NFU hustings

[Clive]

I don't follow that theory.

It's like asking Labour members in a nursing home vs. asking the kids on the street.

If a ag website with best part of quarter million unique visitors each month 86% of which being UK based isn’t a fairly representative cross section of British agriculture then I’m not sure what is ?

 

[GTB]

Can't fault the idea at all. Just think that the suggestion they would be the same is unlikely.

But...the question remains not "who do [insert kids/oaps] think would be best"....the question that matters is who WOULD be the best.

Sometimes people don't know who really is the best.

Heck, we can't even decide on the best pickup!!!

My point exactly, as I said most members have no contact with candidates so they really don't know much about them. Most members wouldn't vote even if given one member, one vote IMO.

 

[Henarar]

Wouldn’t date start it myself as would be accused of having an agenda I’m sure

getting it sorted

 

[GTB]

Maybe we could run a poll on TFF and see how it ends up comparing with the result ?

In theory the results should match

Would we be voting for who we wanted to elect or who we think will get elected?

 

[Clive]

Would we be voting for who we wanted to elect or who we think will get elected?

A poll should be which candidate would you vote for if you (OMOV) could surely ?

I think we all know what the actual result will be !

 

[The Ruminant]

As I say “my opinion” and I’m as emtiltelrd to that as you are yours

Do you seriously think that the NFU has no room for improvement ?

I was sat in a room in Westminster this week having been invited by Micheal Gove to talk conservation ag and communication with farmers with a team of policy makers and when the NFU was mentioned (not by me I will add) I saw a lot of eyes rolling !

I absolutely agree you’re entitled to an opinion - your forum would be rubbish if none of us had an opinion! The “bang head” emoji was because you’d said (I paraphrase) that NFU ought to be better at communicating the stuff it does to members and farmers. I gave you examples of clear communication in 6 different areas of the industry. Short of Meurig and Minette coming round to my house it couldn’t be clearer.

Your response? “Preaching to the converted is not communication”. I’m not ‘the converted’, I’m a lowly member who likes to be kept abreast of what the NFU is up to - and am impressed with what I read. Your response, in light of this, demanded nothing less than a ‘bang head’ emoji I’m afraid.

Words weren’t enough

 

[Steevo]

If a ag website with best part of quarter million unique visitors each month 86% of which being UK based isn’t a fairly representative cross section of British agriculture then I’m not sure what is ?

TFF is as representative as you'll get....same as I would suggest FW readers should be.

My point was more that just because they have a vote, it doesn't mean they'll have enough knowledge to use it wisely.

Hell, I have the choice to go out and buy whatever I want......but a lot of the time I'll come onto TFF, seek the knowledge of those more experienced in such matters and take their advice to use in my decision making.

I don't trust them 100%
Nor do I plump for something I have little or no knowledge of.

I'm not arguing for one system or another....merely saying that just because people have freedom to vote, it doesn't mean they'll make the right decision.

 

[Steevo]

^^^ note that is not a reason to NOT give them the vote.

 

[Henarar]

My point was more that just because they have a vote, it doesn't mean they'll have enough knowledge to use it wisely.

you could say that about the GE
so who has enough knowledge to vote in that and who should we exclude
you don't even pay a sub to vote in the GE
I pay to belong to the NFU and get no vote

 

[Clive]

TFF is as representative as you'll get....same as I would suggest FW readers should be.

My point was more that just because they have a vote, it doesn't mean they'll have enough knowledge to use it wisely.

Hell, I have the choice to go out and buy whatever I want......but a lot of the time I'll come onto TFF, seek the knowledge of those more experienced in such matters and take their advice to use in my decision making.

I don't trust them 100%
Nor do I plump for something I have little or no knowledge of.

I'm not arguing for one system or another....merely saying that just because people have freedom to vote, it doesn't mean they'll make the right decision.

I agree but not trusting people to vote even if some don’t use their vote well or understand what they are voting for is a big and dangerous step away from democracy

Everyone has the right to be wrong - I mean people actualy voted for Corbyn for example ! But serious much as I don’t agree with his policies thank god he exists, challange and competition are healthy and make everyone improve

Trouble with the NFU is they have no competition and no democracy so lack that important need to improve or ever change

 

[Sid]

I was sat in a room in Westminster this week having been invited by Micheal Gove to talk conservation ag and communication with farmers with a team of policy makers

Well that was a very narrow band of one persons view.

Yourself and policy makers. Surely 3 members of say NFU TFA and CLA would cover a very large propotion of farmers rather than a selective few?

 

[Henarar]

The lovely @farmerclare has started a poll so you can all have a vote now
And if the real results don't match there will be rebellion

 

[Clive]

Well that was a very narrow band of one persons view.

Yourself and policy makers. Surely 3 members of say NFU TFA and CLA would cover a very large propotion of farmers rather than a selective few?

I wasn’t claiming to represent anyone or being asked to. I was being asked my own opinions

There is a big and VERY important difference

 

[turbo]

The lovely @farmerclare has started a poll so you can all have a vote now
And if the real results don't match there will be rebellion

Is for nfu members only or are free loaders aloud to vote aswell?

 

[S J H]

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

You don't vote for the PM though @Clive , only your MP

 

[Clive]

You don't vote for the PM though @Clive , only your MP

But I do vote

 

[turbo]

But I do vote

For who?

 

[Sid]

I wasn’t claiming to represent anyone or being asked to. I was being asked my own opinions

There is a big and VERY important difference

So why do they want an individuals personal opinion.

Much better to glean from a majority view

 

[Clive]

So why do they want an individuals personal opinion.

Much better to glean from a majority view

Maybe ask them why ? I guess they feel they may learn something from experience of a experienced commercial farmer re conservation ag and something re farmer communication from someone responsible for a website used by as many farmers as TFF ?

The more people and organisations they speak to the better imo when deciding future policy, there is certainly no single person or organisation that represents uk farmers though so I expect they are speaking to as many as is possible

 

[S J H]

But I do vote

But you don't vote to select the MP, just the one who's representing your party of choice.