only active farmers can be members, then crack on .

You are probably right and I hope that avenue is explored.

What is being suggested here can be entirely supplementary.
But it also does give the foundation for an alternative at some point in the future should the NFU continue to fail those that it was inaugurated to help.

 

[Ball acre]

British Food Producers

Farmers of Britain

British Farmers Alliance

Farming UK Union.

FUK U

 

[Grass And Grain]

Personally I'd say wait until after RT consultation results, and wait until after harvest/autumn drilling. But I'm fully behind it.

Then a website.
Stated aim is to bring power back to farmers, and away from RT.
Sign up with email address.
At signup, farmer ticks relevant sectors, eg. cereals, beef.
So farmer is in correct segment(s).
Power is in the list.
Farmers will clamour to join.
End of signup, ask farmer to text all his mates in phone address book.

It will go viral.
Control is with us, don't need NFU to negotiate with RT on our behalf.

Start with cereals, easiest target. Then work on livestock.

The milk producers list can be poasibly further segmented into which customer they supply.

Reasonably confident it will work.

 

[Refco]

Can we get a badge?

 

[neilo]

They are speaking as a group, all named with their types of farming enterprise listed & location, maybe the NFU needs to be as open.
It's not elected they speak as a collective voice.
All are livestock farmers who believe in the future of UK agriculture .

So who are these livestock farmers that supposedly represent the tff membership and have got efra’s ear? I’ve never heard of such a group, let alone know if they represent my views.

That set up must be even less representative than the NFU! At least I can get involved in NFU meetings if I want to, or ring my branch Chairman and express my views.

 

[glasshouse]

British Food Producers

Farmers of Britain

British Farmers Alliance

The farmers alliance existed before the nfu

 

[glasshouse]

Goo

I wish you the best of luck and would love to tell RT to go take a walk myself, but the reality is it won't work as all the major buyers will stifle any attempt's to deregulate farm assurance and the super markets certainly will , it didn't work in the late 90s and certainly won't now , yes it's a b##ger

We didn't have the power of tinternet in the 90,s or tff to fight a guerilla war against the RT oppressors

 

[Bury the Trash]

 

[Jackov Altraids]

We didn't have the power of tinternet in the 90,s or tff to fight a guerilla war against the RT oppressors

That's not quite how I'd put it, but in essence, you are absolutely right.

The power of the NFU lay in having the name, address and telephone number of nearly every farmer in the country, which they could call on to follow its 'advice'.
It lost its power and members by never using it's ability to do this.
Before the internet and maybe TFF, farmers never had the ability to form their own database of likeminded people across the nation.

Many of us will have belonged to producer / supplier groups at some point. Did you notice that they surreptitiously ensured that there was no way for all the members of the group to get in touch with each other?.....
The buyer controls a group of individual suppliers. A group of suppliers has some control over the buyer.

Farmers need to stop acting as individuals.
We can't rely on the NFU to act on our behalf.

 

[glasshouse]

All the assurance schemes are worthless and just added stress.
Imported grain needs no stickers, so wtf is the point except lining the pockets of the directors
The late great peter hepworth saw right through it from the start

 

[Treg]

So who are these livestock farmers that supposedly represent the tff membership and have got efra’s ear? I’ve never heard of such a group, let alone know if they represent my views.

That set up must be even less representative than the NFU! At least I can get involved in NFU meetings if I want to, or ring my branch Chairman and express my views.

They Don't claim to represent the Tff membership, they represent themselves as a alternative voice to some of the National bodies.
The video of the efra committee meeting was on here somewhere , I'm sure someone cleverer than me will find it and post it & the press coverage.
Yes I've been at local NFU meetings sat between 2 of Cornwalls biggest veg growers, They couldn't give a fudge what happens to the livestock industry.

 

[stroller]

Would it not be better to join the FSB- federation of small business , not the Russian replacement for the KGB, and have a farming branch of that? They already have the infrastructure, legal and lobbying experts in place,.

 

[Sid]

Would it not be better to join the FSB- federation of small business , not the Russian replacement for the KGB, and have a farming branch of that? They already have the infrastructure, legal and lobbying experts in place,.

But don't they want to buy from their suppliers, farmers,as cheap as possible?

 

[Vader]

A couple of things jump out

We are mostly just a bunch of characters on here, so real names would be required for Gov to take us seriously.

We would need proof that we are from the UK and not getting votes from just anywhere in the world.

This is not said in opposition, merely an observation.

£10 membership thing would sort it as people have to give name and address fir membership.
That can then be checked.
Also gives access to members only section on here.

 

[Vader]

Tff Grassroots group has already achieved alot speaking to the Efra Committee & over stuff going on behind the scenes, they have shown what a small group of like minded farmers can achieve & also that the Government wants to listen to their views.
They have used the forum as their base & discussion area but have been open & provided their real names when dealing with Government & others.

Csn that me ramped up to a proper membership group?
We need numbers in group to show the group speaks for farmers.

 

[Vader]

When the NFU rock up to a meeting with the government to they take with them a list of names or do they just claim to represent X number, who they probably haven’t consulted?

I’m sure real names would be needed for membership along with some details of farming most likely to give an indication of the size and type of farming represented but not sure it would need a change to usernames for the purposes of the forum

Agree , names here would not have to change as people would give real names and address to be members.
Posting here does not effect that as gov won't be coming here to chat.

 

[roscoe erf]

I reckon you could be the perfect leader for the new Federation

no he just the father

 

[roscoe erf]

Can we get a badge?

some one will want a mug

 

[Vader]

The world has changed, for better or worse, formal structures are less appropriate in the digital age, you can achieve alot these days without strength in numbers.
Anyway, getting the NFU to do their job better, will be much easier than trying to set something new up.
Anyone who wants to join a body that may better reflect their views on food and farming, have a look at the Landworkers Alliance.
https://landworkersalliance.org.uk/

NFU will never change while its run as it is and that won't change as the top lot like it as it is.

Sadly I feel ANY existing body is no good as none are doing anything to defend farming.
A new simple group with a simple first aim of dealing with red tractor is needed.
All the rest have current leadership who have failed farming .