- Location
- Portsmouth
Also, communication is two way.
You say your farmer members made you guess what they want as they made no representations.
Presumably you have asked them what they want and they didn't reply?
Should the NFU hold a OMOV referendum on Red Tractor?
- Thread starter Clive
- Start date
Also, communication is two way.
You say your farmer members made you guess what they want as they made no representations.
Presumably you have asked them what they want and they didn't reply?
Spencer
Member
- Location
- North West
As an elected representative, have you contacted your flock to ask their opinions?
Because people are nfu members out of habit? Are just members for deals? Don’t actually think the nfu will actually be able to do anything? I’m not saying this is true just suggesting why no one is contacting you.
personally I am questioning why we are members, I disagree with probably 80% that comes out of that organisation.
I am quite surprised by this. Do you not hold County Management Meetings in Beds when these issues are discussed? You should be getting feedback from your whole County Team to help ensure that you are aware of members needs and concerns. Perhaps there are opportunities for you to make it known that you have a listening ear to best represent members views through the local/regional newsletters e-mails etc.
- Location
- MK43
I don't like to pull you up on things as A) I think you do a good (and brave!) job sticking your head above the parapet on here, an example more NFU office holders should follow and B) I don't want to fall out with you, but I know you have the views of at least one member.
- Location
- Yorks
Don't know what position you hold, but would you be able to help with the AIC and UFAS issue.
I think it's pretty clear that farmers don't want to be given an unlevel playingfield, where imports have no Farm level FA requirement, but UK grains do.
Surely NFU would want to lobby to get equivalence for the UK farmers. I've not had one jot of support from the NFU, and I know full well they know about the letter we've written to the AIC. That's pretty poor from the NFU imho. They should have been all over it lik a rash.
Who do we contact? Can you do anything for us? Do you know what NFU policy is on this issue?
Sorry for the direct questions
Thanks.
really even though what they do effects non members as well nice really nice
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so maybe have a OMOV referendum on such a key issue ? - what possible harm can it do to learn what the people you represent want ?
what are you scared of here ?
and unless you are not reading any social media right now i think it’s pretty clear what farmers want ...... why pretend you are “left guessing” ? are you waiting for one of those backslapping committee meetings to learn what the same few faces who bother to turn up want ? ....... if so its unlikely you will be having such meetings for some time
so maybe have a OMOV referendum on such a key issue ? - what possible harm can it do to learn what the people you represent want ?
what are you scared of here ?
and unless you are not reading any social media right now i think it’s pretty clear what farmers want ...... why pretend you are “left guessing” ? are you waiting for one of those backslapping committee meetings to learn what the same few faces who bother to turn up want ? ....... if so its unlikely you will be having such meetings for some time
If your the representative then contact them to gauge opinion, surely that’s your job when you took on this role.
I outlined the depth of feeling about the lack of NFU engagement to the media anti meat campaign just before I resigned. I mentioned that you only have to go on social media to realise farmers anger about the situation but was called a keyboard warrior by my local NFU person. Probably right to be fair
I outlined the depth of feeling about the lack of NFU engagement to the media anti meat campaign just before I resigned. I mentioned that you only have to go on social media to realise farmers anger about the situation but was called a keyboard warrior by my local NFU person. Probably right to be fair
they haven’t a clue how to use social / digital media and ingnore it their detriment, it really is becoming their downfall
- Location
- Lincolnshire.
Yes really! I don’t pay their sub, why should I have a say in their policy?
SilliamWhale
Member
But they own the scheme!
The NFU is a bit like an elected government. Most people see it as very hard or impossible to get changes to NFU policy.
How many people make the effort to meet or write to their MP, even though unlike the NFU ALL voter's can make their views known.
There was of course the Poll Tax, even before social media, a reigning government was forced to make a U turn.
Lots of similarities here.
Unjust tax seeming to discriminate against the the ordinary poorer people who were not the people who voted for them.
First woman in charge refusing to see the rising civil unrest.
When I am told to rejoin and work from within, I think of Jeremy Corbyn.
Should he have joined the Conservative's and worked from within? Would he have achieved one iota there? He may not have won an election but he moderated Conservative policy.
My views and todays NFU are about a far apart as Jeremy's and Margret Thatcher's.
I need more than just a small climb down on RT before I return as a member.
I hope this "ramping up "of RT is the NFU's Poll Tax.
I hope we find a way to compete with the NFU and RT on assurance with a
self assessed "Produced to UK standards" scheme.
Can we make AHDB our Labour party.
How many people make the effort to meet or write to their MP, even though unlike the NFU ALL voter's can make their views known.
There was of course the Poll Tax, even before social media, a reigning government was forced to make a U turn.
Lots of similarities here.
Unjust tax seeming to discriminate against the the ordinary poorer people who were not the people who voted for them.
First woman in charge refusing to see the rising civil unrest.
When I am told to rejoin and work from within, I think of Jeremy Corbyn.
Should he have joined the Conservative's and worked from within? Would he have achieved one iota there? He may not have won an election but he moderated Conservative policy.
My views and todays NFU are about a far apart as Jeremy's and Margret Thatcher's.
I need more than just a small climb down on RT before I return as a member.
I hope this "ramping up "of RT is the NFU's Poll Tax.
I hope we find a way to compete with the NFU and RT on assurance with a
self assessed "Produced to UK standards" scheme.
Can we make AHDB our Labour party.
- Location
- Bedfordshire
Look.
I think I hold the same views as many of the members locally. I certainly think I do on this issue.
Yes we have meetings, but do we have an interesting meeting with 2 USA farmers as we did recently or do we hold a meeting re Red Tractor? On line meetings are best short and sweet. When we had meetings in the back room of a pub you could have a speaker and an hour on business.
I have been on the phone this last week regarding RT and I will continue to do that, but I do farm as well. Today, a Sunday, I have a manure management plan to do for a RT inspection on the pigs tomorrow and the monthly article for the Farmer and Grower. Neither takes 5 minutes. I had a meeting on branch Monday evening I attended, and on one Friday evening regarding Rural Crime. I do have a family and a farm to run, like many.
If anybody else in Beds wants this job I will happily stand down, but in the meantime I will represent as best I can. BUT when the first I hear of members resigning over RT is either on this forum or with them having sent a letter to the group secretary you can understand why I am frustrated, especially as not one member has contacted me.
I wish I did have the time to ring every member to get their opinion, but I don't.
Anyway, things to do.
I think I hold the same views as many of the members locally. I certainly think I do on this issue.
Yes we have meetings, but do we have an interesting meeting with 2 USA farmers as we did recently or do we hold a meeting re Red Tractor? On line meetings are best short and sweet. When we had meetings in the back room of a pub you could have a speaker and an hour on business.
I have been on the phone this last week regarding RT and I will continue to do that, but I do farm as well. Today, a Sunday, I have a manure management plan to do for a RT inspection on the pigs tomorrow and the monthly article for the Farmer and Grower. Neither takes 5 minutes. I had a meeting on branch Monday evening I attended, and on one Friday evening regarding Rural Crime. I do have a family and a farm to run, like many.
If anybody else in Beds wants this job I will happily stand down, but in the meantime I will represent as best I can. BUT when the first I hear of members resigning over RT is either on this forum or with them having sent a letter to the group secretary you can understand why I am frustrated, especially as not one member has contacted me.
I wish I did have the time to ring every member to get their opinion, but I don't.
Anyway, things to do.
- Location
- Hereford
I hoped I could make a bit of a difference ' in the pot' rather than out . Soon came to realise it was a waste of time . It is very much a closed shop .
I farm about 460 acres and am only a 'windowbox' farmer in the light of the NFU. My views were simply irrelevant. ....and I hadn't got a fendt !
As said before OMOV and a divorce from RT and might be persuaded to rejoin .
I farm about 460 acres and am only a 'windowbox' farmer in the light of the NFU. My views were simply irrelevant. ....and I hadn't got a fendt !
As said before OMOV and a divorce from RT and might be persuaded to rejoin .
SilliamWhale
Member
If you want to canvas opinion of your members then maybe send a round robin email to all your members in your county and ask them for brief synopsis of their opinion on RT and how they would like to be represented. Maybe head office can do it for you as they have the database etc.
Members would probably be please to have been asked and you can then guage opinion from that. Ask for no phone calls as they take too long - email only and if they can stick to the key points. You will soon get an idea of what your members want I'd have thought.
- Location
- Hereford
But the trouble is most who are unhappy with the NFU stance have left so it leaves an unbalanced opinion
SilliamWhale
Member
Red Tractor also needs non nfu farmer rep on the board. I suggest someone with an anagram of this name:
Baile Clivey