NFU hustings

Clive

Staff Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lichfield
anyone knownhow the candidates are doing for the various NFU posts? Any strong runners / clear favourites? How are they all coming across at the hustings?

Had a email from FWI today with some poll results - seems Banters is miles ahead of Smith

Nothing between the vice candidates
 
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The Ruminant

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Hertfordshire
I’m surprised there are so few replies given the important changes that are happening politically over the next few years, all of which will have a massive impact on UK farming. Say what you will about the NFU but without them I’d wager things will be a whole lot worse over this time.

I’d also heard Minette B was pretty much a foregone conclusion.

As a friend, so possibly some bias, but I’d also say Stuart Roberts is an excellent candidate. Arable and livestock farmer, organic, sells majority of produce direct so knows consumers, past history working in the higher levels of the civil service so knows government and in the meat industry at a high level with ABP. would have thought this covers a large chunk of UK agriculture.
 

Steevo

Member
Location
Gloucestershire
As a friend, so possibly some bias, but I’d also say Stuart Roberts is an excellent candidate. Arable and livestock farmer, organic, sells majority of produce direct so knows consumers, past history working in the higher levels of the civil service so knows government and in the meat industry at a high level with ABP. would have thought this covers a large chunk of UK agriculture.

Not afraid to walk away from things if needed either! Stands for a lot.
 

GTB

Never Forgotten
Honorary Member
I’m surprised there are so few replies given the important changes that are happening politically over the next few years, all of which will have a massive impact on UK farming. Say what you will about the NFU but without them I’d wager things will be a whole lot worse over this time.

I’d also heard Minette B was pretty much a foregone conclusion.

As a friend, so possibly some bias, but I’d also say Stuart Roberts is an excellent candidate. Arable and livestock farmer, organic, sells majority of produce direct so knows consumers, past history working in the higher levels of the civil service so knows government and in the meat industry at a high level with ABP. would have thought this covers a large chunk of UK agriculture.
Is he the big lad who's lost a lot of weight?
 

GTB

Never Forgotten
Honorary Member
That's the one, ran the London marathon last year........ Damn good choice if he gets a start up the ladder(y)

Only half the man he was though !!
I liked him, he has a strong presence. Also liked Charles Sercome.

I think Charles would make a good deputy and Stuart as vice? It sounds like Minnette Batters will get the top job, though I thought it would have been much closer between her and @Guy Smith .
 

Clive

Staff Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lichfield
I’m surprised there are so few replies given the important changes that are happening politically over the next few years, all of which will have a massive impact on UK farming. Say what you will about the NFU but without them I’d wager things will be a whole lot worse over this time.

I’d also heard Minette B was pretty much a foregone conclusion.

As a friend, so possibly some bias, but I’d also say Stuart Roberts is an excellent candidate. Arable and livestock farmer, organic, sells majority of produce direct so knows consumers, past history working in the higher levels of the civil service so knows government and in the meat industry at a high level with ABP. would have thought this covers a large chunk of UK agriculture.

I’m not a member anymore as you know but why are you surprised at so littie interest in a election that a regular member / farmer can’t vote in ?

If farmers could vote I suspect their interest would be much higher and debate a lot more lively
 

Henarar

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Somerset
I’m not a member anymore as you know but why are you surprised at so littie interest in a election that a regular member / farmer can’t vote in ?

If farmers could vote I suspect their interest would be much higher and debate a lot more lively
yep spot on, not many on TFF will have any say in it whatsoever
 
Location
Cheshire
I liked him, he has a strong presence. Also liked Charles Sercome.

I think Charles would make a good deputy and Stuart as vice? It sounds like Minnette Batters will get the top job, though I thought it would have been much closer between her and @Guy Smith .

Stuart is an Aber lad!

Guy it appears, is too sensible to try to stop the first female president bandwagon.
 
Location
Devon
I’m surprised there are so few replies given the important changes that are happening politically over the next few years, all of which will have a massive impact on UK farming. Say what you will about the NFU but without them I’d wager things will be a whole lot worse over this time.

I’d also heard Minette B was pretty much a foregone conclusion.

As a friend, so possibly some bias, but I’d also say Stuart Roberts is an excellent candidate. Arable and livestock farmer, organic, sells majority of produce direct so knows consumers, past history working in the higher levels of the civil service so knows government and in the meat industry at a high level with ABP. would have thought this covers a large chunk of UK agriculture.

The reason that no one is bothered is because they have no input into electing the next NFU leadership team and know the NFU will never change.

Most people now realize that the NFU are not working for them as grassroots farmers, take TB rules, the NFU stamp anything the Government want to bring in, farm assurance is another issue just the same and lets not even get into the way the NFU have handled Brexit and AG policy/ subs post brexit, an utter farce is putting it mildly, its the likes of the NT/ RSPB that now clearly have the ear of government on these issues and the ones shaping policy with the NFU 10 miles down the road doing nothing but following along behind the RSPB/NT like a new born lamb follows its mother.

The NFU shouldn't be like this but the organization has failed to move with the times like other organizations like the RSPB/NT etc etc have done and this is the result.
 

GTB

Never Forgotten
Honorary Member
I’m not a member anymore as you know but why are you surprised at so littie interest in a election that a regular member / farmer can’t vote in ?

If farmers could vote I suspect their interest would be much higher and debate a lot more lively
I take your point and it is a valid one. However most 'on the ground' farmers have never had anything to do with the candidates other than hear them speak at a hustings whereas your nfu county delegates will have sat with them at council and various meetings with govt etc and will have a far better idea of who's up to the job. Our county members certainly take great interest in who the county delegates support and value their input. After all as we all know some people are talkers and some are doers and it's only after working with them do you get to know which is which.
 

GTB

Never Forgotten
Honorary Member
Perhaps we should have our own TFF poll, especially as the majority of us will never get to vote on it !

......or we can have a peasants revolt and cause mischief to get a vote ! :rolleyes:
But you do get a vote at county level. If you feel so strongly go the your county meetings and have your say.
 

Clive

Staff Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lichfield
I take your point and it is a valid one. However most 'on the ground' farmers have never had anything to do with the candidates other than hear them speak at a hustings whereas your nfu county delegates will have sat with them at council and various meetings with govt etc and will have a far better idea of who's up to the job. Our county members certainly take great interest in who the county delegates support and value their input. After all as we all know some people are talkers and some are doers and it's only after working with them do you get to know which is which.

So those higher up the chain know more than the people they represent ....

Doesn’t sound like democracy at all to me

I’ve never met my MP but I’m still able to make an informed decision who I want to vote for, I don’t have to attend committee meeting to do so either

I don’t think anyone will ever take the NFU seriously these days or be particularly interested in who it is or what they do without a democratically elected leader

It is however none of my business as I used the only vote I had which was to vote with my feet and no longer be a member

Best of luck to whoever they decide the winner should be
 
Location
Devon
Poor examples GUTH, RSPB and NT have been infiltrated to up to their necks with one eyed idiots, but the NFU are our own worst enemy.

The RSPB/NT etc clearly have the ear of people like Gov and are getting him to buy into their agendas so they are clearly doing something right.

Yes I agree they have been infiltrated by those types of people but they are getting results somehow.

NFU has the same problem that many of the top people at Stoneleigh have their own agenda and that clearly isn't standing up/ fighting for NFU farmer members.

Like I have said before, unless they make massive changes the NFU will be as relevant to the farming industry in 30 years time as a horse drawn plough is relevant to modern AG today!

The trouble with MB is that she is far from a team player, the new top team need to work together to force thru change but if MB gets the top job she will sell out the entire industry for her own gain.
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

  • 0 %

    Votes: 77 43.5%
  • Up to 25%

    Votes: 62 35.0%
  • 25-50%

    Votes: 28 15.8%
  • 50-75%

    Votes: 3 1.7%
  • 75-100%

    Votes: 3 1.7%
  • 100% I’ve had enough of farming!

    Votes: 4 2.3%

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

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  • 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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