supermarkets treat us like mugs

ski

Member
Oh yes, BFREPA has played a blinder. Let's recap, Lots of publicity in lots of media, apparently it would cost over £2m to achieve that in advertising (source Ben Pike, BFREPA's PR man), lots of blaming the supermarkets and demanding they pay us more. Let's review the results, radio silence from the supermarkets, price increases errr, none, lots of righteous indignation from producers and BFREPA.
Producers did this to themselves, over expansion by thoughts of great returns has given the supermarkets the opportunity to do what they are doing.

It's called supply and demand.

Every FR producer should reduce stocking by 10% and BFREPA publish a list of those that don't. Producers under 2000 birds exempt. If 10% don't do it, another 10%. We can't afford not too.
 

yin ewe

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Co Antrim
we are on week 29-30 the pullet rearer says the very very latest we can order will be september
I met two egg packers one I produce for ,I sagested we all have 2 or 3 month turn around they were not keen
I told them I would not order pullets untill it was viable

The fact that the packer wasn't keen on a longer turnaround would suggest that demand is there wouldn't it?
 

Daniel

Member
Oh yes, BFREPA has played a blinder. Let's recap, Lots of publicity in lots of media, apparently it would cost over £2m to achieve that in advertising (source Ben Pike, BFREPA's PR man), lots of blaming the supermarkets and demanding they pay us more. Let's review the results, radio silence from the supermarkets, price increases errr, none, lots of righteous indignation from producers and BFREPA.
Producers did this to themselves, over expansion by thoughts of great returns has given the supermarkets the opportunity to do what they are doing.

It's called supply and demand.

Every FR producer should reduce stocking by 10% and BFREPA publish a list of those that don't. Producers under 2000 birds exempt. If 10% don't do it, another 10%. We can't afford not too.
Have you suggested this to the BFREPA council?

Unless BFREPA have access to the delivery invoices of each producer i'm not sure how it could be policed.
 

7610 super q

Never Forgotten
Honorary Member
I always thought the free range job was the 21st century's greatest con.
I looked into using existing sheds here, but was told, oh dear me no, brand new sheds and equipment required to supply supermarket standards.
So, once you've spent £1 million on your brand new shed, they've got you by the gibblets.
Hook, line, and sinker.............
 

DrWazzock

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lincolnshire
I always thought the free range job was the 21st century's greatest con.
I looked into using existing sheds here, but was told, oh dear me no, brand new sheds and equipment required to supply supermarket standards.
So, once you've spent £1 million on your brand new shed, they've got you by the gibblets.
Hook, line, and sinker.............
Yep, I know at least one farming family went bust over this with consultants advising FR and a brand new shed was the best thing since sliced bread.
 

7610 super q

Never Forgotten
Honorary Member
Yep, I know at least one farming family went bust over this with consultants advising FR and a brand new shed was the best thing since sliced bread.
Farming connect in Wales too. Ruined the organic job by cajoling folks to go in for it, then promptly started pushing the Free range egg bonanza....... :X3:
Same old story, 21st century prices for sheds / equipment, and 16th century prices for the eggs produced. But then, if you don't diversify, you're seen as a backward thinking, going nowhere luddite.🤷‍♂️
 

Nearly

Member
Location
North of York
Farming connect in Wales too. Ruined the organic job by cajoling folks to go in for it, then promptly started pushing the Free range egg bonanza....... :X3:
Same old story, 21st century prices for sheds / equipment, and 16th century prices for the eggs produced. But then, if you don't diversify, you're seen as a backward thinking, going nowhere luddite.🤷‍♂️
Ludd is very nice at this time of year.
 

ski

Member
Have you suggested this to the BFREPA council?

Unless BFREPA have access to the delivery invoices of each producer i'm not sure how it could be policed.
In a roundabout way, but nobody is listening. Hi headjuns building new sheds whilst telling other folk not to. A career 'council' member for a CEO. It has not come of age yet, this current crisis is a chance to show some leadership ( and for that you need a leader!) but as with all organisations of its type, its continued existence is its main concern.
I don't think it would be hard to monitor, all those who cut 10% would be happy to show the required paperwork, anyone who doesn't gets shamed, put on the list and shame is a powerful motivator. They have spouted the need for collective action, so why not at least propose a scheme to cut numbers? If members show no willingness for it then I question the whole point and basis of BFREPA.
 

ski

Member
I always thought the free range job was the 21st century's greatest con.
I looked into using existing sheds here, but was told, oh dear me no, brand new sheds and equipment required to supply supermarket standards.
So, once you've spent £1 million on your brand new shed, they've got you by the gibblets.
Hook, line, and sinker.............
I agree it is a con, but we live in an age cons, how about 'animal rights' for start how, exactly can an animal have any rights, it does not know about them and can't, if it did the logical conclusion would be a wish to die of old age etc, these things have been imposed by second rate philosophical thinkers who have never cared for an animal ever and we lack the critical faculties to pull this tosh apart. Go along with it, keep your head down etc. We reap what we sow as farmer's well know, and the harvest looks bitter.
Now caring for your stock that's a different matter................
 
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Hilly

Member
I always thought the free range job was the 21st century's greatest con.
I looked into using existing sheds here, but was told, oh dear me no, brand new sheds and equipment required to supply supermarket standards.
So, once you've spent £1 million on your brand new shed, they've got you by the gibblets.
Hook, line, and sinker.............
Absolutely , it goes on with dairy as well , get noosed up and bingo we now control you without having to rent or buy land or have you on the books ! I dont think their is enough margin in beef for enough debt to be controlled to an extent 😂
 

Daniel

Member
In a roundabout way, but nobody is listening. Hi headjuns building new sheds whilst telling other folk not to. A career 'council' member for a CEO. It has not come of age yet, this current crisis is a chance to show some leadership ( and for that you need a leader!) but as with all organisations of its type, its continued existence is its main concern.
I don't think it would be hard to monitor, all those who cut 10% would be happy to show the required paperwork, anyone who doesn't gets shamed, put on the list and shame is a powerful motivator. They have spouted the need for collective action, so why not at least propose a scheme to cut numbers? If members show no willingness for it then I question the whole point and basis of BFREPA.

I’m not on the BFREPA council so it’s no bother to me either way. I agree that the chairman building sheds whilst BFREPA tells producers not to is something of an issue.

But I’m not sure what you mean by ‘career council member’ or do you mean Robert Gooch?
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

  • 0 %

    Votes: 79 43.2%
  • Up to 25%

    Votes: 63 34.4%
  • 25-50%

    Votes: 30 16.4%
  • 50-75%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 75-100%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 100% I’ve had enough of farming!

    Votes: 5 2.7%

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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