Red tractor statement on level playing field

[Andy26]

FW podcast has just popped up on my phone. According to the presenters, apparently the 'vast majority' of UK cereal growers are perfectly happy with Red Tractor...

Google Podcasts

podcasts.google.com

About 7min30seconds in if you want to hear that revelation!

 

[Humble Village Farmer]

They misleadingly imply that Tom Bradshaw was at the meeting with ahdb, which he wasn't.

Assuming from his stance that Hugh Broom is an NFU member or even office holder.

He also misleadingly implies that "the vast majority of farmers are happy with red tractor as it is. Bollards

He also kept saying "red tractor rules haven't changed" . They have. Feed mills are now allowed to use non red tractor assured grain to supply red tractor livestock. They are making it sound as difficult as possible because they are terrified it will happen.

The dead tractor have basically said red tractor is fantastic but there's nothing wrong with non assured as it's protected by UK law and high standards of production in the uk.

Don't forget both feed and flour mills are happy to use imported grains from unknown farms for both human and animal consumption but they "must have" red tractor!

 

[Steevo]

They misleadingly imply that Tom Bradshaw was at the meeting with ahdb, which he wasn't.

Assuming from his stance that Hugh Broom is an NFU member or even office holder.

He also misleadingly implies that "the vast majority of farmers are happy with red tractor as it is. Bollards

He also kept saying "red tractor rules haven't changed" . They have. Feed mills are now allowed to use non red tractor assured grain to supply red tractor livestock. They are making it sound as difficult as possible because they are terrified it will happen.

The dead tractor have basically said red tractor is fantastic but there's nothing wrong with non assured as it's protected by UK law and high standards of production in the uk.

Don't forget both feed and flour mills are happy to use imported grains from unknown farms for both human and animal consumption but they "must have" red tractor!

From this article: https://www.nfuonline.com/archive?treeid=136913

"In light of the report, ITV News interviewed NFU livestock board member Hugh Broom where he emphasised the role high quality meat has to play in a healthy, balanced diet. NFU combinable crops board chairman Tom Bradshaw spoke to BBC World Service about the impact of climate change on food production, explaining that farmers are on the front line of extreme weather."


and this article: https://www.nfuonline.com/updates-and-information/farmer-s-school-plot-to-plate-project-success/

"Farmer Hugh Broom, a former chairman of Surrey NFU, said: “The children visit once a week during the summer term and walk the 600 metres from the school to tend to the plots. By the end of term, they’ve started to harvest what they have grown."

 

[Steevo]

Not forgetting this article from 2009: https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/business/farmers-union-boss-points-capital-4824789

"At 35, Mr Broom is the youngest chairman of the Surrey NFU for more than a decade and he said he was optimistic but realistic about the future of farming."

 

[Andy26]

They misleadingly imply that Tom Bradshaw was at the meeting with ahdb, which he wasn't.

Assuming from his stance that Hugh Broom is an NFU member or even office holder.

He also misleadingly implies that "the vast majority of farmers are happy with red tractor as it is. Bollards

He also kept saying "red tractor rules haven't changed" . They have. Feed mills are now allowed to use non red tractor assured grain to supply red tractor livestock. They are making it sound as difficult as possible because they are terrified it will happen.

The dead tractor have basically said red tractor is fantastic but there's nothing wrong with non assured as it's protected by UK law and high standards of production in the uk.

Don't forget both feed and flour mills are happy to use imported grains from unknown farms for both human and animal consumption but they "must have" red tractor!

Yes I had the same thoughts about Hugh Broom, no idea who he is, but thought he sounded like an NFU office holder, he's a good presenter otherwise. Johann is first class.

 

[Humble Village Farmer]

From this article: https://www.nfuonline.com/archive?treeid=136913

"In light of the report, ITV News interviewed NFU livestock board member Hugh Broom where he emphasised the role high quality meat has to play in a healthy, balanced diet. NFU combinable crops board chairman Tom Bradshaw spoke to BBC World Service about the impact of climate change on food production, explaining that farmers are on the front line of extreme weather."


and this article: https://www.nfuonline.com/updates-and-information/farmer-s-school-plot-to-plate-project-success/

"Farmer Hugh Broom, a former chairman of Surrey NFU, said: “The children visit once a week during the summer term and walk the 600 metres from the school to tend to the plots. By the end of term, they’ve started to harvest what they have grown."

What a surprise! Can they find a non member who is as happy with the dead tractor as they are?

How come the non farmers union got so much more airtime on this when they weren't even at the meeting, than Steve Ridsdale?

How come they were even asked to comment?

Surely the talks were between some farmers and the ahdb about access to markets? (which by the way nfu seem happy to see restricted but only to uk producers).

The non farmers union weren't at the meeting and its not about red tractor. They even said that themselves.

 

[Grass And Grain]

FW podcast has just popped up on my phone. According to the presenters, apparently the 'vast majority' of UK cereal growers are perfectly happy with Red Tractor...

I really, really like Hugh Broom, but not sure what planet he was on at that moment in time ('vast majority' of UK cereal growers are perfectly happy with Red Tractor'). I hardly know anyone who like RT for cereals. Different for livestock.

They didn't run the bit where I explained why RT is completely rubbish and could damage the industry's reputation.

Tom Bradshaw couldn't sound more negative if he tried, if I didn't know otherwise I'd of assumed he was representing the AIC. It will be slow and there's no market there, is how he presented it.

The mills are already buying gatekeeper grain

And how many times do we need to explain, we don't need pesticide tests on UK grain. Imports might, because they use atrazine, neonics, paraquat, IPU, clorothalonil etc.

It costs £1,500 to sample a ship because the chap has to stand there at the port for 10 days while they load the thing, taking the odd scoop or two of wheat and sipping coffee.

But we don't need tests. Are they testing RT grain?

 

[ajd132]

Have I completely misunderstood or is one of the presenters of the farmers weekly podcast an NFU office holder?

 

[Grass And Grain]

What a surprise! Can they find a non member who is as happy with the dead tractor as they are?

How come the non farmers union got so much more airtime on this when they weren't even at the meeting, than Steve Ridsdale?

How come they were even asked to comment?

Surely the talks were between some farmers and the ahdb about access to markets? (which by the way nfu seem happy to see restricted but only to uk producers).

The non farmers union weren't at the meeting and its not about red tractor. They even said that thmselves.

They didn't put the good bits in the podcast imho.

As you suggest, this is AHDB's remit. They should be deciding what to do. They work for levy payers. NFU don't pay their wages.

 

[Steevo]

Have I completely misunderstood or is one of the presenters of the farmers weekly podcast an NFU office holder?

Livestock board member
Former chair of Surrey NFU - youngest Surry chair ever, appointed at age 35 in 2009.
Vice chairmain before that (2007)

 

[Grass And Grain]

Have I completely misunderstood or is one of the presenters of the farmers weekly podcast an NFU office holder?

Hugh was year below me at Harper, so about 46 now. Said in that article he was county chair at 35.

 

[ajd132]

Livestock board member
Former chair of Surrey NFU - youngest Surry chair ever, appointed at age 35 in 2009.

So even a journalistic podcast is infiltrated by the NFU.

 

[Grass And Grain]

Haven't got this weeks FW yet. Anyone seen or can screenshot the article?

 

[Steevo]

Haven't got this weeks FW yet. Anyone seen or can screenshot the article?

 

[willy]

Hugh broom looks like an entitled little sh!t ( and about 12 years old) so to be honest I don't give a rats arse what he thinks.

 

[tullah]

What have Meagain Markle and the non farmers union got in common?

 

[willy]

RT is a con and we all know it, but to get out of it is a bloody minefield, fair play to @Grass And Grain et al

 

[Grass And Grain]

View attachment 999829

Thanks. I like the headline!

It's quite funny really. RT go about telling everyone how good RT grain is. Try to convince mills to use it, promote the brand etc. But they've no control over who chooses to use RT grain.

They do have control over feed to their own livestock schemes. They can specify it is RT if they want.

Now they've come out and said you don't need to use RT grain, and non-assured is perfectly OK.

If that's as far as this ever gets, it was worth it just to see that happen