The Red Tractor ACCS referendum

[Farmer1001]

Yes, I understand your point but I think the original poster just mentioned to start with the combinable side of RT, agreed I am sure the poll results would be similar across all sectors and also a lot more votes would be cast if open to all sectors. But a bit like eating a whale, small mouthfuls at a time.

RT consultation isn’t being held in bites and we are stronger with a single voice. Anyway I’m being Drawn back into a wider debate, I’ve shared my opinion as someone on the outside. Best of luck.

 

[Clive]

For those of you on Twitter - worth responding to this

comments from the public are also interesting, NOT ONE comment in favours of Red Tractor - ALL just simply want a Union Flag !

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1351221449621708803

 

[Clive]

I have just spoken to a Farmer Weekly reporter who are running an article on this next week

My comment were very much from a cereal producers perspective and they would like to hear from a livestock and / or veg producer equally disenfranchined

any volunteers ? please PM me your contact details (phone and real name !)

Thanks

By way of update I have spoken to a lot of people this last 2 weeks about what can be done about this situation, I think the ball is rolling to make significant change .........

 

[An Gof]

my mouse story a few yrs back simply demonstrated the stupidity of it all

that season many thousands of tonnes of milling wheat had been delivered to the mill with no issues or rejections

the final sweeping up load was rejected, a mouse dropping was found ......... obviously that is not acceptable for human consumption so the load was rejected and redirected to a fed mill - i lost the premium on that load, the system had worked, intake found an issue and action was taken ......... no involvement from RT was required to avert a potential issue for a consumer


BUT

Next day i receive an email suspending me from RT until i provide a plan to sort out my “rodent problem”

i point out i have no problem, our facility is as good as it gets, we have procedures already in place (as they know per previous audit) this issue was an exception vs the 10’s of thousands of tonnes delivered without issue

the truth is there was nothing i could really change that would guarantee it could never happen again BUT unless i was prepared to evidence some kind of bullshite plan of action I was shut down by them - to reopen i basically needed to lie !


BUT !

we were also TASSC assured, a much higher standard than RT (assessment same day, same company) as a commercial grain store, dedpite being suspended from RT we were not suspended from TASSC so could perfectly legitimately use those stickers yo continue to move other grain

2 BIG issues here -

1/ first being put in a position where a dishonest answer was my only solution, we honestly had no rodent issue and there was nothing wrong with our procedures which they had previously accepted as ok, there is not a farm or grainstore in the UK that can claim 100% zero possibility of a mouse, they were not being realistic........ explanation of that was not enough though

2/ if my facility really deserved to be suspended from one scheme because of onr mouse dropping WHY was it allowed to remain unsuspended from the other higher scheme run by the same people !

Serious question @Clive how did they determine that it was a Mouse dropping and not a bat dropping?

 

[Clive]

Serious question @Clive how did they determine that it was a Mouse dropping and not a bat dropping?

no idea - bit what ever it was the mill intake QC worked and it was redirected for animal feed

no input from RT was required !

 

[Sid]

no idea - bit what ever it was the mill intake QC worked and it was redirected for animal feed

no input from RT was required !

You mean RT failed in its process?

Its was supposed to be safe cause it had a sticker.

 

[Clive]

You mean RT failed in its process?

Its was supposed to be safe cause it had a sticker.

no farm or grain store can guarantee 100% rodent free 100% of the time

1 load, 1 dropping in near 40k delivered that season

What Red tractor are is unrealistic and in this case not even necessary as the mills own QC picked up the problem and dealt with it


..... and as red tractor logo was never going to be used on bread my wheat was going into anyway i can’t see why any of this was any of their business anyway !

 

[holwellcourtfarm]

And now the NFU are promoting another new body to professionalise agriculture. In itself its a good idea (a lean, farmer owned, organisation to record farmers qualifications to farm, both academic and vocational, with a record of ongoing cpd). They've started, once again, by involving the food industry in it though whose interest is entirely selfish rather than in farmers benefiting. As a result, if it gets off the ground, it'll be just like Red Tractor with ridiculous bureaucracy and running costs driven by aims to suit the rest of the food industry.

 

[Clive]

And now the NFU are promoting another new body to professionalise agriculture. In itself its a good idea (a lean, farmer owned, organisation to record farmers qualifications to farm, both academic and vocational, with a record of ongoing cpd). They've started, once again, by involving the food industry in it though whose interest is entirely selfish rather than in farmers benefiting. As a result, if it gets off the ground, it'll be just like Red Tractor with ridiculous bureaucracy and running costs driven by aims to suit the rest of the food industry.

and just WHY do we need that ?

 

[holwellcourtfarm]

and just WHY do we need that ?

I believe a register of farmer qualifications could be very useful in promoting and defending the industry but only if it's structured entirely to benefit the industry and with a very lean cost base.

The proposal is nothing like that!

Just like the proposed "Livestock information system" that NFU are pushing for in collaboration with the meat and retail industry. It will add cost and give away our production data to the industry beyond the farm gate in return for nothing. It involves a whole new national lT system to replace the existing, separate, cattle, sheep and pig ones and requiring us to put our medicine and other data into it to share with all levels of the chain. We get no access to their sensitive data in return. It'll be another stick to beat us with and we'll bear the cost.

But, apparently, we were all consulted and agreed it was a fabulous idea. I haven't met a producer yet who remembers being asked.

 

[Drillman]

I’ve had email this morning g from assurance company saying I haven’t provided evidence of non conformance yet.

only thing is I sent it recorded delivery and it’s been signed for at there end

 

[Brisel]

I’ve had email this morning g from assurance company saying I haven’t provided evidence of non conformance yet.

only thing is I sent it recorded delivery and it’s been signed for at there end

. I email mine. I’ve never had Recorded Deliveries to the RPA signed for.

 

[Chris F]

And now the NFU are promoting another new body to professionalise agriculture. In itself its a good idea (a lean, farmer owned, organisation to record farmers qualifications to farm, both academic and vocational, with a record of ongoing cpd). They've started, once again, by involving the food industry in it though whose interest is entirely selfish rather than in farmers benefiting. As a result, if it gets off the ground, it'll be just like Red Tractor with ridiculous bureaucracy and running costs driven by aims to suit the rest of the food industry.

Let me guess - just like the VI for NRoSO it will be run by NFU people and so the gravy train continues. At least it will give the NFU Presidents/Vice presidents/board members another job to move onto after Red Tractor / AHDB / VI and so on.

 

[Raider112]

I believe a register of farmer qualifications could be very useful in promoting and defending the industry but only if it's structured entirely to benefit the industry and with a very lean cost base.

The proposal is nothing like that!

Just like the proposed "Livestock information system" that NFU are pushing for in collaboration with the meat and retail industry. It will add cost and give away our production data to the industry beyond the farm gate in return for nothing. It involves a whole new national lT system to replace the existing, separate, cattle, sheep and pig ones and requiring us to put our medicine and other data into it to share with all levels of the chain. We get no access to their sensitive data in return. It'll be another stick to beat us with and we'll bear the cost.

But, apparently, we were all consulted and agreed it was a fabulous idea. I haven't met a producer yet who remembers being asked.

Well I have no qualifications so that's me knackered but I was taught by the best teacher I could have had, my dad, how do I go about getting that registered?

 

[holwellcourtfarm]

Well I have no qualifications so that's me knackered but I was taught by the best teacher I could have had, my dad, how do I go about getting that registered?

Do you have PA1/PA2/PA6? What about livestock transport training? Everything should count. It al goes to demonstrate that you're not just a yokel tractor jockey.

 

[Chris F]

Well I have no qualifications so that's me knackered but I was taught by the best teacher I could have had, my dad, how do I go about getting that registered?

Just make up your own scheme. sorted.

 

[Bury the Trash]

I’ve had email this morning g from assurance company saying I haven’t provided evidence of non conformance yet.

only thing is I sent it recorded delivery and it’s been signed for at there end

thats further proof (as if we needed it )that they dont know their arse from their elbow.

 

[texelburger]

Well I have no qualifications so that's me knackered but I was taught by the best teacher I could have had, my dad, how do I go about getting that registered?

I know its more bureaucratic nonsense being imposed on us.How do people remain members of the NFU i fail to understand.I think maybe more of their membership, these days,are likely to be lifestyle/ hobby farmers with a completely different outlook to life.
I wasn't consulted either and know of no one who was.Im not a NFU member so,perhaps,i don't need to participate.

 

[holwellcourtfarm]

thats further proof (as if we needed it )that they dont know their arse from their elbow.

Perhaps there needs to be an assurance scheme for assurance schemes

 

[Drillman]

Perhaps there needs to be an assurance scheme for assurance schemes

Pointless as RT would fail spectacularly