GFC was to go ahead - now not going ahead

[Grass And Grain]

RT to Organic producers is only about market access, we already pay to be Organic certified then pay extra for a lower less trusted standard in RT.
OF&g feel the " establishment " is blocking Organic certification to have equal access to the market place.

Improved market access! How on earth can they claim this when it's the polar opposite of denying access for growers who aren't members.

... particularly when you read Treg's comment above.

For organic this necessity to have RT doesn't sit right. Someone somewhere is making sure organic producers are still tied into RT. They want control over us so they can add in any new rules they like and all of us have to comply, yet they don't need to pay a penny more for the produce.

They (the establishment) need calling out about this. Organic trumps RT by a country mile, but those producers are being forced to pay for RT.

Who's controlling this?

There is also no mechanism to find out if it is money well spent.

These idiots are talking the pee. I would rather they give the money to RABI (and sack all RT staff)

As someone said, it's not about market access for "members" of our single, almost monopoly assurance scheme, it's about cutting off markets for those who won't pay up. See organic example.

 

[Old apprentice]

(Who is controlling this) I would sujest aic they are the ones really calling the shots.

 

[SilliamWhale]

(Who is controlling this) I would sujest aic they are the ones really calling the shots.

Again minutes of the meetings which set the direction in which the board act would shine a light on this?

Where has the 2.5 million come from? Who paid it? Why? When was it paid and when did the board approve the advert campaign?

 

[slackjawedyokel]

Again minutes of the meetings which set the direction in which the board act would shine a light on this?

Where has the 2.5 million come from? Who paid it? Why? When was it paid and when did the board approve the advert campaign?

All good questions. Enquiring minds wish to know!

 

[Hay Maker]

All good questions. Enquiring minds wish to know!

I have just looked on companies house web site at Red Tractor Food Assurance Ltd which since it's inception has always been a Dormant company ie not trading, but now it is listed as an Active company. Perhaps this is the route that Assured Food Standards which owns & controls RT are taking in an attempt to hide where the funding for these adverts are coming from?

 

[Charles.]

my guess is retailers are desperate to keep Red Tractor alive and are no under no illusion that farmers want to see it gone / there is a very real danger they will kill it off

Retailers are going to have to help RT (and that means cash ) a lot to keep it going, It’s all about control of suppliers and RT is one method of control they have

i’m amazed they have allowed Mosley / Tacon to continue to run it ……… they must know too much !

We must fight for choice and not illegally forced against our will into farm assurance scheme. Without choice I can't see any possibility of a worthwhile premium for the majority. I'll start listening to the NFU when they fight our cause for choice, confronting and sorting AIC out for a start. Think I might be emailing this MP next https://www.agriland.co.uk/farming-news/red-tractor-overstepped-its-remit-on-gfc-module-mp-lockhart/.

 

[SilliamWhale]

We must fight for choice and not illegally forced against our will into farm assurance scheme. Without choice I can't see any possibility of a worthwhile premium for the majority. I'll start listening to the NFU when they fight our cause for choice, confronting and sorting AIC out for a start. Think I might be emailing this MP next https://www.agriland.co.uk/farming-news/red-tractor-overstepped-its-remit-on-gfc-module-mp-lockhart/.

It's already overstepped it's remit massively. In fact it didn't have a "remit" as it doesn't have authority or an official capacity, it's just a uselessly functioning brand

 

[glasshouse]

(Who is controlling this) I would sujest aic they are the ones really calling the shots.

Absolutely correct

 

[slackjawedyokel]

I have just looked on companies house web site at Red Tractor Food Assurance Ltd which since it's inception has always been a Dormant company ie not trading, but now it is listed as an Active company. Perhaps this is the route that Assured Food Standards which owns & controls RT are taking in an attempt to hide where the funding for these adverts are coming from?

That’s a really interesting point. “RED TRACTOR FOOD ASSURANCE LTD has been dormant since at least 2006 so why revive it into an active company now? Their last set of published accounts to y/e 31/3/23:

Maybe they were planning to run GFC via this company to have some separation from the rest of RT?

Would still love to know where the 2.5 million came for from the current adverts.

AFS apparently made a profit of around 1.4 million to y/e 31/3/23. So where would that come from? Money paid to it via the private RT business that collects the royalties from the inspection companies such as SAI Global? Where else would they make money from?

Lastly, the official address at Companies House for both AFS LTD and RED TRACTOR FOOD ASSURANCE LTD is c/o a different business (‘Chavereys’-an accountants), operating out of an old railway goods shed in Kent:

 

[Henarar]

That’s a really interesting point. “RED TRACTOR FOOD ASSURANCE LTD has been dormant since at least 2006 so why revive it into an active company now? Their last set of published accounts to y/e 31/3/23:
View attachment 1173504
Maybe they were planning to run GFC via this company to have some separation from the rest of RT?

Would still love to know where the 2.5 million came for from the current adverts.

AFS apparently made a profit of around 1.4 million to y/e 31/3/23. So where would that come from? Money paid to it via the private RT business that collects the royalties from the inspection companies such as SAI Global? Where else would they make money from?

Lastly, the official address at Companies House for both AFS LTD and RED TRACTOR FOOD ASSURANCE LTD is c/o a different business (‘Chavereys’-an accountants), operating out of an old railway goods shed in Kent:
View attachment 1173508

Hope that shed is RT assured

 

[Hay Maker]

That’s a really interesting point. “RED TRACTOR FOOD ASSURANCE LTD has been dormant since at least 2006 so why revive it into an active company now? Their last set of published accounts to y/e 31/3/23:
View attachment 1173504
Maybe they were planning to run GFC via this company to have some separation from the rest of RT?

Would still love to know where the 2.5 million came for from the current adverts.

AFS apparently made a profit of around 1.4 million to y/e 31/3/23. So where would that come from? Money paid to it via the private RT business that collects the royalties from the inspection companies such as SAI Global? Where else would they make money from?

Lastly, the official address at Companies House for both AFS LTD and RED TRACTOR FOOD ASSURANCE LTD is c/o a different business (‘Chavereys’-an accountants), operating out of an old railway goods shed in Kent:
View attachment 1173508

Red Tractor Food Assurance Ltd have only three directors:- Christopher Goodwin an Accountant, James Moseley a Director & Jonathan Tipples a Farmer who was appointed 16/03/2001 whilst the other two were appointed on 4/09/2017. It would not take very long for a meeting with these people (would not need to be all three) to restart the company & approve the spending on adverts.