what has the NFU ever done for us?

[Danllan]

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.

Hmm...

1) By persuading those who are non-members to become members.

2) Tom's candour is welcome for the honest insight it gives. No 'nodding' through? Come off it...

3) In fact I wrote: I shan't insult them by stating that they aren't bright enough to know it.

I am bright enough and polite enough to read what others write before commenting upon it...

 

[wasted years]

Hmm...

1) By persuading those who are non-members to become members.

2) Tom's candour is welcome for the honest insight it gives. No 'nodding' through? Come off it...

3) In fact I wrote: I shan't insult them by stating that they aren't bright enough to know it.

I am bright enough and polite enough to read what others write before commenting upon it...

Blimey, I doubt anyone thought about signing up non- members, I'm going to ring head quarters now and tell them.
Please don't try to hide behind a double negative, that's what children do.

 

[Danllan]

Blimey, I doubt anyone thought about signing up non- members, I'm going to ring head quarters now and tell them.
Please don't try to hide behind a double negative, that's what children do.

You can tell them to be more democratic, receptive and less self-serving too, they clearly haven't thought of those either.

I used two distinct negatives, not a double-negative such as 'I ain't not going' - which would mean 'I am going'. Derrr...

Happy to continue this bit of banter later, but I have to do some work now or Mrs Danllan will frown at me even harder...

 

[tom]

... 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.

Hi Chaffcutter, I'm not too keen on GM or the electoral system myself (nor indeed Red Tractor, as I was going into dinner at conference their chief executive sought me out about a comment I'd made the week before). I could also list even more compelling reasons to keep my money in my pocket if I had a mind to.
However every time I visit Agriculture House and see all those answering the phones to help farmers sort real problems I can't fail to be impressed. For me it is the staff who are the real heroes rather than the officeholders, I've only needed them directly twice in the last 20 years but it is good to know they are there, they do make a difference.

 

[chaffcutter]

Nice to hear that from someone closer to the coal face @tom, I have to say that we always had exceptional service and help from our local office over the years too. However having changed insurers after leaving the union, I think that they were well rewarded for that service!

 

[tom]

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

Hi Danlian, by self-selected I meant those at conference were the ones who had chosen to be there and I appreciate not everyone could have made that choice.
I read a piece by Monbiot where he said the only way to get truly representative government is to select people by lottery much like doing jury service; for most farmers that would be totally impracticable as for small dairymen like myself there have only been two periods in my farming career I have been able to take days off; firstly when my parents were fit and well before I was married and secondly now the next generation are capable enough to be left.

The NFU does recognise this which is why consultation with members is so important. I was privileged to see the results of that post-referendum consultation (possibly the biggest consultation in UK farming history) and it has shaped the design of our asks of government.

 

[tom]

Nice to hear that from someone closer to the coal face @tom, I have to say that we always had exceptional service and help from our local office over the years too. However having changed insurers after leaving the union, I think that they were well rewarded for that service!

... insuring with the Mutual isn't compulsory (my car isn't) nor indeed do you need to be a Union member to insure with them, but as I keep being reminded you don't know how good your insurance really is until you need to make a claim.

 

[Goweresque]

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.

The older I get the more I realise the last people who should have any position of power are the ones who try hardest to achieve those positions. The best candidates would be the ones who had to be dragged kicking and screaming to the role, the ones who stick their hands up should be immediately told thanks but no thanks.

 

[Danllan]

Hi Danlian, by self-selected I meant those at conference were the ones who had chosen to be there and I appreciate not everyone could have made that choice.
I read a piece by Monbiot where he said the only way to get truly representative government is to select people by lottery much like doing jury service; for most farmers that would be totally impracticable as for small dairymen like myself there have only been two periods in my farming career I have been able to take days off; firstly when my parents were fit and well before I was married and secondly now the next generation are capable enough to be left.

The NFU does recognise this which is why consultation with members is so important. I was privileged to see the results of that post-referendum consultation (possibly the biggest consultation in UK farming history) and it has shaped the design of our asks of government.

I think we can all agree that George Monbiot is would-be professional controversialist with an irrational, not to say often immoral, agenda.

You make fair points, but - and I don't like the expression - the 'elephant in the room' is modern communication technology and social media*. It would enable an expanded membership to have direct, even real time, feedback on any number of issues, and it would ensure that the 'leadership' not only knew what the membership wanted, but could be seen to know - and so would have to justify not doing it and face the consequences.

I have written on other threads that there are many within the NFU who are most certainly worthy of praise, but that just won't hide the fact that the organisation - meaning the 'leadership' - is self-perpetuating and serving, it's stuck in a loop and it just keeps going round and round and round...

*Without going too far from the subject in hand, this same tech' is going to see MPs lose their 'get out of jail' card for when they ignore their constituents on key matters. We aren't ignorant 18th Century peasants now, and the MPs don't will have to increasingly pay heed to our views; ditto the NFU and its own plebs.

 

[nick...]

We getvgood service from our local office and 18% of a new pick up too
Nick...

 

[DRC]

We getvgood service from our local office and 18% of a new pick up too
Nick...

As a non member, I’ve always wondered what the discount was ! 18% you say.

 

[nick...]

Yes 18% up from 16.well worth having
Nick...

 

[DRC]

Yes 18% up from 16.well worth having
Nick...

If my pick up dealer wants s deal , he would have to match it. In fact he recently said he could do me a better deal than that. Why should a random NFU member, get a better deal than someone who has bought their last five vehicles from a particular dealer ?

 

[Frank-the-Wool]

If my pick up dealer wants s deal , he would have to match it. In fact he recently said he could do me a better deal than that. Why should a random NFU member, get a better deal than someone who has bought their last five vehicles from a particular dealer ?

The NFU discount is with the manufacturer and not with the dealer.
So you do the deal and then get an additional discount direct from the manufacturer.

This is a small perk of being an NFU member!

 

[DRC]

The NFU discount is with the manufacturer and not with the dealer.
So you do the deal and then get an additional discount direct from the manufacturer.

This is a small perk of being an NFU member!

Maybe they’d do the same for TFA members.
I still maintain that my dealer said he’d better it. Now I know the %, it gives us some leverage . After all we’re all farmers .

 

[Frank-the-Wool]

Maybe they’d do the same for TFA members.
I still maintain that my dealer said he’d better it. Now I know the %, it gives us some leverage . After all we’re all farmers .

The dealer cannot access the affinity discount. That is why it is a true membership benefit.

 

[Tarw Coch]

The NFU discount is with the manufacturer and not with the dealer.
So you do the deal and then get an additional discount direct from the manufacturer.

This is a small perk of being an NFU member!

You might believe that but I don't, that's an additional 4.5k off a 25k pickup at 18%

 

[S J H]

Maybe they’d do the same for TFA members.
I still maintain that my dealer said he’d better it. Now I know the %, it gives us some leverage . After all we’re all farmers .

I was told on here, that you can get the 18% off your deal though, so not off list. Don't know if it's true or not.

 

[DRC]

The dealer cannot access the affinity discount. That is why it is a true membership benefit.

How’s it paid for, as someone must pay.
No way that a manufacturer would stand 18% off a £25k pick up .

 

[Grass And Grain]

NFU membership is too expensive for me.

Would like to see a 'basic' cheaper tier of membership with less perks