Board for Horticulture & Potatoes
Meeting date: 23 January 2007 NFU HQ
Present: Richard Hirst (chairman); Sarah Pettitt (vice-chairman); Graham Nichols (vice-chairman potatoes); Tim Edwards; Sarah Fairhurst; John Boyd; Gary Taylor; Anthony Snell; Walter Simon; Robert Pascall; Roger Sayer
By invitation: Pam Smith, David Winn and Michael Britten (for item 4), Martin Stanhope (for item 6), Helen Cottrill (for item 6)
In attendance: Phil Hudson; Kelly Watson; Chris Hartfield
1. Minutes
The minutes of the last meeting held on 21 November 2006 were confirmed and signed.
2. Matters arising
i. Meeting with Tesco
The meeting with Tesco had discussed a number of issues including the availability of chemicals for growers to use on crops and delays in deliveries affecting growers. Further examples of delivery problems for growers were required before this latter issue could be taken further.
ii. Horticulture steering group
The next meeting of this group was scheduled for the 15 February. An update would be provided at the March Board meeting.
3. Chairmans update
The chairman reported on the following:
- The competition commission had published a document setting out its emerging thinking on competition in the supply of groceries by retailers in the UK. The NFU had been successful in getting the message to the competition commission that there were problems with aspects of grocery retailers' behaviour towards their suppliers which required further investigation. However there was a lack of specific examples by suppliers because of concerns of possible retaliation by grocery retailers. The competition commission was encouraging suppliers to come forward with further examples of particular problems they had encountered and were guaranteeing anonymity.
- Some board members believed that retailers had been 'easier' to deal with of late which could be a reflection of the competition commission investigation. Other board members commented that there were still examples of unacceptable behaviour. The Board considered that one key remedy from the competition commission investigation should be the requirement for written contracts between suppliers and retailers.
- Progress on the reform of the levy boards continued with the appointment of Jon Bridge as chairman of Levy Board (UK). The appointment of the chairmen of the sector companies was expected by the end of February. One board member expressed concern that weighted voting would not be contained in the statutory instrument. The Board noted that the NFU's policy board had decided that weighted voting should be left to the discretion of the secretary of state who would have the authority (as now) to decide if a weighted vote was warranted.
- Following detailed analysis of the Hall Hunter appeal decision, further advice to growers would be provided. This would include guidance on the implications for polytunnels that had already been established. According to the Board for Horticulture's policy, from the 1/1/07 the NFU/British Summer Fruits association code of practice for the use of polytunnels in the soft fruit industry was a part of the AP protocols. It was noted that further publicity was required to highlight this development. One board member expressed concern that the wording in the code had been changed regarding the location of polytunnels next to neighbour's boundaries. This would be checked and appropriate guidance provided to assessors.
- Messrs Hirst, Pettitt, Sayer and Taylor were all required to seek re-appointment to the Board for the period 2007 - 2009.
4. Training and skills
Pam Smith (NFU training and skills spokesman) and Michael Britten (NFU health and safety and training adviser) joined the board to update on a number of initiatives concerning the provision of education, skills and training.
Among the changes that were being considered was the provision of specialist diplomas for 14 - 19 year olds, one of which would be land based (it was important that this was appropriate to horticulture's requirements). Another suggestion was to develop a national academy for each sector (the construction industry was already raising money to do this). Other proposals were to develop an EU skills passport that would enable employees to accurately record the skills that they have achieved so that employers knew the type of labour they were taking on. Still other proposals looked at how people could progress in the horticultural industry and what arrangements needed to be put in place to allow this to happen.
D Winn (LANTRA) described the work being done to accurately map all the occupational standards to job roles.
The Board also noted that there was a green skills marketing initiative with the aim of raising the profile of horticulture as a viable career for young people. The NFU had provided financial support for the initiative and was a part of the steering group developing the marketing strategy.
In discussion board members agreed that people needed to be adequately trained, however this was often difficult on horticultural businesses. Health and safety requirements were the key drivers for training rather than professional development. It was important that employers were able to identify the training that could be utilised to allow people to do their job better and to progress. Employers needed assistance in how to do this and it was important that the different needs of small and large business were taken account of. Some board members considered that the focus should be as much on the individual as the provision of training.
The Board agreed that there was a role for the regional horticultural boards to contact their lead horticultural colleges to understand and assess whether the skills being developed were relevant to the needs of horticultural businesses in the region.
5. Horticultural survey of statistics
The Board noted that the response to the survey questionnaires that had been was poor. As this was a board initiative, members were asked for their views on how to encourage members to participate.
It was suggested that targeting crop associations and explaining the reasons why the information should be provided was the key to encouraging growers to respond. It was agreed that this and further incentives would be utilised to try to obtain a better response.
6. Communications
i. Horticulture week
The Board received a brief update from the editor of Horticulture Week on the recent acquisition of the Grower magazine and the implications for the coverage of edible issues in the magazine.
ii. NFU online
H Cottrill (NFU senior web adviser) gave a presentation on the NFU's website (www.nfuonline.com). Board members considered that to encourage more growers to log on, a 'my space' needed to be available for individual members so that only relevant information appeared in the members area as chosen by the member. In addition members should be allowed to set their own password and there should be a specific part of the site for younger members only.
iii. British farmer and grower
M Stanhope (editor BF&G) gave a presentation on the development of British Farmer and Grower which was sent monthly free to all full farmer and grower members. A brief discussion was had on the relevance of the quarterly horticulture magazine. It was agreed that a member questionnaire would be provided in the next edition of the magazine to gauge an understanding of what growers thought of the publication.
7. Issue groups update
i. Assured produce
New protocols had been published from the 1/1/07. If there were any concerns growers should contact S Pettitt.
ii. Producer organisations
R Sayer reported that the Commission would be publishing its proposals for the reform of the fruit and vegetable regime on the 24 January. The administration of the fruit and vegetable regime in the UK would be transferring to Newcastle from the end of February and the recognition review process had been completed with a handful of PO's failing to achieve recognition.
iii. Potatoes
G Nichols reported on the meeting with Walkers to discuss producer prices as well as opportunities for the red tractor on crisps. On the reform of the levy boards, it was agreed that it was important to ensure that any funds in a levy board were ring fenced to the subsequent sector company that was set up.
iv. Plant health
The plant health project: sharing risks and responsibility in the plant disease quarantine sector had been circulated for competitive tender. The timescale for the project was for completion by the end of June.
v. Labour
a. AWB - Working groups on a number of issues were being held including a re-definition of peace work. Following last years negotiations it was expected that the TGWU would be pressing for a significant wage increase.
b. SAWS - It was noted that SAWS operators were preparing to take a judicial review against the Home Office following its decision to restrict the SAWS to EU nationals only from 2008. The NFU was providing financial assistance to the operators' activities.
c. Low pay commission - Several horticultural members had met the low pay commission to provide evidence regarding affordability and the national minimum wage. The low pay commission's recommendation on the increase to the NMW was expected shortly but was subject to political decision. The accommodation offset was unlikely to increase more than the rate of inflation in 2007.
vi. Crop protection
S Pettitt reported that formaldehyde was no longer going to be available as a plant protection product. This was of major concern for bulb producers. The NFU was working with other stakeholders to secure an alternative categorisation of the chemical as a biocide.
According to the long term extension of authorisations of use, all plant protection products for use on ornamentals required SOLA's if they were to be legal for use in the future. This was a significant logistical challenge with cost implications because of the number of products being used on non-food crops. The NFU had arranged a meeting with the HDC and the PSD to discuss how this could be progressed.
vii. BBPA
S Fairhurst reported that at the BBPA AGM on the 8th February, the specialist branch would change its name to the British Protected Ornamentals Association.
viii. Peat
C Hartfield and S Fairhurst reported there growing concerns over the direction of the peat debate. Industry proposals for moving the issue forward must be clear about whom in the industry they benefit. The NFU focus is on actions which directly address the needs of growers. It was agreed to write to B Gardiner (Defra Minister) to express the continuing concerns of growers over the unjustifiable 90% target for peat reduction, and the lack of comprehensive evidence of the sustainability of peat alternatives, compared to peat itself.
8. Board for horticulture priorities: 2007/08
With minor alterations to the Board's priorities it was agreed to circulate the draft paper to regional horticultural boards for comment. Ratification of the Board's priorities would take place at the March board meeting.
9. Board for horticulture meeting dates: 2007/08
6 March 2007 NFU HQ;
8 May 2007 NFU South west region (N.B. this will be subject to change as falls after a bank holiday);
10 July 2007 NFU London;
18 September 2007 NFU HQ
20 November 2007 NFU London
22 January 2008 NFU HQ
