QMS consigned to history?

[DrDunc]

English beef price is currently between 15 and 20 pence more per kilo than our erstwhile "premium" Scottish prime product, despite Scottish beef historically setting the price standard


QMS are sending out 50 shiny expensively printed pages of new regulations and standards, employing ever more petulantly pedantic inspectors, yet remain contemptible in their silence over their failing to maintain Scottish beef premium price

What, in plain English, are QMS actually doing to regain our (Scottish) market leading position?

Is there anybody from their organisation on here who can answer why they have failed Scottish beef so spectacularly? Anyone who can tell us how they will regain the premium status for the people who pay their wages through compulsory levy?

Or will the higher English price herald the end of demonstrably incompetent quality meat Scotland?

 

[SolwayFarmer]

English beef price is currently between 15 and 20 pence more per kilo than our erstwhile "premium" Scottish prime product, despite Scottish beef historically setting the price standard


QMS are sending out 50 shiny expensively printed pages of new regulations and standards, employing ever more petulantly pedantic inspectors, yet remain contemptible in their silence over their failing to maintain Scottish beef premium price

What, in plain English, are QMS actually doing to regain our (Scottish) market leading position?

Is there anybody from their organisation on here who can answer why they have failed Scottish beef so spectacularly? Anyone who can tell us how they will regain the premium status for the people who pay their wages through compulsory levy?

Or will the higher English price herald the end of demonstrably incompetent quality meat Scotland?

About two years ago our QMS was up for renewal, I didn’t bother and they kept sending me crappy letters. I emailed on several occasions to ask them how they could help my business and justify the cost, but as yet I’ve heard nothing from them needless to say I’m no longer QMS assured.

I also wondered if Stuart Ashworth’s retirement is quite timely? I’d be surprised if he’s left the industry just yet maybe seen it as a good time to get out off the sinking ship that is QMS.

 

[Agrivator]

How did the protest meeting in Aberdeenshire go?

And what percentage of members have even opened the new 50-page set of Revised Standards. 0% ??

 

[west coast angus]

I told them to get fecked a month ago, and felt a massive weight lifted off my shoulders, can't recommend it enough

 

[Oldmacdonald]

What about the previous X number of years/decades when we have had a good premium?

 

[Optimus]

What about the previous X number of years/decades when we have had a good premium?

They must of been doing their job?

See its clawing its way back cattle are up to £4.28.

 

[DrDunc]

What about the previous X number of years/decades when we have had a good premium?

The question is not about previous years when the price reflected the quality of scotch beef, the question is what are QMS actually doing to redress the current price differential?

Rather than send 50 plus printed pages of new bureaucratic regulations and standards to increase the administrative burden upon producers....

Rather than increase their pedantic inspectors' ability to punitively dispense failure to comply notices.....

What, if anything, are QMS actually doing to provide benefit of membership to the producer?

 

[Oldmacdonald]

The question is not about previous years when the price reflected the quality of scotch beef, the question is what are QMS actually doing to redress the current price differential?

Rather than send 50 plus printed pages of new bureaucratic regulations and standards to increase the administrative burden upon producers....

Rather than increase their pedantic inspectors' ability to punitively dispense failure to comply notices.....

What, if anything, are QMS actually doing to provide benefit of membership to the producer?

Is there 50 pages of NEW regulations?

 

[Nithsdale]

Is there 50 pages of NEW regulations?

48 changes to current standard. I'd bet it's more than 50 pages

Important information about working with the new Cattle and Sheep…

Further to the recent changes in our standards we have detailed below information to help provide clarity on working with the updated standards. You can…

www.qmscotland.co.uk

 

[Bob the beef]

I suspect the new CEO is trying to balance the books and Stuart Ashworth will have seen the writing on the wall. Take an early retirement package and move on.

As was discussed on a thread a couple of weeks ago, QMS needs to stick to marketing our product and stop heaving more and more crap on the very people that pay their salaries

 

[Dave6170]

As was discussed on a thread a couple of weeks ago, QMS needs to stick to marketing our product and stop heaving more and more crap on the very people that pay their sasalaries

Exactly! Not sure how good they are at marketing it either. I follow their Instagram account, it has some good content but it has hardly any views or likes. Nothing like the numbers it should have.

 

[sheepwise]

The question is not about previous years when the price reflected the quality of scotch beef, the question is what are QMS actually doing to redress the current price differential?

Rather than send 50 plus printed pages of new bureaucratic regulations and standards to increase the administrative burden upon producers....

Rather than increase their pedantic inspectors' ability to punitively dispense failure to comply notices.....

What, if anything, are QMS actually doing to provide benefit of membership to the producer?

With the number of store cattle which have gone south this spring, Scotch cattle will soon be very scarce. In fact this week the price at some Scottish abattoirs will be ahead of UK again.

 

[T C]

Can see the scottish suckler herd drop 30% for next year.

 

[Dave6170]

Can see the scottish suckler herd drop 30% for next year.

Heard of a few guys planning to cut back, cull anything not pleasing them or not keep any heifers. Me included

 

[DrDunc]

Heard of a few guys planning to cut back, cull anything not pleasing them or not keep any heifers. Me included

There's also those who've decided not and put them back in calf, and have sold the bull

A bit short sighted if the prices rise, because without the bull, they've no option but cull the cows

QMS meanwhile still have no policy on how to regain the Scottish price premium; hoping for scarcity to lift the price is not a policy.

QMS meanwhile still have a policy of increasing the amount of Draconian regulations and standards, without providing any increased benefit for membership

 

[Dave6170]

There's also those who've decided not and put them back in calf, and have sold the bull

A bit short sighted if the prices rise, because without the bull, they've no option but cull the cows

QMS meanwhile still have no policy on how to regain the Scottish price premium; hoping for scarcity to lift the price is not a policy.

QMS meanwhile still have a policy of increasing the amount of Draconian regulations and standards, without providing any increased benefit for membership

Recently had my qms inspection, had to bite my tongue a few times and just say yes and smile.

 

[T C]

I can no longer make fert and barley into beef whilst making money.
Can see the cost of living crisis keeping a lid on prices.
If I halve cow numbers and use the same area of grass then I can make a margin.
Going to be a bIg drop in leve income for QMS in 2 years time.

 

[DrDunc]

I can no longer make fert and barley into beef whilst making money.
Can see the cost of living crisis keeping a lid on prices.
If I halve cow numbers and use the same area of grass then I can make a margin.
Going to be a bIg drop in leve income for QMS in 2 years time.

Aye, stocking densities will definitely vary between much lower than current, to zero stock. Breeds will also change (where land on the farm makes it possible) to smaller natives that will give a return on poorer grazing and no cereals.

Scarcity may increase the price, but they'll be equally if not more scarce South of the Scottish border

Current cereal crop price increase per tonne covers fertiliser at £1000 per tonne, if you've land that will yield over 2.5t/acre. Better grazing ground will be ploughed for grain instead of feeding grass to ruminants

Meanwhile QMS still have no ideas on how to improve price for Scottish beef and regain the premium product status, and still believe the way forward is by increasing the administrative burden upon producers?

QMS must surely learn that a carrot approach offering benefits for membership provides a far better chance for their survival than the current stick wielding approach trained into their pendant inspectorate by their arrogant employees?

 

[The Jolly Farmer]

Aye, stocking densities will definitely vary between much lower than current, to zero stock. Breeds will also change (where land on the farm makes it possible) to smaller natives that will give a return on poorer grazing and no cereals.

Scarcity may increase the price, but they'll be equally if not more scarce South of the Scottish border

Current cereal crop price increase per tonne covers fertiliser at £1000 per tonne, if you've land that will yield over 2.5t/acre. Better grazing ground will be ploughed for grain instead of feeding grass to ruminants

Meanwhile QMS still have no ideas on how to improve price for Scottish beef and regain the premium product status, and still believe the way forward is by increasing the administrative burden upon producers?

QMS must surely learn that a carrot approach offering benefits for membership provides a far better chance for their survival than the current stick wielding approach trained into their pendant inspectorate by their arrogant employees?

I thought you would be better placed than most of us to bend the ear off the new chief executive of QMS. I was told she was reared on a hill farm not that far from you?