tullah
Member
- Location
- Linconshire
Perfect analogy. Who is going to listen to us and close them down?
The Red Tractor ACCS referendum
- Thread starter Clive
- Start date
- Location
- Buckinghamshire
We keep going and then we have a Vote on AHDB and the pressure will start
Gormers
Member
- Location
- east yorkshire
Steevo
Member
- Location
- Gloucestershire
This would be my only reason for voting against AHDB. They do brilliant and valuable work in my experience and if not for the RT issue I would without doubt vote for them to stay.
- Location
- Buckinghamshire
I agree but with a vote that will put pressure on them to help reform
Steevo
Member
- Location
- Gloucestershire
I agree. I expect it will turn out similar to election canvassing…..they’ll claim to change things when they are back in power again, and then after the vote they may or (more likely in my opinion) may not.
- Location
- Hammerwich
The main issue for the cereals vote is they don't know who to canvas. AHDB don't collect the levies directly, so don't know who will be voting. Its quite possible that lots of people eligable to vote, won't even know there is a vote on.
- Location
- Buckinghamshire
Quite possibly but then we really do a start advertising it.
If we can get a vote that is going to be the first hurdle to get over
- Location
- Hammerwich
There will be a vote, I had a meeting with the comms team this morning and it was covered. I really don't want AHDB to be a victim of the mess Red Tractor have caused.
- Location
- Buckinghamshire
I agree but if we keep the pressure up they may make some changes to try and stop a vote
Well, there's a perfect logic to that, as net zero was always going to be the stick to hit the next generation of farmers with, in the same way as RT has been for this generation. With the NFU being staunch supporters of both.
As for 'retailers told they need to pay up' you really don't know whether to laugh or cry.
What a complete and utter shambles this industry is.
I don’t think anyone does BUT votes do have a habit of becoming single issue and imo this could finish AHDB if they don’t act. - market development and access IS well within their remit so they are failing UK cereal growers here
it’s clear NFU are going to do nothing of substance now
SilliamWhale
Member
I totally agree. We cannot have a single private corporation dictating market access and their rules being arbitrary, it is not healthy. We need to continue to take a stand on it.
- Location
- Yorks
We do (need to continue). RT binning most of their new rule proposals was a good start, but RT were asked by AHDB to find a solution to the level playingfield issue. Thus far, no solution has been forthcoming, and I suspect they've no intention of producing one. Which means we continue with our quest.
Don’t throw the baby out with the bath water. Voting to end the AHDB just to spite RT is voting to end one of the very few research institutions that has little vested interests, however flawed some of their work may be. I don’t want to get my information from those who are just selling “solutions” to perceived problems.
tullah
Member
- Location
- Linconshire
I think ridding ourselves of RT far outweighs the benefits we receive from ADHB.
- Location
- South Wales UK
Any stickers on this???:-
- Location
- Yorks
Agree that cereal growers get a lot of value out of AHDB levy. Would be a shame if AHDB wasn't retained in a ballot.
Best thing they could do would be to make sure UK growers have unfettered access to UK markets under same terms as imported grains. Any less from an organisation who collects levy from growers, and has marketing and promotion in its remit, must be regarded as a complete fail.
It's a fundamental market access issue stifling our competitiveness. It's very poor that it hasn't already been addressed. It's gone on for years, and no-one at AHDB has attempted to fix it. Why? It's an obvious thing to sort out.
AHDB have even been using levy payers money and gifting it to RT, who've been using it to promote the RT brand. So levy payers who aren't RT members have had their levy used by RT to close of their markets. AHDB have also sponsored the AIC conferences. You couldn't make it up!
If RT/AIC aren't going to give us a level playingfield, then I think AHDB would be wise to get tough. It's possible to fix the issue.
Look at the last general election. It became a single issue election based on brexit. The same could hapoen with the AHDB Cereals and Oilseeds ballot. I think the best way for AHDB to survive would be to help level the playingfield. They've been very helpful thus far in facilitating talks between RT, AIC and NFU. Unfortunately no positive result yet, and AIC who say they aren't going to change their rules.
I think AHDB's destiny is in their own hands. They've the power to help themselves to a bright future. Let's hope they're wise enough to do so.
Negotiations play out, and the side coming out the best does so because they have the upper hand. RT and AIC have had the upper hand over farmers for years. We've been fragmented and weak against them. With the looming AHDB Cereals vote, farmers suddenly have power over AHDB. Farmers may choose to use that power over AHDB to get change on the level playingfield issue. Why wouldn't they?
I recon balls going to be in AHDB's court, and if I were AHDB I'd pull out all the stops between now and the vote.
Like it or not, that's the situation.
AHDB have a 'get out of jail for free' card. It's right there starring them in the face. Let's hope they use it.
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warksfarmer
Member
What is the latest state of play with ‘comingling’ Red Tractor assured grain with non-assured imported grain?
JM First of all, grain is not “comingled” as such. It is actually kept very separate, so it is possible to track Red Tractor grain all the way back to the farm. The comingling occurs when the miller is trying to get a particular blend for a flour.
Secondly, at the safety level, there is probably no difference – in fact, some millers would actually say the safety standards of imported grain are higher than Red Tractor, because they are subjected to huge amounts of lab testing.
In terms of the other, non-safety standards that may not apply to imported grain, the NFU is leading an inquiry to establish what the differences are.
How can you make Red Tractor more popular with farmers?
JM We don’t necessarily want to be more popular, but would like farmers to appreciate the benefits of Red Tractor more. The principal stakeholder for Red Tractor remains the consumer – and this will become even more important as the market opens up to imports.
There is no point in setting standards that drive farmers out of business, but there is also no point in setting standards that are so weak that imports suit consumers more. I’d also like farmers to recognise that, for what is a relatively minimal audit level, they get access to just about every market, domestically and overseas.
From a Q and A in the FW. Mosely is claiming some millers say the safety standards of imported grain are higher than UK because they are subjected to "huge amounts" of Lab testing. I personally think that's not true- certainly it seems a struggle to find out what tests are done on imported produce and the paper trail for it.
Is Oilseed Rape not comingled?
He wants farmers to appreciate the benefits of RT more. Well for a start why not deliver a premium? Why not create an easy interface to upload all the paperchase? Why not sack employees who insult those who have legitimate concerns about the double standards of the scheme? Why not recognise the UK RT grain market gets totally undermined by imports?
Also I had access to every market before Red Tractor. They are a private company who get in the way.
Also look out for them wanting to charge for compliance inspections for the SFI.
New Red Tractor standards aim to improve farmyards - Farmers Weekly
Enhancing human safety and improving animal health and welfare are two of the main objectives behind the latest review of Red Tractor farm assurancewww.fwi.co.uk