The Red Tractor ACCS referendum

[Richard Budd]

Although not a fan of Countryfile; tonights episode had a great piece on farmers mental health, and got me thinking about the implications of audits and the pressure on farmers mentally. When I returned to our own farming business 12 years ago, I would observe my father getting himself increasingly stressed getting ready for the annual farm audits, he knew that one infringement with a new auditor could leave his supply of fruit to major multiples in jepordy, this culminate in him not sleeping the day before the audit sometimes - he is a born worrier. Me returning to the farm and us sharing the burden was a huge help to him mentally in the run up to audits, and he now enjoys his senior status to wonder in say hello and then disappear and go farming for the day, as I complete the audits.
I do not believe for one minute that the scenario I have described above is uncommon, and I doubt very much whether Red Tractor has thought about the ethics of its continual increase in standards - they should mental health in our industry is bad enough already and Red Tractor have a duty of care to the industry it tries to regulate.

 

[Grass And Grain]

Guys,

I've posted the below message on the RT Fighting Resources Thread, but just please accept the duplicated post.

I wonder if you all might discuss the merits of the following proposal...

I've spent the day reflecting, trying to work out what might be a sensible next strategic move. We've written directly to AIC, and I'm pretty certain they've got the message now.

AHDB cereals Mr Grantely-Smith is on the case and apparently conversing with AIC. Several people had emailed MR Grantley-Smith, which was probably the right number to be taken seriously without being too much of a nuisance. We do want AHDB to help us, and I'm told Mr Grantley-Smith is the right person to possibly help us. So that's all good. Plus I think a couple of NFU group secretaries might have written to AIC at their members' requests. Chances of getting anyone higher up at NFU to help is slim imho.

So we've hit AIC directly, and we might have got a slight push from below from AHDB.

So next, I think we need to hit AIC from above.

Thing we've not done is converse with the feed mills. There's a possibility feed mills could be hurt badly in all this. We don't want that as they're our customers, and they also serve our livestock cousins. So the next idea (and I'll never know why we didn't think to do this last week - maybe because we were so busy!) is to get the feed mills on our side, for them to then contact and lobby AIC, so AIC then make the sensible decision.

It's the above idea that I'd like you to discuss. Pros and cons? Then we can form the best plan.

Apologies for sort of taking the lead on this and directing everyone, but I think we do probably need someone to take decisions and create actions. Which so far, with everyone's support, has worked very well.

All you guys have been brilliant in supporting this, and we've all made a fantastic team effort.

Another other good suggestion is to ask AHDB monitor farmers to back our AIC letter, and write to AIC in their capacity as monitor farmers. So we work with our farmers, but sort of get the AHDB name behind those emails. So if anyone knows any of the monitor farmers, maybe they could have a word with them or drop them a polite email.

If we go down the feed mill route, then we need to probably adjust the original AIC letter to suit the feed mill scenario. I'll have a go at that, then post it on the fighting resources thread. Pretty busy this evening, so don't know if I'll get it done. If anyone else want to make an attempt, then go for it, and post on the resources thread. So we can then choose the best version. Then we'll need to contact the mills. Would like to get this done ASAP, to have maximum effect. The mills are the AIC UFAS scheme customers, so should have some clout with AIC.

Steve.

 

[Dave645]

The real issue here is that, Dave 645 thinks we need Red Tractor to disadvantage imports. Actually, we already have high standards and are heavily regulated so all we need is Produced to UK Standards

Actually that’s a maybe, what we really need is to stand out, in the public’s eyes, so we keep their support, and RT do have some, they are at least not starting from scratch with the public.
but for the most part I can see the government wanting to hand off policing us to RT as they will see it as the NFU policing farming while that could be good, that as others have said RT has become a rotten tomato can it change. I hope it can, even if that requires some pressure from use it is a voluntary scheme so maybe just maybe they will see they are putting there own jobs on the line. They only have to dance the line of crop assurance and nothing more.

 

[Humble Village Farmer]

Yes q

Although not a fan of Countryfile; tonights episode had a great piece on farmers mental health, and got me thinking about the implications of audits and the pressure on farmers mentally. When I returned to our own farming business 12 years ago, I would observe my father getting himself increasingly stressed getting ready for the annual farm audits, he knew that one infringement with a new auditor could leave his supply of fruit to major multiples in jepordy, this culminate in him not sleeping the day before the audit sometimes - he is a born worrier. Me returning to the farm and us sharing the burden was a huge help to him mentally in the run up to audits, and he now enjoys his senior status to wonder in say hello and then disappear and go farming for the day, as I complete the audits.
I do not believe for one minute that the scenario I have described above is uncommon, and I doubt very much whether Red Tractor has thought about the ethics of its continual increase in standards - they should mental health in our industry is bad enough already and Red Tractor have a duty of care to the industry it tries to regulate.

That's exactly what I was thinking when that came up. Farm inspections, red tractor and mental health, all related.

 

[traineefarmer]

Although not a fan of Countryfile; tonights episode had a great piece on farmers mental health, and got me thinking about the implications of audits and the pressure on farmers mentally. When I returned to our own farming business 12 years ago, I would observe my father getting himself increasingly stressed getting ready for the annual farm audits, he knew that one infringement with a new auditor could leave his supply of fruit to major multiples in jepordy, this culminate in him not sleeping the day before the audit sometimes - he is a born worrier. Me returning to the farm and us sharing the burden was a huge help to him mentally in the run up to audits, and he now enjoys his senior status to wonder in say hello and then disappear and go farming for the day, as I complete the audits.
I do not believe for one minute that the scenario I have described above is uncommon, and I doubt very much whether Red Tractor has thought about the ethics of its continual increase in standards - they should mental health in our industry is bad enough already and Red Tractor have a duty of care to the industry it tries to regulate.

Your story mirrors mine. I can remember my dad ordering my grandfather out of the office because he couldn't contain his temper and distrust of inspection officials and later my dad spending days slaving over FA audit preparations. I was too young and naïve to properly understand how much stress and anxiety this must have caused him. Only now having handled the "paperwork" side of things for the last decade do I realise how he must have felt. And also why he finds a good excuse to do anything other than be in the yard when inspection day comes.

On the subject of mental health, I highly recommend you and others on this thread have a look at the RABI survey which covers this subject and highlight the impact of regulation and assurance on farmers. It is anonymous, quick and fairly unintrusive considering the subject matter.

 

[Grass And Grain]

Yes, when you fill out the RABI survey, remember to tell them how much FA is affecting your mental health. I honestly believe that's the case.

 

[dontknowanything]

@dontknowanything beat you to it...

That's because I made it...!

 

[An Gof]

Your story mirrors mine. I can remember my dad ordering my grandfather out of the office because he couldn't contain his temper and distrust of inspection officials and later my dad spending days slaving over FA audit preparations. I was too young and naïve to properly understand how much stress and anxiety this must have caused him. Only now having handled the "paperwork" side of things for the last decade do I realise how he must have felt. And also why he finds a good excuse to do anything other than be in the yard when inspection day comes.

On the subject of mental health, I highly recommend you and others on this thread have a look at the RABI survey which covers this subject and highlight the impact of regulation and assurance on farmers. It is anonymous, quick and fairly unintrusive considering the subject matter.

The mental stress and mental health impact from RT assurance inspections is similar to that from TB testing. In both cases a fail can really have huge impacts on ability to trade and carry on in business.
That is why I feel so much of the unnecessary regulations in RT that can effectively shut you down from selling if you fail is far too draconian and simply unnecessary.

 

[milkloss]

Two things, and you're going to hate me for this.

Red Tractor is bollox...... it should be a green one with yellow wheels.

The other thing is that I can't believe you arable boys have put up with this sh1t for so long! Don't get me wrong, I'm in full support of what you're doing, but how have you let it get this far?

 

[An Gof]

Anyone else signed up and waiting foe
The NFU RT webinar to start?
I’m just composing and steeling myself to sit through another presentation by Moseley

 

[tullah]

Two things, and you're going to hate me for this.

Red Tractor is bollox...... it should be a green one with yellow wheels.

The other thing is that I can't believe you arable boys have put up with this sh1t for so long! Don't get me wrong, I'm in full support of what you're doing, but how have you let it get this far?

This time we've got there. There's massive farmer support and they've finally got together to put an end to it.
It won't be long now

 

[ajd132]

Looks like Clive has nutted Jim Mosley

 

[Breckland Boy]

Anyone else signed up and waiting foe
The NFU RT webinar to start?
I’m just composing and steeling myself to sit through another presentation by Moseley

Is it too late to view?

 

[ajd132]

Is it too late to view?

Jim Mosley has been ranting for 15 minutes without taking a breath

 

[Breckland Boy]

Jim Mosley has been ranting for 15 minutes without taking a breath

That surely proves what many of us already know. You don't need to breathe when you're talking out of your arse.

 

[Brisel]

Andrew Blenkiron's letter in this week's FW was fairly blunt...

 

[traineefarmer]

This appeared in the News Feed:

https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index...-responds-to-combinable-crop-concerns.338684/

An interview with Jim Moseley. It looks like we're wasting our time; despite our "rhetoric" about gold plating, RT are actually simplifying the standards and making things easier!

It looks like we must have mis-read the proposals. Apologies to Guy, Jim and everyone involved at RT. We humbly accept our mistake and thank you kind Sirs for allowing us to continue farming under your watchful guidance.

 

[snipe]

Just been on a Nfu red tractor meeting. Sound like they have got the message regarding lower import standards, let see what they do with it. They still seem to think though that red tractor is held in high in regard by end users.

 

[ajd132]

My over riding thoughts on this whole q and a, is that Jim Mosley needs to go ASAP. He is obviously full of hubris and cannot recognise criticism.

 

[Alan Farming solutionsltd]

I sure this has been brought up but just joined TFF after hearing you are taking on RT. What can a simple livestock farmer do to help as I am sick of seeing RT on meat imported from other countries with lower livestock standards