The Red Tractor ACCS referendum

[DrWazzock]

How does a red tractor inspector asking "can you give me an example of one spray application please?", have any effect on fusarium on that farm?

It doesn’t really. But grain monitoring and conditioning helps keep mycotoxins from increasing in store. The problem is with these wet summers, mycotoxins have already set into the crop in the field before it’s even in the store. The mycotoxin risk assessment that we have to fill in for RT could steer us towards ploughing to reduce risk though I haven’t seen much difference between fusarium in ploughed or unploughed TBH. It largely depends on the weather. But really we seem to be monitoring and ticking boxes, doing risk assessments for something that seems to be beyond our control, being largely weather dependent. But customers want us to take mycotoxin reduction measures at every stage in the process and want to see an audited trail. I’m fairly tired of it all to be honest but sometimes it’s easier just to tick the damn box and get on than to keep moaning about it.

 

[Humble Village Farmer]

It doesn’t really. But grain monitoring and conditioning helps keep mycotoxins from increasing in store. The problem is with these wet summers, mycotoxins have already set into the crop in the field before it’s even in the store. The mycotoxin risk assessment that we have to fill in for RT could steer us towards ploughing to reduce risk though I haven’t seen much difference between fusarium in ploughed or unploughed TBH. It largely depends on the weather. But really we seem to be monitoring and ticking boxes, doing risk assessments for something that seems to be beyond our control, being largely weather dependent. But customers want us to take mycotoxin reduction measures at every stage in the process and want to see an audited trail. I’m fairly tired of it all to be honest but sometimes it’s easier just to tick the damn box and get on than to keep moaning about it.

I have never shown the inspector an audited trail and even if I had, it could just as well have been made up and filled in the day before.

Resignation is what keeps the scheme going. The only way to stop this ridiculous farce is to challenge it for the greater good.

And don't kid yourself that ticking boxes really does anyone right through the food chain any good. The end users are buying "product of the UK" which is about the best quality standard you can get, whether it has that stupid little sticker on or not.

 

[MrNoo]

Resignation is what keeps the scheme going. The only way to stop this ridiculous farce is to challenge it for the greater good.

This ^^^^^^^^
To facilitate change you have to do something, commit, make an effort, just walking on the treadmill and expecting change just isnt going to work.
It's plainly clear the NFU arent interested, ADHB are going through the motions but must be grateful now harvest has started, they'll be glad of a breather.
You've got to vote with your feet. I have and I'm glad I've made the effort to do what I can, if you believe something is fundamentally wrong then why would anyone wish to be part of it, the apathy amongst some of us is just sad.
Mycotoxins, yes, but do you really need a flow chart and box to tick/put a number in??? You know what fung you've applied, full rate half rate etc etc and yet the weather tends to dictate. They pulled me up because I used a half rate on some SW last year (had one load rejected due to fusarium) When I applied the fung I was questioning if I should have been instead spraying glypho, it was hot and dry, I thought I was wasting money.
The cheery chap from RT told me I should have used a full rate fung strategy. So I had some bod behind a desk telling me what I should have done, oh to live in their perfect world.

 

[Same95]

Move your beef cattle on to a separate business. Or at least tell them that's what you have done. Minor paper trail showing the cattle have passed into the ownership of your wife/son/daugter/cousin/dog, which pays rent and housekeeping to the main farm, then carry on as yoiu are. Nothing they can do about it as they don't (yet!!!) have the right to scrutinise your accounts or business structure.

We did a similar manoeuvre to keep our non RT potatoes and associated chems/sprays away from their prying eyes. Not because we are hiding illegal activity, but just to cut out huge amount of paperwork.

I have reluctantly paid up beef fa now(to protect dairy fa) May sell my store cattle and barrens as non fa though!! Be a good thing to keep as much non fa produce out there as possible I reckon.

 

[texelburger]

I have reluctantly paid up beef fa now(to protect dairy fa) May sell my store cattle and barrens as non fa though!! Be a good thing to keep as much non fa produce out there as possible I reckon.

This is typical of a cartel operation ,yet RT almost mockingly tell everyone it's voluntary.

 

[CheshireGuy]

The result already seems conclusive!

 

[Flat 10]

This is typical of a cartel operation ,yet RT almost mockingly tell everyone it's voluntary.

And whenever I get a response from DEFRA via my MP they tell me its voluntary. It isn't because AIC members have colluded to only buy RT produce from the UK whilst importing as much non-RT foreign grain as they like. The NFU don't say anything because they part own RT. I cannot put into words my loathing of NFU and AIC for this.

 

[Flat 10]

Can someone join the AIC as an employee and influence the direction, cheeky of them to advertise in the FW. And say they trying to support modern sustainable commercial agricultural when all they are doing is shafting U.K. ag big time.

 

[texelburger]

And whenever I get a response from DEFRA via my MP they tell me its voluntary. It isn't because AIC members have colluded to only buy RT produce from the UK whilst importing as much non-RT foreign grain as they like. The NFU don't say anything because they part own RT. I cannot put into words my loathing of NFU and AIC for this.

Likewise,I detest them.Im busy telling everyone, who will listen,the story.We need a bit of national media coverage.

 

[Humble Village Farmer]

Every farmer you talk to knows it's a con.

Every consumer you talk to doesn't really know what it's for

 

[tullah]

Likewise,I detest them.Im busy telling everyone, who will listen,the story.We need a bit of national media coverage.

Media coverage is the only way forward now. Let the world see what these wretched people are doing to UK AG.
Let them show themselves on tv trying to defend their case. All will see it's just a moneygrabbing exercise.

 

[Old apprentice]

(Had some grain cleaner to day the man also said it is justis a con.

 

[tullah]

(Had some grain cleaner to day the man also said it is justis a con.

Had two lorry drivers here today also said same. Yet still the bully survives

 

[tullah]

Can someone join the AIC as an employee and influence the direction, cheeky of them to advertise in the FW. And say they trying to support modern sustainable commercial agricultural when all they are doing is shafting U.K. ag big time.

The advert meant to tell the applicant that he will also be a member of a very profitable gravy train.

 

[Old apprentice]

When I talked to a feed mills buyer just the same aic bully we want to look at this and that even when he is busy will shut us down if not up to scratch in there eyes just another gravy train for aic he ditested them.

 

[Drillman]

I’ve been hauling our OSR into store this last couple of days as merchant couldn’t get a wagon here and we needed it out of the way.

there is no way, no way at all that any of my rt assured crop can be traced back to the farm!

it’s been tipped in a massive heap of many thousands of tons. In fact I would go as far to say it would be easier to sample a grain boat coming into the country than that shed!

makes a complete mockery of there claim of traceability from farm to fork!

 

[tullah]

Th

I’ve been hauling our OSR into store this last couple of days as merchant couldn’t get a wagon here and we needed it out of the way.

there is no way, no way at all that any of my rt assured crop can be traced back to the farm!

it’s been tipped in a massive heap of many thousands of tons. In fact I would go as far to say it would be easier to sample a grain boat coming into the country than that shed!

makes a complete mockery of there claim of traceability from farm to fork!

This ridiculous farm traceability in their advertising blurb should be brought to attention of Trading Standards

 

[Humble Village Farmer]

Th

This ridiculous farm traceability in their advertising blurb should be brought to attention of Trading Standards

Asa

 

[Old apprentice]

They are purporting somthing that is not true!

 

[traineefarmer]

Sounds like a good idea. Especially as it is a supply chain weakness, not a problem for farmer members. All our produce and livestock is readily identifiable by passports and member numbers. If processors and merchants are losing track of whose is whose, that issue falls at the door of AIC!