I had exactly the same 25 years ago with a load of broccoli.
Never dealing with companies again on principle is all very good, but since they are all at it, no matter your product, you soon run out of people to sell to.
Taking on a grain merchant (the AIC cartel)
- Thread starter Farmer T
- Start date
I had exactly the same 25 years ago with a load of broccoli.
Never dealing with companies again on principle is all very good, but since they are all at it, no matter your product, you soon run out of people to sell to.
I have exactly the same
Same here
Chae1
Member
- Location
- Aberdeenshire
Wouldn't have anything to do with feed barley being down to £140/t and your loads are looking very expensive?
I've had that before. Same merchant took 200t of malting barley theyd condemned in January at harvest that year. Germination was fine when price had dropped and we'd stored it a further 7 months.
I've had that before. Same merchant took 200t of malting barley theyd condemned in January at harvest that year. Germination was fine when price had dropped and we'd stored it a further 7 months.
Farmer T
Member
- Location
- East Midlands
I kept samples. They tested at 99%. The independent testing took 27 days to be carried out which can’t be right? The whole system needs changing as it’s simply not right or fair.
Even if I ‘lose’ I want to highlight my case so maybe changes can come? I don’t think the grain company can liable me if I have evidence for everything I say?
I haven’t got experience of this - last time something similar happened to me I took the retained sample to the merchant’s lab, where it tested ok and the claim was withdrawn.
Are you a member of the NFU? They have a legal team who might be able to help.
Are you a member of the NFU? They have a legal team who might be able to help.
- Location
- Berkshire
These stories are shocking and there’s very little you can do, there should be an arbitrator for the grain trade so they know that they can’t do as they like, a task for AHDB to sort out I think
Make a fuss, always keep samples for retest
Always bring the load home even if it costs you, it sends the message that you won’t roll over and you take samples from that load to the merchants own lab, it also inconveniences the merchant by buggering up their haulage plans for the day and there’s no arguing if the loads back on farm to be inspected, once it’s tipped all evidence is gone
I’ve had 3 loads of Malting Barley rejected in 8 years and over 10000 t, one was genuine, one was borderline and one was because the first few loads onto the boat had bugs and the boat had to be cleaned and emptied so the merchant rejected everything in the queue, I fought that one and got the costs back
Make a fuss, always keep samples for retest
Always bring the load home even if it costs you, it sends the message that you won’t roll over and you take samples from that load to the merchants own lab, it also inconveniences the merchant by buggering up their haulage plans for the day and there’s no arguing if the loads back on farm to be inspected, once it’s tipped all evidence is gone
I’ve had 3 loads of Malting Barley rejected in 8 years and over 10000 t, one was genuine, one was borderline and one was because the first few loads onto the boat had bugs and the boat had to be cleaned and emptied so the merchant rejected everything in the queue, I fought that one and got the costs back
Do you have an automatic right to be notified of a claim before the load is tipped?
I had an ergot claim, for 5 pieces in the load sample, and the first I knew was a £20/t claim notification by email that evening.
As it happens, I knew there was a small quantity of ergot present, and I could not have got it home and cleaned for less money. The mill will accept 2pcs of ergot per sample without claim.
Some of the claims on malting barley being discussed might be £100/t, surely you have the right of prior notice before it gets tipped in the "feed" heap?
I had an ergot claim, for 5 pieces in the load sample, and the first I knew was a £20/t claim notification by email that evening.
As it happens, I knew there was a small quantity of ergot present, and I could not have got it home and cleaned for less money. The mill will accept 2pcs of ergot per sample without claim.
Some of the claims on malting barley being discussed might be £100/t, surely you have the right of prior notice before it gets tipped in the "feed" heap?
- Location
- Somerset UK
About 20 years ago I grew milling oats, not on contract, I had sold 4 loads, 2 to Dalgety and 2 to an independent who is still trading. It just so happened that the loads were picked up alternately and all went to morning foods at crewe, the Dalgety loads went through fine but the other loads had deductions, but I only found out when the barsteward independent sent me the money. I'm pretty sure he just deducted a bit to make more money.
- Location
- Shropshire
The proposed move to digital passports is meant to give real time results direct back to the farmer. I cannot help but think that can only help these scenarios.
- Location
- Northumberlandia
Uncle here had a rejection of SB heck could have been 40year ago
It was heading for the feed heap until he quickly reminded them there was a load of 50kg bags of fert not paid for in the shed & they better come & take it away
Needless too say just like magic it went thru after that... Bloody shitesters
It was heading for the feed heap until he quickly reminded them there was a load of 50kg bags of fert not paid for in the shed & they better come & take it away
Needless too say just like magic it went thru after that... Bloody shitesters
Farmer T
Member
- Location
- East Midlands
Digital passports aren’t going to improve this situation.
They rejected the grain at 96% germination. I had a sample and it was tested at the ‘lower grade’ malting barley home. Both of these results were 99% germination.
Now the independent tests took 27 days to be tested and made it significantly lower.
I agree. Digital passports won’t help. I’d be livid in your shoes.
- Location
- Bedfordshire
The NFU have a database running of all disputed quality specs like this. If any members have issues please log it on the system. It is there to flag up persistent offenders in the trade.
That was the compromise to the AIC offered by growers. The trade wouldn't accept that and are doing their best to force digital passports on us without anything in return.
Yeh 100% an arbitrator is needed. I also think there should be an industry working group (farmers, co op and commercial stores) who with the nfu identify difficult home and put an Independant verifier on the weighbridge. Maybe have 10-15 of these people, it would soon clean up the dodgy Intake part.
A job for our ahdb levies maybe….
Yeh good point. Would add more value than anything else they do.
Or the nfu stop spanking money on ‘back British farming’ campaigns and get hard commercially.