By Robert Harris, FW arable editor
Both the NFU and British Sugar are, apparently, "pleased to inform you" that they have agreed a price of £26/t for 2010/11 beet.
So they state in a letter that went out to growers after this week's conclusion of the protracted price talks.
British Sugar is right to be pleased - very pleased. It has refused to budge on its price set almost two months ago. It will pay farmers £1/t less for beet than it did last year, and will only pay an additional £1/t on the transport allowance if a framework for a longer-term agreement is reached in the next few months.
But what right has the NFU to be pleased? It has had to backtrack all the way, ever since it's initial, wildly optimistic £34.50/t punt back in April. It has done nothing for growers and damaged its credibility as a negotiator.....
Both parties are also "pleased" to tell growers that they are "committed to working towards a better long-term agreement". They hope to have the framework for a four-year deal in place by the end of March 2010.
That should be good news. But the NFU needs to find out where British Sugar learnt its negotiating skills - and fast.
It's bad enough growers losing out so badly for one year. They can't afford for that to happen for the next four.
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I!m afraid the NFU couldn!tnegotiate its way out of a paper bag
The nfu have done more damage to the farming industry (especially since kendall became chairman) than all the goverment agencys put togother so its no suprise that they have agreed the beet deal.. they are just a complete waste of time!!!!!!