Thread by @OOOfarmer

Hi Everyone, my name is David, I'm a Sector Council member for @AHDB_Cereals
I've been one since 2020, and I get paid £250 per day for my time - up to two days per month. I like the money, although don't always claim the full two days.

£250 per day is over twice the UK average salary, it's not an amount to be sniffed at.

Do I earn my money? For the first three years, I'd have to say no, I didn't. But I still took it.

Money was not the reason I joined the Sector Council, I did it because I liked @TheAHDB

My faith was shaken though, to the point where I turned down the opportunity to join the Council for another three year term, earlier this year.

Why was it shaken? Because I don't feel that I contributed anything in that time that anyone else couldn't have also done.

AHDB went through a lot of changes over this time, personal, political, and process. This excuse has been used a lot, too much in fact. But in those three years, I sat in meeting like a good boy, and said "Yes" a lot.

Does this mean the AHDB was useless? No, it doesn't

It does mean, however, that not a lot changed, and certainly not a lot was improved.

Many people look at what they pay in levies, and think it's a rip off. Honestly, I don't think this is true at all.

Of course, you're not going to use every bit of information that comes out of AHDB, so it's easy to point the finger and say "but I'm paying for this, I don't want it"

Well, suck it up. That's how the world works, and it doesn't mean you've got a bad deal.

Let me tell you why I believe this.

I will pay about £2500 in levies this year. One of the pieces of work AHDB does that *I* value is the fungicide response data.

Of course we all love our agronomists, but sometimes we need to cross check with independent advice.

I have, and no doubt will again, decided to reduce my prescribed fungicide rates, on the bases of AHDB data. I have not [yet] regretted ever doing this.

It does not mean my agronomist is 'wrong', probably we just have different attitudes to risk.

If I trim 0.2l/ha of Revystar off my T1 on wheat alone, that's a saving of £5700. This is entirely plausible, and TBH, it's conservative as well.

But just this one thing has given me a 100% return on my total annual levy spend.

You may not have the same expereince as me - but there will be something, RL, fungicide, RB209, monitor farms, that will easily, easily pay back your levy.

If there isn't you're not trying hard enough!

OK, so AHDB is all great, right?

No.

But I do believe, at the moment, that change can - and will - happen. That's why I was convinced to change my mind, and sign up for another term.

What do I think we can accomplish?

Even the good parts can be made better - things that haven't changed for years will need reassessing to see what is still relevant, what can be done better, and what should be stopped.

Every department will be analysed, everything needs to provide a return to levy payers.

This is really, really difficult. I am not completely confident it's doable, but we are trying to make it work, and trying to make it rigorous.

I have personally been involved, and have given it a lot of thought. I think that, maybe, it can work. We will see.

And of course, now we are asking for a levy increase!

I understand totally that this will never be popular. But I do feel it is justified, and necessary.

As in my example above, I am still coming out way ahead on ROI from levy, even if nothing improved with the increased levy.

Of course, that isn't the plan. What I would like to see happen is more, and better research, that is directly applicable to farms. This needs to be steered by levy payers, not scientists.

And it must, must be presented in a digestible and practical way.

I would like to see AHDB using its size and power to swing the balance back towards farmers, and away from the levy industry.

AHDB should do things that individual farms cannot, and here is a perfect example.

And what of farm assurance?

Everyone has their views, and they all believe they are right. I am not a fan at all of the current system. I don't know whether AHDB should take a more direct role, but I think it needs to be seriously considered, and not dismissed.

So, in summary:

AHDB currently does a good job, and I strongly believe we are ALL getting a positive return from our contributions.

AHDB can do a better job, and that is what I (and my Sector Council colleagues) are paid to deliver.

I've got three years to try and make a difference.

I really hope it's better than the last three, and I think it will be.

I won't hang around if it's more of the same.