Robert Forster: Wide adoption of contract rearing processor owned beef cattle moves closer.

The Beef

Member
Not really and I welcme the debate but with the tails of tactics used by supermarkets that we have all heard I fail to see that this is going to be good but I do get your points

Thank you for saying so and the debate is good. I accept there will be challenges in any new system. the alternative is to leave things as they are and deal with their "tails of tactics" as they arrive. One thing for sure is minds need to be open to deal with the challenges around the corner whatever they may be.
 

The Beef

Member
Historically i had a decent payment for a one man band because i turned a sh!t farm into a half decent one with investing profit`s and hard work building stock numbers etc etc etc , historic was ok but changed to area and because some bod in an office decided 99% of my acres are sh!t land i get 20 something rather than 120 something (like 99% of my competition), but i aint bitter im bloody pleased i still make a go of it regardless.

So we are in similar positions and for that I respect you immensely but I think on some things we will have to agree to disagree or disagree to disagree if you prefer:):) Personally I prefer the former.:)
 

topground

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
North Somerset.
I have already said you shouldn't enter any sort of contract you're not happy with or you don't understand. When their cattle are in your yard their ability to say we're not paying isn't quite the same as telling you they aren't paying the agreed price for cattle you own, where they can just walk away without a backward glance.
Any contract that's worth considering has to reflect and reward the expertise and commitment of both sides to make it work in the first place. Of course the option to carry on as you are is still there - I am certainly not going to advocate entering a contract to those that cant understand the concept in the first instance.
Anyone who truly understands the concept and implications of contracts with Supermarkets and their processors wouldn't touch them with a bargepole because those contracts are not drawn up to be long term beneficial to the man who is doing all of the work and takng most of the risk, namely the farmer. They have been promoted as beneficial by the supermarket cartel in order to deliver long term control of the market through vertical integration as has happened with the pig and poultry job.
Are there any penalties in place if the supermarket/processor does not deliver on their part of the bargain?
What is in place by way of independant mediation?
Just wondering as a point of interest since I won't be going anywhere other than direct and market sales and won't have any supermarket representatives on the premises under any circumstances.
 

nails

Member
Location
East Dorset
It would help if you explained to the people reading this what your idea is and how it is likely to work. If its good enough it might get legs. Otherwise you are just parroting a folorn hope.

The idea is simple as all it requires is farmers supplying the abattoir to band together into a farmer led producer group. If enough get together they become powerful enough to negotiate with the processor. Like i say, no profit in an empty abattoir . If the price does not seem fair all round withhold supply for a day or two. They will in the end be forced to negotiate as cheap imports are not going to be favourable with the public.
I am no particular fan of Minette Batters, but she has said the unfair supply chain needs sorting and i think maybe a change will get underway. What you are talking about is a dead end street and is certainly not the way forward.
 
The idea is simple as all it requires is farmers supplying the abattoir to band together into a farmer led producer group. If enough get together they become powerful enough to negotiate with the processor. Like i say, no profit in an empty abattoir . If the price does not seem fair all round withhold supply for a day or two. They will in the end be forced to negotiate as cheap imports are not going to be favourable with the public.
I am no particular fan of Minette Batters, but she has said the unfair supply chain needs sorting and i think maybe a change will get underway. What you are talking about is a dead end street and is certainly not the way forward.

Why do you think that the public will not like cheap imports ? Isn't cheap food pretty much exactly what the majority of people want ? I hope I'm wrong.
 

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Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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