Red Tractor to launch new basic standard for combinable crops

[Grass And Grain]

See Olly's video (first 3.37 minutes).

RT haven't officially said anything about this as yet, but looks like this is coming, although now probably delayed due to RT being on hold until the BFU review is completed.

As Olly suggests, if all farmers drop the full RT standard, and move to the new basic standard, then what choice will the millers/ Maltsters/ oilseed crushers have.

 

[SilliamWhale]

Do we still have to pay for it? Presume it's been agreed in secret with AIC in advance so it's all staged managed?

 

[David.]

Be interested in details.
Verified basic food safety and crop production legal compliance, all it ever needed to be; 3yr sprayer testing, no Nroso farce, etc.
Might be a goer....
Can't see it happening, too many sticky fingers already in our wallets.

 

[Wheatonrotty]

What uk laws lead to unsafe food or bad environmental practices? Would a simple box on the passport that you sign to say it's produced at or above current legal standards not be sufficient for a base level?

 

[le bon paysan]

What uk laws lead to unsafe food or bad environmental practices? Would a simple box on the passport that you sign to say it's produced at or above current legal standards not be sufficient for a base level?

World market price? Bonus for more rules and regulations.

 

[Clive]

@agricontract feed grain is already traded farm to farm without Red Tractor so unless feed mills do accept this cut down standard what difference will it make ?

if adoption depends on farmers standing together and insisting on it why do they need the lower standard even ? if we have that unity we can just stand together on not using red tractor at all ?

not sure this has been fully thought through ?


BUT encouraging to hear you say attitude has changed ! i can see the relationship between them / nfu has changed significantly over the last few weeks

 

[Grass And Grain]

What uk laws lead to unsafe food or bad environmental practices? Would a simple box on the passport that you sign to say it's produced at or above current legal standards not be sufficient for a base level?

We didn't renew our RT membership in spring time, by September we'd lost our (aggrh, forgotten the term, when you don't get inspected by local authority because you've got RT*), so then got local authority inspection.

Hence we've now had independent audit by properly qualified food hygiene officer. It's a stood as RT, so should be acceptable imho.

Edit. *Earned recognition

 

[Treacle Sponge]

So.. "Can't have a standard that is equal to imports because that will fall below some legal requirements for food safety"

Doesn't make any sense.

 

[Grass And Grain]

@agricontract feed grain is already traded farm to farm without Red Tractor so unless feed mills do accept this cut down standard what difference will it make ?

if adoption depends on farmers standing together and insisting on it why do they need the lower standard even ? if we have that unity we can just stand together on not using red tractor at all ?

Agree Clive, although this does give an initial softer and less risky option... to just have the basic RT standard, so we can all just go to this option. Millers can either accept it or risk being short of supply. Grow some milking varieties, but only have the basic RT version, and let merchants/millers have a think.

Then when we've proven millers have to buy what's available, we can do step 2 and all leave altogether . Needs farmers to be brave and stick together (easier said tha done!).

 

[SilliamWhale]

So.. "Can't have a standard that is equal to imports because that will fall below some legal requirements for food safety"

Doesn't make any sense.

It's called whataboutery.

Proves the point that imports have lower standards and easier access

 

[Badshot]

So.. "Can't have a standard that is equal to imports because that will fall below some legal requirements for food safety"

Doesn't make any sense.

If that import standard is good enough for the milling wheats that get imported.
It has to be good enough for ours, otherwise we need to be banning these low quality imports as unsafe for human consumption

 

[Grass And Grain]

So.. "Can't have a standard that is equal to imports because that will fall below some legal requirements for food safety"

Doesn't make any sense.

I thought that. Surely it means imports aren't up to scratch?

What Olly/RT have failed to say is we produce to legal standards anyway, so there's actually no need for RT to wedge themselves in-between seller and buyer.

Still, it's a step in the right direction.

British Farming Union are slowly winning little battles , and we'll keep going. Please, everyone, consider joining us for £10/annum, we will keep working on this

 

[graham mc]

one thing creating it unless its widely accepted its a pointless exercise

but we cant knock it until all details are fully out

 

[graham mc]

hopefully we wont have to pay for it with carbon credits!!!!

 

[ace]

If imports do not meet our standards,by law,then they should not enter the country. We can then set our standards around our laws,by simply ticking boxes and providing a sample.

 

[Humble Village Farmer]

See Olly's video (first 3.37 minutes).

RT haven't officially said anything about this as yet, but looks like this is coming, although now probably delayed due to RT being on hold until the BFU review is completed.

As Olly suggests, if all farmers drop the full RT standard, and move to the new basic standard, then what choice will the millers/ Maltsters/ oilseed crushers have.

I'm afraid he lied again when he said that "certain standards fall below what's required for food safety".

It doesn't stop the imported stuff going into the food chain, so what he said is completely false.

I suppose they are avoiding the term "legally produced under UK standards" because those few words do away with any need for farm assurance (like the importers have).

 

[Badshot]

It can't be that difficult.

If the import standard isn't legal, who do we report the likes of frontier etc to for bringing illegal imports in? Tesco got found out with horse meat.

Do we all need to report this to our local trading standards?

Defra? That is after all the government agency responsible.

if someone knows how to report this then please make it known so we can start stirring the sh!t.

 

[Badshot]

I'm afraid he lied again when he said that "certain standards fall below what's required for food safety".

It doesn't stop the imported stuff going into the food chain, so what he said is completely false.

I suppose they are avoiding the term "legally produced under UK standards" because those few words do away with any need for farm assurance (like the importers have).

Why would he lie?

 

[Steevo]

Interesting that it seems there wasn’t an embargo on this information

 

[Clive]

So.. "Can't have a standard that is equal to imports because that will fall below some legal requirements for food safety"

Doesn't make any sense.

it kind of does on the basis that RT don’t set the import trade deal rules that allow banned practice / inputs to be used in imported food

only government can change that which is what I guess Olly means ?

however imports also have no farm level assurance, it’s not law that uk produce must do so no reason we need farm assurance at all LEGALLY