The UK Farmers Union - is it time ?

[kiwi pom]

A lot of merchants run farms

Everything's complicated.

 

[Clive]

I'm not. Clive says, only farmers are allowed. I'm just trying to find out what a farmer is?

hmrc have a good definition , I would suggest we go with that

 

[Clive]

sorry but That is bloody hilarious

Shockingly accurate however

its beyond cringeworthy

 

[Clive]

Was he looking in the mirror when he came to that conclusion?

im the last person you will find on any gravy train ........frankly they can’t afford me !

 

[Clive]

View attachment 943435

reading through 6 pages of replies ...... you are correct

Silly idea, i do have them occasionally !


as you were everyone ........ go forth and “make change from within”

maybe NFU members suggest they start using the democracy software i posted a video of and they sack all their officers ?

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Everything's complicated.

No . Clive made it completelycated

 

[Johnnyboxer]

I was more thinking get rid of veganism entirely if we played it right...



But yeh, you have a point [emoji23]

Looking at Joe public’s buying habits and relationships with food, there is zero chance of vegan or vegetarian choices being eradicated

Meat consumption is falling, not growing

Embrace the change and the future

Ignore vegetarian trends....... at your peril

 

[kfpben]

Looking at Joe public’s buying habits and relationships with food, there is zero chance of vegan or vegetarian choices being eradicated

Meat consumption is falling, not growing

Embrace the change and the future

Ignore vegetarian trends....... at your peril

Worldwide meat consumption is growing. Plenty of customers overseas...

 

[Johnnyboxer]

Worldwide meat consumption is growing. Plenty of customers overseas...

One problem

Post Brexit ...you have to get it of uk ... first

 

[Henarar]

Most unions were as strong as the strike action they took in order to "be heard"

Which is why farmer unions don't work, basically every member is "a scab" when they have bills to pay

however, I wish you luck in whatever you decide to do

The NFU isnt a union

 

[ImLost]

Looking at Joe public’s buying habits and relationships with food, there is zero chance of vegan or vegetarian choices being eradicated

Meat consumption is falling, not growing

Embrace the change and the future

Ignore vegetarian trends....... at your peril

Is it really falling though? Even seen some of the mainstream news reporting on the boom in meat sales recently and the large amounts of vegan food that's getting wasted in supermarkets because it isn't getting bought.

 

[glasshouse]

Yes .. NFU Cymru and FUW. Both were born out of the NFU.
The former to stop all farmers deserting to the latter

Whether having two Unions having a pop at the Senedd is better or not, I cannot say

It obviously worked in wales to start a second union

 

[glasshouse]

Yes .. NFU Cymru and FUW. Both were born out of the NFU.
The former to stop all farmers deserting to the latter

Whether having two Unions having a pop at the Senedd is better or not, I cannot say

What was the trigger to start fuw?

 

[onesiedale]

Good luck finding someone to head up the UKFU. Would expenses include a working farm manager to run the business at home whilst the 'President, worked 100hrs a week representing the members?
That's about all the NFU top table get.

Got to be careful with these acronyms. It could turn into the FUKU union
Whilst a media nightmare, it could be a hell of a PR stunt to pull off!

 

[Kiwi Pete]

The NFU isnt a union

Most things "United" are similar

Problem with farming is that it never really unites, about the closest it gets is being p!ssed off about the same stuff, including a lack of unity

 

[Farmer Roy]

First off lets get this clear - TFF is a independent knowledge exchange platform for farmers, it has no remit or ambition to lobby or represent UK farmers is any way. Topics discussed by members on TFF are led by those members, of which I am just one. The below post is my opinion solely as a arable farmer from Staffordshire that feels strong that our traditional representation has become self serving, rotten and unchallenged. It fails to accept democracy and therefore falsely represents UK agriculture in both media and politically.


Do we need a credible opposition / altrenative to the NFU now ? It's a question / suggestion asked in many threads here over the years. Is there a need for an origination to lobby and represent farmers exclusively ?

Some suggestions for key points of difference would be (open to other suggestion)

Farmer members only (no merchant, processors, retailers, other lobby groups or input / machinery suppliers)​

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All UK farmers represented - England, Scotland, Wales and NI​

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One member one vote (see video below)​

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Elected officers only paid expenses - elected OMOV​

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All policy direction to be determined by OMOV democracy - we use software to make this happen (see video below)​

​

All meetings open and online for any member to attend - 100% transparency and low cost structure​

​

Free to join but capped transparent costs to be levied from members annually​

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No commercial connection or affiliation, insurance deals, discount deals etc. 100% independant​

I would suggest using something like this (there are similar other platforms that could facilitate ) below

As I say this would be nothing to do with TFF but I am personally happy to work with others that feel the same to get something off the ground if there is demand for it ? Expressions of interest or desire to get involved would be a good place to start

If this is a stupid idea please say so and I will give up now

you might want to look at our model

we have State based organizations that claim to represent ALL sectors of agriculture, cropping - which in itself here is very diverse with different industries, beef, sheep, pigs, poultry, horticulture, viticulture, aquaculture etc etc .
Here in NSW its https://www.nswfarmers.org.au/ & the president & board members are all farmers & involved in a diverse range of ag industries.

then we have the National body, the National Farmers Federation, which represents agriculture ( we talk of Agriculture as an industry, rather than "farmers". Ag is VERY diverse ) at a national level, is bi partisan non political but works with the highest level of government
The NFF has been very ably presided over by Fiona Simpson, a local farmer from my area who is very vocal at supporting & lobbying for ag in all its forms, at a national & Federal ( government ) level. You think UK agriculture is varied & diversified - you should try here, with the huge variation in geographic & climatic zones the the range of industries involved - huge variation even within one ag industry . . .
https://nff.org.au/

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1171166386003091458

 

[Sid]

im the last person you will find on any gravy train ........frankly they can’t afford me !

That post just reinforces the "gravy train" statement .

it means making an obscene amount of money for little or no work, and you stated they "couldn't afford you". Meaning you want more than then those that you say are on the gravy train!

 

[Farmer Roy]

as for "farm assurance" - why bother ?

as long as your production meets all legal & regulatory requirements & you produce meets the standards set by the buyers, what else do you REALLY need ?
Its ALL a con . . .

 

[Sid]

as for "farm assurance" - why bother ?

as long as your production meets all legal & regulatory requirements & you produce meets the standards set by the buyers, what else do you REALLY need ?
Its ALL a con . . .

The standard set by the milk buyers in the UK is RT.
Without it you will not get a realistic price.

 

[Farmer Roy]

The standard set by the milk buyers in the UK is RT.
Without it you will not get a realistic price.

but WHO allowed that to be the case ???