Yorkshire root vegetable grower and acting NFU horticulture and potatoes board chairman Guy Poskitt gives an overview of current issues affecting the sector
Within the same week, we have seen Government take a really sensible fact-based approach to another sensitive topic – bees and neonicotinoids. If only they used the evidence as consistently with other issues like SAWS.
The NFU’s post AWB handbooks and guides are now out (you can find all the details here) and we are holding a series of roadshows to help members understand how life is going to work without AWB. You can find out more about when and where these roadshows are taking place here. It is important that all members understand their position and I would recommend attending a roadshow or reading the NFU information pack available here.
When setting wage rises within your business, provided you are above the national minimum wage you are free to do what you want. Bear in mind though that existing employees are protected by the last AWB order and continuous employment has to take this into consideration unless you negotiate a change in terms with your employee.
The NFU AWB information pack sets out the average weekly earnings rise, national minimum wage rise, cost of living rise and fall in farm profitability allowing you to make your own decisions.
Currently the NFU are helping renegotiate the policy around electric wayleave payments (in relation to power lines) for its members. I am sure members who have poles and lines on their farms find it increasingly difficult to work around them as machines, polytunnels and other kit grows larger, and this difficulty impacts on efficiency in our businesses. If anyone has any specific examples of how this has got harder in the last few years, or have some good photos of the problems caused, please let the NFU know (drop us an email to aG9ydGljdWx0dXJlQG5mdS5vcmcudWs=). We will in turn use this to try and lobby for higher payments that more realistically offset the financial impacts of dealing with poles and lines on farm.
I notice in the press that the usual retail war seems very hot at the moment, with everyone looking to improve market position on the run up to Christmas. M&S for example have been quoted in the press wanting to extend its payment terms to their general merchandise suppliers, to fund their redevelopment for growth. Hopefully this will not extend to fresh food suppliers, but I know there are already problems with extended payment terms within the ornamentals side of the industry (this among other issues will be covered at the forthcoming BPOA Building Better Business conference for the ornamentals sector). Our message on this issue needs to be simply that we are growers and farmers, not bankers. Situations like this go to show why we need a Grocery Supermarket Code of Practice adjudicator.
Finally, on a positive note, a big thank for the great effort put in by all the growers and farmers involved in BBC 2’s Harvest programmes. Wednesday’s programme focused on potatoes and vegetables, last night it was cereals, and tonight (9pm) it is the turn of fruit. The episodes have been great and you can watch them again here.