Time to take back some control?

[will l]

There will be no food shortage, Food lorries are running as normal from spain to UK even arriving ahead of time due to low traffic loadings, and spare channel tunnel capacity,

 

[Scribus]

But I wish Boris would take Controle of the fudging media

Absolutely not!

It's at times like this that we need an independent media more than any other to ensure that governments are watched and kept in check.

 

[Fossil]

But the population aren't our major customers, the supermarkets are. It's the supermarkets that will be upping the price to the consumer not the farmer.
The consumer will see that a loaf of bread has gone up 5p, it won't know that the arable farmer got 1p of that.

Your customers are the voters who decide how the subsidy cheque comes in future. It would be a bit short sighted to ransom them for six months

 

[kiwi pom]

But the population aren't our major customers, the supermarkets are. It's the supermarkets that will be upping the price to the consumer not the farmer.
The consumer will see that a loaf of bread has gone up 5p, it won't know that the arable farmer got 1p of that.

From what I've seen the supply chain in the UK seems over complicated with a lot of middlemen.
It would be interesting to know how many on here actually sell direct to supermarkets. If you really want to make a difference I think the supply chain needs to be simplified and become more farmer owned.
Wheats a good example, how about a group of farmers get together build a flour mill, supply it with their own wheat and sell to the large bakeries.
Instead of it going through half a dozen other peoples hands before landing on Asda's shelf as a loaf.
If farmers really want to take control they need to supply what the market wants, not what pays the best sub or gets the best grant/tax benefit.

 

[Andrew K]

From what I've seen the supply chain in the UK seems over complicated with a lot of middlemen.
It would be interesting to know how many on here actually sell direct to supermarkets. If you really want to make a difference I think the supply chain needs to be simplified and become more farmer owned.
Wheats a good example, how about a group of farmers get together build a flour mill, supply it with their own wheat and sell to the large bakeries.
Instead of it going through half a dozen other peoples hands before landing on Asda's shelf as a loaf.
If farmers really want to take control they need to supply what the market wants, not what pays the best sub or gets the best grant/tax benefit.

Is that the NZ model then?

 

[delilah]

How do we ever get away from supermarket control

 

[Northern territory]

I don’t think it just goes for food. They only way they will achieve any of this is through legislation though as people will not change their habits that easily.

 

[Hindsight]

There will be no food shortage, Food lorries are running as normal from spain to UK even arriving ahead of time due to low traffic loadings, and spare channel tunnel capacity,

Spanish trucks around Spalding today.

 

[delilah]

I don’t think it just goes for food. They only way they will achieve any of this is through legislation though as people will not change their habits that easily.

No-one needs to change their habits. Read it again, more slowly .

 

[kiwi pom]

Is that the NZ model then?

The flour mill just down the road from here is a relatively new business and is farmer owned, as are a few other businesses.

I'm not a framer but have worked for farmers in the UK, USA and NZ and the biggest difference I see is the Kiwi farmers very first question is "what's the market for xyz". No market, they either go out and develop one or simply don't do it. A lot is also done on contracts too, so they know what they're getting before they start.

Having said that the dairy industry seems to be moving away from the co op model which I think is a massive mistake but has happened because outside money poured in to dairy farms and they just wanted a quick return, buying shares and being in a co op was too much of a long game for them.

 

[will l]

Spanish trucks around Spalding today.

Yes they are lovin it french have suspended all checks on speed and tachograph hours and put in place one new rule "No international lorry driver is allowed to leave there cab on french soil" They are like electric car drivers with diarrhea, Hoping to get home before it runs out!

 

[tepapa]

Your customers are the voters who decide how the subsidy cheque comes in future. It would be a bit short sighted to ransom them for six months

Who said anything about holding them to ransom. All farmers want is a fair price for produce.
Do you think there will be any sub flying around next year when the gov is trying to come to terms with how it's going to pay back this Corona debt?

 

[Nitrams]

The powers to be need to administer some of the supermarkwts own medicine like to suppliers on direct supply contracts, and have them open their book so they dictate the margins worked off cost. Make them work off fixed margin on goods to deliver max value back to consumers because they are going to need it, more so then the shareholders of tesco etc.