Red Tractor review ? How ?

[Bald Rick]

What happens with dairy Bald Rick?

Am I right in think Dairy Inspections happen much less frequently because RT have sort of taken over the job?

Possibly. All I know is that they can just turn up unannounced and inspect the parlour, chems, plant & bulk tank as part of their FSA remit. They certainly don't add whistles & bells like some outfits

To my knowledge, we have only had two dairy inspectors - once when we started and again when we pulled out the robots & installed a rotary. If they are happy, you tend to get left alone unless the processor raises an issue

 

[Same95]

Mass walkout is the answer....action, not words will have more effect. Would need time to organise.....flyers round the markets etc. June 1st?!! Don't know if many of my fellow dairy farmers would be brave enough!!
As others have said BRC will be looking to keep us in check with groups/split pricing etc. Arla are already doing their bit to help them with that....along with giving away practically free green goodies! That will have to be the next battle.

 

[Birdlipper]

We should not have any on farm assurance auditing schemes because we have to farm to the UK Law. Simple as that. We all still get RPA, Defra, HSE, Weights & Measures, Food Hygiene inspections so why do we need a farm assurance inspection as well when none of the mentioned will accept the farm assurance certification instead of their own inspection?

Also no other countries have farm assurance yet we import all their food and consume it here.

Really? No Irish farm assurance?

 

[Humble Village Farmer]

Don't disagree with the bit in bold BUT the cat is out the bag & BRC will "insist" on some measure of on-farm monitoring as it's a good sales pitch from their point of view whilst they blatantly ignore checks on imported foodstuffs

That's what the BRC do though: "insist" on stuff and not pay for it. All the costs of this idiocy come at the expense of the producer. The retailer gets it free of charge and 99% of the profits.

 

[jre]

Don't disagree with the bit in bold BUT the cat is out the bag & BRC will "insist" on some measure of on-farm monitoring as it's a good sales pitch from their point of view whilst they blatantly ignore checks on imported foodstuffs

We already have on farm monitoring in the form of Food Standards Scotland. That is the Scottish local council authority audit. They ask the necessary questions without the extra bullsh*t. . That should be more than adequate for anyone

 

[Humble Village Farmer]

We should arrange a mass leaving date as you have suggested many times before

Not so easy for some, as I'm sure you will understand.

It is possible though, to delay your renewal for a few weeks while it suits you not to have the stickers in your hand. That way, your reduce your spend and time wasted; at the same time, you are reducing their cash flow and hence their viability as a business.

 

[Humble Village Farmer]

Good article but it's not really true to say the NFU have one seat at the board. Don't pretend others didn't get there from being NFU bods

The owners or "company guarantors" appoint the directors. They have total control.

The lie that they don't needs calling out.

 

[DrDunc]

Take a step back from calling for mass resignations for a minute everyone, and ask a question:

What was the remit of the farm assurance schemes at their inception?

To provide the consumer confidence in our produce

To generate a premium for scheme members (justifying the business expenditure of membership)





Generating policy to dictate agricultural practices was never part of the remit for assurance schemes

RT no longer fulfills its original role, be it for corn or horn. It is not fit for purpose

The NFU are supposed to represent the farmers, not obtain financial gain from ownership of the red tractor money cow. If the NFU does not divorce itself from the RT debacle, and represent the agricultural community it is founded upon, it too is unfit for purpose



Unless there is a very simple message delivered to the wordsmith bureaucrats who purport to work for us, they will spend aeons, and our fortunes, to deliver a self serving whitewash

 

[Drillman]

Well I agree with all the above sentiment. And have little more to add other than NFU rt etc need to order a bigger coffin as they have run out of space on the current one for all the nails that need hammering in!

 

[Wombat]

Great farmers weekly editorial on it

Really glad i have resubscribed to it

 

[warksfarmer]

Don't disagree with the bit in bold BUT the cat is out the bag & BRC will "insist" on some measure of on-farm monitoring as it's a good sales pitch from their point of view whilst they blatantly ignore checks on imported foodstuffs

BRC can’t deal with 50,000 farmers all saying ‘NO’.

 

[Steevo]

What was the remit of the farm assurance schemes at their inception?

To provide the consumer confidence in our produce

Not easy to "provide consumer confidence" when Red Tractor haven't got their own house in order.

 

[Humble Village Farmer]

BRC can’t deal with 50,000 farmers all saying ‘NO’.

You can be pretty sure that only a few "select farmers" will be consulted in the "independent review".

 

[Raider112]

A few staunch Nfu farmers round here are now changing their tune regarding RT and Nfu membership.
It's taken time but the message has finally got through. Won't be long before the corruption is well and truly gone and everybody wonders why on earth they ever fell for the scam.

To be fair, from what we hear even the council members have seen the light, it's the top table that seem to be blind to reality.

 

[slackjawedyokel]

To be fair, from what we hear even the council members have seen the light, it's the top table that seem to be blind to reality.

If that’s really the case, the top table should be being given the heave-ho this side of Christmas, rather than being allowed to reshuffle/move on to pastures new (and lucrative) in the New Year.

 

[Luke Cropwalker]

Is it a secret who is actually carrying out the review? Who is paying for the review, the NFU or RT? Either way without farmer support it is a waste of time and money. Please, can someone confirm that the AHDB is still planning a truly independent review of RT, the NFU appear to be acting for the BRC.

 

[Grass And Grain]

To be fair, from what we hear even the council members have seen the light, it's the top table that seem to be blind to reality.

The top table should be doing what Council and everyday members want shouldn't they. If they won't, then they need to go in February.

If they've been ignoring members views on RT, and going full steam ahead anyway, whilst knowing members are leaving, then they need to go now.

BFU membership numbers are growing daily.

 

[SilliamWhale]

To be fair, from what we hear even the council members have seen the light, it's the top table that seem to be blind to reality.

Don't be so sure. There will be a lot of appeasers there

 

[SilliamWhale]

Is it a secret who is actually carrying out the review? Who is paying for the review, the NFU or RT? Either way without farmer support it is a waste of time and money. Please, can someone confirm that the AHDB is still planning a truly independent review of RT, the NFU appear to be acting for the BRC.

It will probably be some pet consultantcy like Andersons or something.

 

[ajd132]

It will probably be some pet consultantcy like Andersons or something.

review is completely pointless, red tractor is a complete joke of an organisation and is now damaging the industry, it needs to be boycotted and forced into bankruptcy.