Red tractor statement on level playing field

[warksfarmer]

Red Tractor Backs "level Playing Field" For Uk Farmers Over Feed Grain Imports - Red Tractor Assurance

Red Tractor Backs "level Playing Field" For Uk Farmers Over Feed Grain Imports. Read this and our most recent stories on the Red Tractor Assurance website.

assurance.redtractor.org.uk

Load of rubbish just trying to save their fraudulent business model.

Equal to imports for all combinable crops is what it must be. Nothing less.

 

[DrWazzock]

Sadly in today’s litigious world, assurance is here to stay. But such assurance, to be equivalent to imports, should focus purely on direct safety of the produce and be much lighter. I would doubt that importers ask for health and safety policies of the workers employed abroad or are very concerned about their rodent control environmental impact assessment, integrated pest management plans, emergency plans, soil management plans etc.
And so, to be on a level playing field with imports, U.K. farmers should be audited to cover the same aspects as those covered by the tests performed on imported grain, namely pesticide records and direct grain safety aspects, mycotoxins etc. That’s all we ask. Parity. We shouldn’t be fobbed off with the threat of expensive residue tests that aren’t necessary.
We need an RT lite “equivalent to imports” scheme, my view. If RT had stuck purely to grain safety I wouldn’t even have a problem with RT today.

 

[Grass And Grain]

Yes, equal to imports for all combinable crops, by a method which works for UK sized growers.

 

[DrWazzock]

Yes, equal to imports for all combinable crops, by a method which works for UK sized growers.

Yes, basically a slimmed down version of RT that focuses purely on those aspects covered by the tests on imported grain.

 

[Humble Village Farmer]

From the uk flour millers' statement, about why red tractor is so great (for them):


However, in many supply regions, the control and adherence to the law in terms of quality, environmental and food safety is inspected by State bodies rather than farmer-funded independent inspections. For example, in the main supply region used in Northern Germany there is an extensive inspection scheme managed by the Länder (German state level administrations) that is both comprehensive and rigorously enforced. Inspection may not be every year, but it can be without notice and if irregularities are found then there will be limits on marketing and fine of up to 100% of single farm payments.

So if we had such a system in this country, we wouldn't need to bother with red tractor?

We do have such a system, only over here it's called the rpa, trading standards, environment agency, apha, natural England, etc.

Time to trot out another excuse for the dead tractor, which magically ensures grain is safe for humans and animals. Wouldn't it be nice to know how they did that?

 

[Clive]

It needs to be and those on "our" side need to keep driving flat out, they are rattled time to press home our advantage and include milling grains.

Don't worry the pressure will be kept on

the "backstabbers" have a seat at the table but unlike many others there don't have their snouts in the trough !

 

[kiwi pom]

Dumb question time (again) Is imported grain and UK grain the same price?
I thought milling wheat was imported because UK farmers couldn't/wouldn't grow it?

 

[tullah]

Sadly in today’s litigious world, assurance is here to stay. But such assurance, to be equivalent to imports, should focus purely on direct safety of the produce and be much lighter. I would doubt that importers ask for health and safety policies of the workers employed abroad or are very concerned about their rodent control environmental impact assessment, integrated pest management plans, emergency plans, soil management plans etc.
And so, to be on a level playing field with imports, U.K. farmers should be audited to cover the same aspects as those covered by the tests performed on imported grain, namely pesticide records and direct grain safety aspects, mycotoxins etc. That’s all we ask. Parity. We shouldn’t be fobbed off with the threat of expensive residue tests that aren’t necessary.
We need an RT lite “equivalent to imports” scheme, my view. If RT had stuck purely to grain safety I wouldn’t even have a problem with RT today.

But there's no point in having assurance here to stay when the whole purpose of it was to trace each loaf and bag of flour back to the farm of origin. If that can't be done, as has been proved, then it's meaningless so should not be here to stay.
It doesn't make sense.

 

[Goweresque]

I see it as they have formed a tight circle with NFU, AIC, RT, UKFM, wagons.

Yup. Which is why I say we need a farmer controlled import equivalence assurance scheme. The Blob will make sure the FEMAS scheme is practically useless to a UK producer ('But you can join if you want to!' ) and thus keep the gravy train rolling.

Bust the cartel open with our own assurance scheme.

 

[kiwi pom]

But there's no point in having assurance here to stay when the whole purpose of it was to trace each loaf and bag of flour back to the farm of origin. If that can't be done, as has been proved, then it's meaningless so should not be here to stay.
It doesn't make sense.

I think the whole purpose of assurance is to prove all of the flour was produced to the same standard? Traceability is a separate thing.
If all that brand of flour is of the same standard you can say the standards can be traced back to the farmers.
Could be wrong.

 

[tepapa]

Additionally, if the Red Tractor scheme was to be wound down it is likely that in today’s marketplace multiple schemes would be established, restricting UK growers’ ability to supply different end users unless they signed up to more than one scheme, with additional administration and audit burdens as a result.

This is not an issue for the farmer but it is for the Millers. It's not a case of a farmer would need to meet multiple different schemes. If the millers don't have enough farmer members to supply them to their standard, it's their problem not the farmer for not being "miller assured". They need product for their businesses as much as famers need to sell produce. If farmers don't sign up to their scheme they will still buy your product if the don't have any option.

 

[gone up the hill]

Are all these NZ lambs that are currently being docked at 2 months old getting pain relief @Kiwi Pete ?

 

[snarling bee]

Dumb question time (again) Is imported grain and UK grain the same price?
I thought milling wheat was imported because UK farmers couldn't/wouldn't grow it?

No, according to the millers website (which has a link from the RT email) German, Canadian and USA wheat all had a different price according to its quality based on its origin.

 

[SilliamWhale]

What is it Miller's want from a 29t load of wheat? What are these additional specifications RT magically provides?'

And how does it compare to imports?

 

[Jackov Altraids]

As a trade association, UK Flour Millers sits at the heart of the industry. Our role as a representative body for the industry includes collating and sharing the collective view and position of our members. As the 'industry voice' we speak on behalf of our members to government, policy makers, the media and other stakeholders; as well as representation on trade issues, including trade relations with other countries, the EU, Canada, USA; work to help secure the supply of competitively priced raw materials for our customers and consumers; help for our members on analysis and technical standards when these are best dealt with collectively; representation on industry bodies such as AHDB and Red Tractor Boards.

 

[tullah]

I think the whole purpose of assurance is to prove all of the flour was produced to the same standard? Traceability is a separate thing.
If all that brand of flour is of the same standard you can say the standards can be traced back to the farmers.
Could be wrong.

They can't say its all been produced to same standards as has been highlighted earlier.
Farmer gets ticked off for a non compliance and told to rectify. But too late because his non compliance wheat was tipped into an assured central store a week earlier.
So what becomes of that central stores heap of wheat and the supposed standard of it? Does it all go into bread with an RT label on it or does the whole 30,000 ton heap have to go for feed.?
Logic please.

 

[Kiwi Pete]

Are all these NZ lambs that are currently being docked at 2 months old getting pain relief @Kiwi Pete ?

Ask them?

 

[gone up the hill]

Ask them?

So the answer is NO then??

Sounds very much like the sheep industry in the UK has the same problem as the grain industry when it comes to much lower standard inports being allowed into the UK.

 

[teslacoils]

Well,I say we join together and refuse to supply. Let's see who squeeks first - us shifting grain into another month, or a mill with no grain.

One out. All out.

 

[SilliamWhale]

Well,I say we join together and refuse to supply. Let's see who squeeks first - us shifting grain into another month, or a mill with no grain.

One out. All out.

I was going to suggest that. We cannot allow double standards to permeate our trade and industry.