So how many farmers have recently left the NFU?

[DeeGee]

As per the title.

The Minette Batters thread is well established, and largely reflects a damning indictment of the NFU’s complicity in the self perpetuating role of the Red Tractor debacle.

As I have stated, twice, in this thread I have recently resigned from the NFU on principle.
How many other members have done so; and what is the current and ever fluid position of the NFU in the light of what might be a raft of similar members jumping ship?

Informed opinions welcome.

 

[Bald Rick]

I have not resigned as I feel NFU Cymru do the best of a bad job dealing with the loons in Cardiff .... and probably kept honest by the FUW (who are very quiet these days for some reason)
Cymru have also been extremely helpful when I was fighting Highways over the imposition of an 18t weight limit on our access lanes which would have destroyed our business so I am beholden

Am I happy that the NFU itself has got in to bed with the supermarkets? No.
What can I do about it? Moan on TFF and pay £10 to BFU to try to keep them honest too

And if I could be bothered (which I'm not as ennui rules my life these days), I'd go to my local branch meetings and raise merry hell. And keep doing so

 

[sjt01]

As per the title.

The Minette Batters thread is well established, and largely reflects a damning indictment of the NFU’s complicity in the self perpetuating role of the Red Tractor debacle.

As I have stated, twice, in this thread I have recently resigned from the NFU on principle.
How many other members have done so; and what is the current and ever fluid position of the NFU in the light of what might be a raft of similar members jumping ship?

Informed opinions welcome.

One resigned here, phone call from County Chairman who understood my position but tried to persuade me to rejoin (but instead I joined BFU). Letter from HQ saying how great they are!

 

[ajd132]

We did last year, along with a few farms I manage that were also members.

 

[Tamar]

I left a few years ago, only due to the fact I hated how the NFU were pushing RT

That was after a lifetime with them.

I probably would rejoin f they ditched the rusty tractor

 

[tullah]

I left a few years ago, only due to the fact I hated how the NFU were pushing RT

That was after a lifetime with them.

I probably would rejoin f they ditched the rusty tractor

Farmers are trying to run a tight ship and there's no room to waste cash on subs on a union that's acting against their very interests over the major issue of Red Tractor which the union for some unknown reason seems hell bent on supporting.
I can't for the life of me understand why the Nfu is taking this crazy position encouraging vast numbers to leave. But there, nothing surprises me any longer seeing what's happening in this country.

 

[masseybreaker]

i left last week and told the guy who phoned me to try and get me to stay as soon as the bfu has more members the nfu are finished . i joined the bfu the same day

 

[Andy26]

I left in 2021 when the whole gatekeeper imports farce was exposed, dismayed this hadn't been flagged far earlier by the NFU, who I felt should of been fighting for the interests of their members.

 

[JENGA]

This many...

 

[Red Fred]

I left a couple of years ago, the costs weren't worth the benefits on my small scale but no one noticed.

 

[bitwrx]

This many...

View attachment 1147188

Source?

 

[kfpben]

Source?

I doubt a very reliable source as the CBI was losing big numbers of members a few months ago with their well publicised scandals.

 

[JENGA]

Source?

https://memberwise.org.uk/corporateinfluence100/

 

[Clive]

This many...

View attachment 1147188

wow ! surely that has to wake them up somewhat !!!

I wonder how many of the total number are farmers and not "countryside" or "corporate" members ??

 

[Steevo]

NFU website currently states the same 46,000 members.

Find out about the NFU

The NFU is the most successful representation body for agriculture and horticulture in England and Wales. We represent more than 46,000 farming and growing businesses. Our purpose is to champion British agriculture and horticulture, to campaign for a stable and sustainable future for British...

www.nfuonline.com

This Dec 22 publication states the higher 55,000 membership figure referred to.

https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/114316/pdf/#:~:text=The%20NFU%20represents%2055%2C000%20members%20across%20England%20and%20Wales.

It seems even the NFU are unsure themselves because their LinkedIn profile states 55,000!

NFU (National Farmers' Union) | LinkedIn

NFU (National Farmers' Union) | 37,496 followers on LinkedIn. We celebrate everything that's great about the beautiful British countryside and healthy British food. | The NFU (National Farmers' Union) of England and Wales is the Voice of British Farming. We provide professional representation...

www.linkedin.com

 

[Breckland Boy]

We left a few years ago. The local branch rep got a regional bod to phone me and I explained it was red tractor or the nfu so effectively I had no choice. Both people told me that lots were leaving under similar circumstances

 

[Bury the Trash]

i must say 'resign' sounds awfully grandiose , i just stopped paying the sub

 

[delilah]

https://memberwise.org.uk/corporateinfluence100/

There's two ways of looking at that.

Yes, the NFU has lost members, but they are still no 6 in top 100 of UK trade associations. There's some big hitters in there with way less members, just a random one I spotted, road haulage association, no 22 8000 members.

 

[Bury the Trash]

I left a couple of years ago, the costs weren't worth the benefits on my small scale but no one noticed.

same here , need more acres for that maybe
no phone call or anything ti ask why etc, did keep getting too much insurance bumf in the post though and premiums went up so i stopped that with them as well

 

[Andy26]

same here , need more acres for that maybe
no phone call or anything ti ask why etc, did keep getting too much insurance bumf in the post though and premiums went up so i stopped that with them as well

This chap looks like he farms on a fair scale, only got the auto generated leaving letter.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1554086152902172672