Protect Our Produce’s Post

Farming is one of the most demanding livelihoods there is. But like us, farmers know that difficult is worth doing. That’s why we’re committed to partnerships that are fair and collaborative. We’re a proud Living Wage employer. But our responsibility doesn’t end there. We want everyone in our supply chain to be paid a fair price for their hard work. And according to a poll last year by the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission, 88% of the British public agree with us. When it comes to pricing, honesty is everything. We talk through any increases that come about due to variables. We don’t drive our farmers down on price. Instead, we come to mutually beneficial agreements. And if there are problems, we work through them together. We’ve worked directly with organic farmers since day one. So we understand how labour-intensive organic growing is. And we believe that everyone should be making a profit. We’ve built long-lasting partnerships (some measured in decades) and are always looking for ways to back them further. You can read more about how we give our farmers a fair deal in our blog: https://lnkd.in/esgyi4Hu #Farming #Organic #Sustainability #Environment

Ensuring that our sourcing practices are ethical is not only a top priority for us, but also for governments, lenders, customers, and consumers. For Red River Foods, #EthicalSourcing is at the core of everything we do. Some ways that we make it a priority include: ➡️ Improving the livelihoods of farmers by training on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) ➡️ Launching pilots on beekeeping, intercropping, and juicing to diversify farmer income ➡️ Promoting Regenerative Agriculture ➡️ Creating safe and decent labor conditions Learn more about our mission and how we ethically source our products: https://hubs.ly/Q02DdCmH0 #communitydevelopment #farming

In this week's wrap, Ian discusses the ongoing feed shortage, the importance of our short member surveys, and the declining rural confidence due to economic challenges. Highlights: 🌾 Feed Shortage Crisis: Members report a severe shortage of feed with high prices. Awaiting state government response on freight assistance to alleviate the situation. 📊 Importance of Surveys: Reminder to members to please fill out our brief surveys, noting that 80% of farmers are significantly affected by dry conditions. The annual member survey closes this weekend. 📉 Declining Rural Confidence: Reports that sheep and cattle prices are falling, and rural confidence is slipping due to high costs, interest rates, and challenging weather conditions. 🐑 Live Sheep Debate: Ian expresses disappointment over the live sheep export debate, which lacks a scientific basis and has severe social and financial impacts on Western Australian farmers. 🏠 Superannuation Changes: Advises members to seek guidance on changes to superannuation regarding unrealised gains. 🗣️ Meetings with Officials: Held meetings with Jamie Finlay, the opposition agriculture spokesperson, and participated in a roundtable on energy and agriculture. Discussions also included the surplus calf roadmap and Northwest transmission lines. 📅 Upcoming Orford Function: Reminder - get along to the Orford function, and take the opportunity to interact with the board and potentially the minister. RSVPs close on Wednesday next week. Until next week, take care.

🚜 Why is the farm #InheritanceTax the final straw for so many farmers? Our farmers are already facing: 👉 The fallout of Brexit 👉 Loss of Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) income 👉 Below-cost of production payments 👉 Environmental regulations adding financial strain Now, inheritance tax threatens to destroy the legacy of farms passed down for generations. Many farmers have dedicated their lives to ensuring their land stays in the family, working tirelessly against the pressures, only to see this hope shattered. This is more than just economics—it's about the heart and soul of our farming communities. The situation is so dire that some have tragically taken their own lives. This should never happen. It’s time for change. It’s time for the government to reverse these policies, to respect the work of our farmers, and to make farming fair again. 💔 Share this to spread awareness and call for action. 📢 Let’s stand with our farmers. #SupportFarmers #InheritanceTaxCrisis #AgriPolicy #DairyIndustry #farming #farmers #SaveBritishFarming #BackBritishFarming Rt Hon Rachel Reeves 📸 Image Credit: The Telegraph 05/11/2024 📸 Image Credit: BBC News 14/11/2024

-🌱 Exciting News: Government launches a £1.6 million fund to support farmer groups. 💧 Farmers will receive aid to manage water resources and combat drought impact. 🔄 This fund will investigate various methods, including: - 🏞️ Multi-farm reservoirs - ♻️ Treated waste-water recycling systems - 💧 Water trading and sharing schemes 📊 Around 20 studies will be supported, analysing water demand and availability over a 25-year period. 🤝 Applications open for groups of two or more neighboring farms. 📅 Deadline: Application closing date is 23:59 on 16 June. 📈 The Environment Agency will collaborate with stakeholders to ensure a healthy farming sector and address agriculture needs in Regional Water Resources Plans. 🎯 This funding builds on existing initiatives, including the Water Management Grant and leakage reduction targets for water companies. #Farming #WaterManagement #DroughtResilience 🚜💧 https://lnkd.in/e8Ee_DAW

New funding for agricultural water resources management plans and local water resources options - these will feed into regional planning also https://lnkd.in/eYawzRwq

NFU conference day 2 Five farms representing most areas of agriculture came to the stage to talk to about their view of the future after hearing from representatives from the main political parties who lead on rural matters #hsbcuk #farming #sustainabilty #foodandbeverage #climatechange The panel asked for policy stability and for farming to be considered and valued in future trade deals. The theme of fair prices in the supply chain was a universal request, farming businesses need to be commercially as well as environmentally sustainable All politicians pledged to increase focus on UK food security and the panel urge whoever is in power to deliver on that pledge and take a long term view - possibly a cross party food strategy for the next 20 years

Very good piece about the Starmer/Reeves IHT tax shift, and how it impacts farms in the UK: https://lnkd.in/eHK2aMFN #politics #farming #agriculture #corporates #economy #environment

Advocating for Western agriculture is crucial for food security and our local economy. During my recent trip to Washington, D.C., I highlighted the need for reliable water supplies, infrastructure investment, and balanced regulations to sustain American food production. Let’s ensure our voices are heard and protect the future of farming in the West!

Something which is not discussed much in the press, but vitally important, is the extension of the 2018 Farm bill. The farm bill is a critical piece of legislation and already a year late. Time is running out, and delaying the bill further could have significant consequences. Crop insurance, a permanent program, requires improvements to ensure affordability for all farmers. The fixed statutory reference prices set in 2014 do not consider unforeseen market forces like current inflation levels. The conservation programs outlined in the farm bill have fixed budgets which are susceptible to erosion due to high inflation. Similarly, the bill presents an opportunity to boost research funding and strengthen U.S. food security. It is essential to address these issues and pass the necessary legislation. #StormReport #Farmbill #agriculture