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Cameron misses target at Oxford
Food labelling is only a side show
Despite the rapturous applause given the leader of the opposition at the Oxford Farming Conference, David Cameron missed an opportunity to shine before the farming world. Focussing on food labelling was a mistake. There are many far more important issues affecting farmers at present.
Here's one he should think about: farm contracts.
The contracts between farmers and their customers such as grain merchants, milk processors, and suppliers of supermarkets are 9 times out of 10 drawn up by the buyer, and the position is quite clear - "if you want to sell to me these are my terms", and farmers have little opportunity, power or skill to make alterations. They sign, and hope for the best.
As many farmers know, this power can go to buyer's heads. Terms in the contract allow them to make price changes, introduce penalty clauses, change seasonality payments, make admixture deductions and many other alterations almost at will. All which reduce the price paid. Yet there's no such luxury for the farmer. He finds himself lifting potatoes in appauling conditions, loading trucks at the most anti-social hours. He waits months for payment, and never knows what deductions will be made.
It's an important issue. Farmers will always applaud Cameron because he's conservative but he, like the buyers and merchants, should not take their support entirely for granted. The food industry is, we know, important, and there are those in it who are able to make financial contributions to political parties. Yet this should not mean they get a free ride when it comes ot producer contracts.
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