By unlocking the export potential China offers the pig industry, not to mention the red meat sector as a whole, we could gain entry into a marketplace which comprises a fifth of the world’s population.Kendall warns against 'civil disobedience'
NFU president Peter Kendall has refused calls from some farmers to show a more aggresive stand against retailers by engaging in large-scale protests.
It follows recent bloackades at Tesco depots held by members of Farmers for Action, calling for improved returns for farmer suppliers.
Asked at the launch of the NFU’s Mission Milk campaign - a joint initiative with the Womens Institute - whether the NFU would take a harder line with retailers, Mr Kendall said while he understood feelings were running high, it would damage the industry’s public profile.
With job losses in the public sector and huge cuts to welfare and other areas of public spending, he said it could do the industry more harm than good if it was to engage in more agressive action.
He said: “I regret that farmers feel that it is necessary to protest at what they feel is a disfunctional supply chain.
“There’s a whole host of reasons why you won’t see me advocating civil disobedience. How we present ourselves to the general public is very important.
“I understand when people see their businesses going down the pan there are some very strong feelings, but you can, if you are not careful, impact on other people’s farm businesses.”
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Readers' comments (16)
tim cowperthwaite | 16 November 2010 2:50 pm
looks as if another nfu man looking for a nice director of something in retail
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iain | 16 November 2010 4:16 pm
Why does Kendall protest at potential members taking action ? Because he and his cronies have done nothing to secure his members future and I think you are right here tim a future beyond farming is his objective ! we are now at the point of british farmers taking action instead of sitting at the ringside moaning and doing nothing. The pressure has now built up stoked by the margins of the supermarket compared to the farmgate price.
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iain | 16 November 2010 4:22 pm
The question hast be asked Why can everyone else take action to safegaurd their livelyhoods and we can't? given that some were protesting in the not too distant past and they arn't even educated yet !
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Charles Henry | 16 November 2010 5:23 pm
Peter Kendall ?? . . No silly! . He's thinking about his Title! . Mr Kendall, they are not out to damage the consumers. . They are out to eat into the Supermarkets obscene margins. . Get up off your @ss and start helping them or resign.
Apologies Editor. . Please do not delete this. . The NFU needs to start acting like a Union. . Farmers would do better joining one of the business associations.
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Charles Henry | 16 November 2010 5:38 pm
Peter Kendal:-
"Peter sits on a variety of bodies in the UK and Europe including IGD’s Policy Issues Group."
"At the top of his list of priorities is ensuring that the growing importance of agriculture and horticulture to food security and climate change are not only recognised by the Government, but reflected in its policies affecting farming right across the board. But he sees moving all sectors towards sustainable profitability as also being vitally important".
You could have fooled me. . Daddy must have left him the farm. . No wonder Derek Mead resigned.
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tim | 16 November 2010 6:18 pm
tesco dont need to do anything the nfu will do their best to keep farmers at bay not this time the finger is out of the dyke and the flood will follow for amild manard person like me to feel total disgust at the way they all react ie report by nfu to poor beef returns beef goes down to half price the following weekend talk about rub their noses in it i have been a dairy farmer for nearly forty years and have never felt sutch resentment to one body of people as tesco the leader of pack come on fellow farmers lets hurt tesc the only way they will understand in the pocket lets ignore nfu pleas dont affect the public at the stores disrupt tesco distibution and that will get their attention
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mechanical mike | 16 November 2010 7:21 pm
At last some like minded people, how many blogs have I done? The NFU collects your annual subs & is supposed to represent your wishes to the powers that be.. Instead of being the govermenrs mouthpiece they should fight for YOU if this is beyond their wit find another union or form a new one
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FRED | 16 November 2010 7:59 pm
NFU = NO FILIPPING USE
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iai | 16 November 2010 9:03 pm
how much better of wouldwe be if the uk was out of europe and determining our own affairs !
too much regulatory and financial burdens from non elected poloticians overseas ! And not a lot our poloticans in westminster can/will do of all persausions and it seem our reps in the union are as equaly uselss !
No law can can be maintained if it can't be enforced/policed laws only work if it is a good and just Regulation !
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big steve | 16 November 2010 9:56 pm
Wake up you lot ! you are not just taking on tesco you are also taking on the government whoevers in power, what do you think happens when tescos meet government representatives about their unfair treatment of suppliers. tesco's just turn round and ask them how they see inflation. end of conversation.good bye government.
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