Red Tractor Beef lifetime Assurance.

[gone up the hill]

Red Tractor wants Lifetime Assurance ( alongside a whole host of extra things but they are refusing to say what these are currently ) WHAT do you Want??

Meeting in the South West hosted by the Assurance quango on Thurs 29th Jan 2015 at 6 pm :

Padbrook park.
Cullompton,
Devon,
EX15 1RU.

 

[topground]

Am I right in thinking that lifetime assurance nonsense will mean that those of us that are breeding cattle to sell as stores will effectively be blackmailed into paying to join this particular assurance organisation because otherwise we would be faced with not having a market for our stock? Or a two tier market?
If this is the case this is surely anticompetitive and therefore illegal!
How best to stop these chances in their tracks?

 

[gone up the hill]

Am I right in thinking that lifetime assurance nonsense will mean that those of us that are breeding cattle to sell as stores will effectively be blackmailed into paying to join this particular assurance organisation because otherwise we would be faced with not having a market for our stock? Or a two tier market?
If this is the case this is surely anticompetitive and therefore illegal!
How best to stop these chances in their tracks?

Yep that is what they are planning in regards suckler herds etc, what it will mean is the small calf rearer etc who say only rears 30 calves a year as a part time intrest etc will have to be assured, wont be a two tier market as if they introduce it any animals that aren't assured from birth will all but be worthless as only a few butchers will buy them!!

Once they make it so everyone in the chain have to be assured then I can see they will be upping the inspection fee 5 fold...

Three speakers at the meeting, two from red tractor and one from the NSA ( I think it is ) no other farming unions are attending/speaking on behalf of their members! if the unions wont put pressure on to get it stopped then not sure what farmers on their own can do!

 

[An Gof]

You aiming to attend @gone up the hill ?

 

[gone up the hill]

You aiming to attend @gone up the hill ?

Only found out about it earlier today, have got something else booked in for Thurs afternoon but if can get away from that early enough then yea will go along.

 

[kneedeep]

Only found out about it earlier today, have got something else booked in for Thurs afternoon but if can get away from that early enough then yea will go along.

Go, listen , report back.....

 

[topground]

Go, listen , report back.....

Please!

 

[kneedeep]

Please

 

[kneedeep]

Go, listen , report back.....

Don't get arrested for breach of the peace either.

Please.

 

[llamedos]

Bit more here

NBA welcomes Red Tractor meeting on proposed assurance changes


NBA welcomes Red Tractor meeting on proposed assurance changes

Farmers urged to attend open meeting on plans for scheme


The National Beef Association (NBA) has welcomed the decision of the Red Tractor Association (RTA) to send representatives to a special meeting organised to discuss proposed changes to the industry assurance scheme.



The NBA has joined forces with the National Sheep Association (NSA) and the National Union of Farmers (NFU) to support the meeting for South West beef and sheep farmers on Thursday January 29 in Cullompton, Devon. The RTA’s Beef and Lamb Chairman John Thorley will be joined by its Technical Advisory Committee Chairman Andrew Blenkiron and Sector Manager Philippa Wiltshire to answer farmers’ questions.



Further meetings to discuss the proposed changes are also scheduled at Skipton Livestock Market on Tuesday 3rd February at 6.00pm and Warwicks Complex, Stoneleigh Park on Thursday 12th February 6pm.


Concerns have been raised about Red Tractor’s plans to introduce a number of changes to the scheme, especially the proposal to extend the current 90 days that cattle must be on a farm to the lifetime of the animal.



NBA Chief Executive Chris Mallon said: “We welcome the opportunity this Red Tractor meeting offers and we hope it goes someway to address farmers’ concerns about the planned new regulations. This is an important meeting for the future of the beef industry and I would like to encourage as many of our members as possible to attend.



“Our members are worried about what the proposals will mean for their businesses and for the wider beef sector. As their voice, the NBA is delighted that RTA representatives are coming to meet our members and explain why they want to revise their standards. I am also looking forward to hearing further details about the plans and the RTA’s response to feedback from those who will be most affected by them.”



The NBA exists to support its members and promote the British beef sector. At the heart of its work is ensuring a viable and profitable beef industry for the future. However, the organisation is concerned about how some of changes proposed by the RTA will benefit its members and consumers.



Under the new proposals, those rearing cattle will have to become farm assured and finishers will no longer be able to buy young stock from farms which are not. It’s feared this could result in more farmers, especially smaller producers, leaving the industry which is likely to result in a further reduction in the size of the national herd.



NBA members have also expressed worries about the £150 annual fee to become farm assured and the additional paperwork, regulations and inspections this will involve.



David Thomlinson Chair of the NBA said: “Our members tell us they are happy with the current 90-day on-farm requirement, which provides adequate assurance for consumers about the traceability of the meat they are buying.



“However, we are pleased Red Tractor is attending this open meeting to address these issues, and we are confident they will receive invaluable feedback from the people on the ground that they can take away with them and use when reviewing their proposals.



“We do not need full farm assurance, and this is not something supermarkets or shoppers are asking for. British beef is already renowned throughout the world for its quality and traceability. The NBA believes that changes should only be introduced if they are beneficial to both consumers and the industry.”



The NBA is looking at this with an open mind but we have concerns for some of our members. We hope this meeting will help to highlight these worries and other issues we feel may result if the proposals are put into action.



The NBA is keen that as many farmers in the South West attend the open meeting to put forward their views. This is the first time that Red Tractor has consulted members about changes to the assurance scheme, which is reviewed and updated every three years.

The meeting begins at 6pm at the Padbrook Park Hotel, Cullompton, Devon (EX15 1RU) and is open to all.

via http://www.nationalbeefassociation.com/news_details.php?RegionID=1&NewsID=588

 

[An Gof]

Reading that it looks like "they" have already decided on life time assurance. Meetings look like "lip-service" before they introduce it and tell us it is all for our own good. Only other certainty is that it will cost us all more with NO extra benefit at the other end.
Bottom line in the supermarket for many consumers at the point of purchase is price (despite how they might answer surveys on buying influences e.g organic/free range). Tesco etc are discovering this as Lidl & Aldi prosper at their expense.

A very large vegetable producer who supplies all main supermarkets admitted in a public meeting that whilst Lidl paid less for his goods he actually was better off supplying them rather than receiving a slightly higher price from Tesco/Sainsburys due to all the added cost they imposed on him to meet their requirements including audits, packaging requirements, etc, etc.

 

[kneedeep]

Reading that it looks like "they" have already decided on life time assurance. Meetings look like "lip-service" before they introduce it and tell us it is all for our own good. Only other certainty is that it will cost us all more with NO extra benefit at the other end.
Bottom line in the supermarket for many consumers at the point of purchase is price (despite how they might answer surveys on buying influences e.g organic/free range). Tesco etc are discovering this as Lidl & Aldi prosper at their expense.

A very large vegetable producer who supplies all main supermarkets admitted in a public meeting that whilst Lidl paid less for his goods he actually was better off supplying them rather than receiving a slightly higher price from Tesco/Sainsburys due to all the added cost they imposed on him to meet their requirements including audits, packaging requirements, etc, etc.

HUGE 'LIKE'
Bloke I pick waste veg up from supplies aldi.
They don't pay as much but there's no shenanigans with rebates, promotions, oh and one I've heard recently
" You'll be aware that we have made
Xyz our official charity this year, to that end we'd value your support with a contribution of £ xxxxx."

Let's see the code of conduct sort that one out!

 

[Henarar]

Only found out about it earlier today, have got something else booked in for Thurs afternoon but if can get away from that early enough then yea will go along.

Is it not time all you boys told them to go to hell
And not come back
That won't happen though I know

 

[topground]

This nonsense will apply to all cattle breeders and if I read it correctly, the NSA are attending so the sheep farmer will be roped in as well.
That will mean everyone keeping cattle will have to be Farm Assured or otherwise not have a market through normal channels for their animals.
It is outrageous that a private organisation can impose its will and systems on other businesses by this type of blackmail while achieving a nice nice little earner in the process.
I for one will not have anything to do with it. I sell stores into Sedgemoor and if there is a threat that there will be no market for them As a consequence of the commercial interests of the farm assurance organisations I will create merry hell!
This is anti competitive, a paper exercise that was shown to be not worth the paper it was written on with the Horsemeat scandal.
Would I get a visa to cross the border at this late stage to attend?

How best to get store producers together to make it clear that we will not be signing up to Red Tractor or any other farm assurance scheme?

 

[Henarar]

http://assurance.redtractor.org.uk/rtassurance/schemes.eb

 

[Henarar]

So what is the NFUs position on this, I can't find anything about it on there web page, mind you I can never find anything about anything on that

 

[Recoil]

It just seems to me that "they" are determined to get rid of the farming industry in the UK wether that be through low milk prices, lack of action with regard to tackling TB or stupid lifetime assurance schemes which everyone will need to join. Totally pointless. Just leave things as they are. As a young farmer (31), it doesn't look like a very promising future.

 

[Henarar]

I have just PM'd @Guy Smith to see what he thinks about this

 

[llamedos]

This nonsense will apply to all cattle breeders and if I read it correctly, the NSA are attending so the sheep farmer will be roped in as well.
That will mean everyone keeping cattle will have to be Farm Assured or otherwise not have a market through normal channels for their animals.
It is outrageous that a private organisation can impose its will and systems on other businesses by this type of blackmail while achieving a nice nice little earner in the process.
I for one will not have anything to do with it. I sell stores into Sedgemoor and if there is a threat that there will be no market for them As a consequence of the commercial interests of the farm assurance organisations I will create merry hell!
This is anti competitive, a paper exercise that was shown to be not worth the paper it was written on with the Horsemeat scandal.
Would I get a visa to cross the border at this late stage to attend?

How best to get store producers together to make it clear that we will not be signing up to Red Tractor or any other farm assurance scheme?

I think I posted this else where in the forum when it was released, but as it is topical now here is the NSA staement, from Just before xmas.

Red Tractor Assurance must remain practical, logical and justifiable, urges NSA

16th December 2014

Following farmer criticism of the new Red Tractor Assurance (RTA) beef and lamb standards, and in particular the new animal health templates, the National Sheep Association (NSA) has acted and agreed to step up its involvement in the area of farm assurance for lamb.

RTA has already responded on the most immediate area of concern – the animal health template issued in October – by reiterating that the template is for assistance rather than being mandatory. However, it is important that RTA scheme members appreciate the requirement still stands to capture the same animal health information, in whatever format suits farm businesses, for inspections 12 months down the line.

NSA remains committed to the principle of farm assurance, and is also looking forward to assurance scheme members being rewarded in the future through ‘earned recognition’ and the guarantee of fewer RPA inspections. Changes to farm assurance will be required to make ‘earned recognition’ a reality, but more generally, NSA is concerned that the collective aim of increasing the number of sheep farmers being part of an assurance scheme is being jeopardised by the speed of change and associated communication.

Phil Stocker, NSA Chief Executive, says: “Red Tractor originated as, and should continue to be, a foundation scheme that gives voluntary declaration of legal compliance. It is important that the first step onto the assurance ladder is not too great for farm businesses to sign up, and that standards for long-standing scheme members do not ‘creep up’ without clear communication or justification.

“Progress to develop standards in order to achieve ‘earned recognition’ is an example of a clearly justifiable reason for changing the standards, but must be done hand-in-hand with firm evidence that farm businesses will definitely benefit in the future. NSA is also concerned that in the rush to develop standards to catch up with legal requirements there is a risk the scheme might gold-plate legislation. This is fine for assurance schemes that want to go higher in particular areas (for example animal welfare) but is not necessary for the industry foundation.

“Examples of gold plated implementation include the detail of animal health plans and there needs to be more communication over ‘required’ and ‘recommended’ rules. It is also important that when a standard revamp is approved in principle by the farmers and stakeholders, including NSA, who sit on the board and technical committees, the logic behind it is clearly explained at farm level and implementation is made as practical as possible.”

While it has long been made public that whole life assurance is not on the agenda for lamb, NSA is aware that RTA is moving to achieve harmonisation across all sectors and is about to consult on whole life assurance for beef. NSA is concerned this move will put the sheep industry in a difficult position without advance consideration of the impact on the industry. The same is true when RTA is used as a marketing brand rather than an assurance scheme, as this risks standards being developed to suit consumer/retailer trends, again without considering the wider impact for farm businesses.

Mr Stocker continues: “We were very concerned by comments made at a recent farming conference by a supermarket wanting to raise the baseline of RTA, as this baseline scheme is sufficient for many retailers and our aim must be to get as many producers on the assurance ladder as possible. It is our view that setting the bar too high is unhelpful. Supermarkets wanting additional standards have the option to bolt these on to the basic scheme, and should pay producers accordingly.”

“NSA wants to see the industry always striving to improve performance, health, and efficiency, as well as environmental and welfare outcomes, but we want this to be achieved through farmers' own actions rather than being expected to jump through hoops. In addition, RTA standards have to relate to the practical, land related and environmentally-affected nature of sheep farming.”

 

[gone up the hill]

This nonsense will apply to all cattle breeders and if I read it correctly, the NSA are attending so the sheep farmer will be roped in as well.
That will mean everyone keeping cattle will have to be Farm Assured or otherwise not have a market through normal channels for their animals.
It is outrageous that a private organisation can impose its will and systems on other businesses by this type of blackmail while achieving a nice nice little earner in the process.
I for one will not have anything to do with it. I sell stores into Sedgemoor and if there is a threat that there will be no market for them As a consequence of the commercial interests of the farm assurance organisations I will create merry hell!
This is anti competitive, a paper exercise that was shown to be not worth the paper it was written on with the Horsemeat scandal.
Would I get a visa to cross the border at this late stage to attend?

How best to get store producers together to make it clear that we will not be signing up to Red Tractor or any other farm assurance scheme?

Only people who are gaining out of this crap are the people who have made jobs for themselves enforcing ( sorry I meant advising/ helping farmers ) all this red tape/ extra costs and inspecting farms etc...

I don't know what the answer is but if fhinshers cant sell non assured stock after 90 days on a farm assured fhinshing unit they will not be able to buy your store cattle f they are not assured..

If they start whole lifetime assurance with cattle it will only be a matter of time before they extend it to sheep/pigs etc ..

Intrestingly many dairy farms aren't covered for beef assurance so will the new rules mean they will have to be inspected twice ( once by the dairy side and once by the beef side ) and hence have to pay two set's of fees??