what has the NFU ever done for us?

[tom]

The elections are over and I get the impression that many of those who most disappointed with the result are also the ones most unimpressed by the NFU.


As Henarar and Werzle say on another thread if you watch just one thing from NFU18 make it Meurig's opening address here.


Then when you have time skip Michael Gove's speech (which is mostly announcements about announcements he is hoping to announce) to see Minette gently persuading the shadow Minister he has not a clue how to tackle bTB and Guy's excellent questioning of Greg Clarke on rural broadband (contrary to what Greg says agriculture was not even going to included in the government's Industrial strategy until the NFU put it there).


If you want to see a minister swivel in his seat then George Eustice's response to a direct question from the audience is worth a watch in the Livestock session (though to be fair to George he really just wanted to say 'Yes' but can't yet because it has not been signed off by the treasury as it will cost a bit more than originally forecast).


The workshop on Farmers' Health is interesting, it may even save a life (the last question comes from Lancashire YFC who fundraising has provided a Field Nurse at Garstang and Clitheroe cattle markets).


Sadly the one thing you can't get via the internet is a sense of how it feels to spend a day in the company of a thousand inspiring farmers from across the country. They may not be truly representative of the whole farming community as they are self-selected from those who passionately believe that by working together we can make a difference but I hope as many of you as possible will be able to join us there next year (with maybe even a TFF stall if the planning starts soon enough).

 

[Nick Adams]

Well said Tom.

 

[Dr Evil]

The elections are over and I get the impression that many of those who most disappointed with the result are also the ones most unimpressed by the NFU.


As Henarar and Werzle say on another thread if you watch just one thing from NFU18 make it Meurig's opening address here.


Then when you have time skip Michael Gove's speech (which is mostly announcements about announcements he is hoping to announce) to see Minette gently persuading the shadow Minister he has not a clue how to tackle bTB and Guy's excellent questioning of Greg Clarke on rural broadband (contrary to what Greg says agriculture was not even going to included in the government's Industrial strategy until the NFU put it there).


If you want to see a minister swivel in his seat then George Eustice's response to a direct question from the audience is worth a watch in the Livestock session (though to be fair to George he really just wanted to say 'Yes' but can't yet because it has not been signed off by the treasury as it will cost a bit more than originally forecast).


The workshop on Farmers' Health is interesting, it may even save a life (the last question comes from Lancashire YFC who fundraising has provided a Field Nurse at Garstang and Clitheroe cattle markets).


Sadly the one thing you can't get via the internet is a sense of how it feels to spend a day in the company of a thousand inspiring farmers from across the country. They may not be truly representative of the whole farming community as they are self-selected from those who passionately believe that by working together we can make a difference but I hope as many of you as possible will be able to join us there next year (with maybe even a TFF stall if the planning starts soon enough).

Very well put, although I suspect it won't be long before Clive shifts this to off topic....

 

[Bald Rick]

Sadly the one thing you can't get via the internet is a sense of how it feels to spend a day in the company of a thousand inspiring farmers from across the country. QUOTE]

Been a few times to the Conference when I thought I would aspire to higher office and whilst it is highly enjoyable to mix it with the great & the good, it did strike me as a very expensive way to glad hand people & elect the next tranche of wannabes.

Stay well at home now & suck my thumb

 

[wasted years]

I know how you feel @Bald Rick , I 'had a go' once and loved it but I had to choose between the farm and being off farm, despite my best efforts.
I don't miss it, too much dead time on trains and sitting in cars.

 

[Bald Rick]

I know how you feel @Bald Rick , I 'had a go' once and loved it but I had to choose between the farm and being off farm, despite my best efforts.
I don't miss it, too much dead time on trains and sitting in cars.

Aye, better things to do than to be a political animal.but fair dos to those that do and best of luck to Ms Batters. She's going to need it

 

[chaffcutter]

I have to say that I used to be a most enthusiastic member at local and county level, back in the day before all important decisions were taken in Brussels. We used to have a real say in framing NFU policy which was then brought to the negotiating table with government, this seemed to be both worthwhile and fruitful. But after some time under the heel of Brussels it seemed that all we ever had was a ‘fait accompli’ report of what was now decided, we had no input, it was all too late.

At this point I decided that all real influence had gone from our level, the meetings had lost all relevance and become just a social event. So I reverted to being an observer, but still a member for many years until a few years ago, when their support of GM introduction and several other policies including the lack of democracy contributed to the decision to leave.

With the current change in direction and the possibility of the union being able to negotiate direct with our own ministers in future, then I sincerely hope that their previously influential status will return.

Too late for me now though!

 

[Clive]

What have the NFU done for us ?

Well I guess we do have Red tractor to thank them for

 

[Clive]

Very well put, although I suspect it won't be long before Clive shifts this to off topic....

Why would we move it ? It’s clearly a very agricultural matter

 

[Frank-the-Wool]

What have the NFU done for us ?

Well I guess we do have Red tractor to thank them for

Clive

If you are so small minded that the RT is the only thing you can slag the NFU off for then you really should give up running the forum.
It is not a perfect organisation but at least it represents by far the majority of farmers and without it we would all be worse off, even those who are not members and get a free ride.

The reason the NFU backed the RT was to prevent every retailer and all other men and there dogs from setting up their own assurance schemes that would have all been a race to the top and would have excluded many small producers from selling to them. What should have occurred and may yet happen is that those who are RT assured would be far less likely to get other inspections.

 

[Clive]

Clive

If you are so small minded that the RT is the only thing you can slag the NFU off for then you really should give up running the forum.
It is not a perfect organisation but at least it represents by far the majority of farmers and without it we would all be worse off, even those who are not members and get a free ride.

The reason the NFU backed the RT was to prevent every retailer and all other men and there dogs from setting up their own assurance schemes that would have all been a race to the top and would have excluded many small producers from selling to them. What should have occurred and may yet happen is that those who are RT assured would be far less likely to get other inspections.

I can find many other faults beyond rt (which beyond any reasonable argument is a dishonest mess) I have posted about many of them in them past and mostly whilst I was still a member. I have no desire to go over those many issues again


Why would I give up running the forum ? it has nothing to do with my opinion of the NFU as a farmer

You guys carry on patting yourselves in the back about what a great job is being done and don’t let any one ever say otherwise !

It’s none of my business, I’m no longer a member, leaving was the only vote I had available to me but not being a member does not stop an individual having an opinion does it !

 

[Danllan]

The elections are over and I get the impression that many of those who most disappointed with the result are also the ones most unimpressed by the NFU...

Sadly the one thing you can't get via the internet is a sense of how it feels to spend a day in the company of a thousand inspiring farmers from across the country. They may not be truly representative of the whole farming community as they are self-selected...

Clive

If you are so small minded that the RT is the only thing you can slag the NFU off for then you really should give up running the forum.
It is not a perfect organisation but at least it represents...

Spot the difference?

The NFU is not representative of UK farmers, and it's 'leadership' is not even representative of its own members - as @tom has been candid enough to admit - and head burying about these facts won't change them. The NFU did do a lot of good, it can and very occasionally does still; but it could and would do a hell of a lot more good if it was larger and truly representative.

It's no coincidence that those are the key factors, they are mutually inclusive; there is no getting one without the other and it's this point that the NFU 'leadership' just isn't honest enough to admit - I shan't insult them by stating that they aren't bright enough to know it.

 

[wasted years]

Spot the difference?

The NFU is not representative of UK farmers, and it's 'leadership' is not even representative of its own members - as @tom has been candid enough to admit - and head burying about these facts won't change them. The NFU did do a lot of good, it can and very occasionally does still; but it could and would do a hell of a lot more good if it was larger and truly representative.

It's no coincidence that those are the key factors, they are mutually inclusive; there is no getting one without the other and it's this point that the NFU 'leadership' just isn't honest enough to admit - I shan't insult them by stating that they aren't bright enough to know it.

3 points that I would make,
1, How does the NFU become larger in a contracting industry?
2, Tom is not correct, candidates are not self selected, though it is true that quite often there is no election for a position due to lack of challengers.
In my experience if a good candidate puts their head up at locallevel they will be unopposed, the opposite is also true.
3,You are a patronising bugger when you state 'they aren't bright enough to know it'
Maybe you aren't bright enough to be modest in your approach to others or possess basic manners.

 

[Cab-over Pete]

Why don’t those with nothing good to say about the organisation get together and try and influence farm policy the way they would like it?

I’m not biased either way, it makes no odds to me, but as a business I am obviously affected by farm policies.

One thing is for sure, standing around markets, leaning over neighbours gates and moaning and griping on forums won’t change anything.

 

[tinsheet]

Never been a member or a fan particularly, but the work the NFU and money they have put in (behind the scene) towards getting the badger cull off the ground is to be commended, for us tb testing is almost a pleasant experience now!

 

[Rowland]

Sorry couldn’t resist

 

[Rowland]

Sorry couldn’t resist

Might be better off with the Romans

 

[Nick Adams]

Might be better off with the Romans

They put roads through all the best meadows. Straight through the hedges. No compensation. Scared the stock with all that marching.

 

[Rowland]

They put roads through all the best meadows. Straight through the hedges. No compensation. Scared the stock with all that marching.

Top wallers though !

Built a canny good stock proof wall

 

[Chris F]

They may not be truly representative of the whole farming community as they are self-selected from those who passionately believe that by working together we can make a difference but I hope as many of you as possible will be able to join us there next year (with maybe even a TFF stall if the planning starts soon enough).

I speak to lots of the media team from the NFU all the time - we should work closer with them and are very open to that. I have never been to the conference, although I was a member so didn't even know they had stalls there. Would have loved to have gone this year, but wasn't invited.