Red Tractor standards consultation

The current requirements run until 2017 and a consultation has been launched ahead of standards for 2017 to 2020.

The NFU sits on the Red Tractor Technical Advisory Committees (TACs) and relevant Red Tractor boards. It means we can represent our members and ensure their voices are heard when shaping, developing and amending standards.

It’s an essential role, giving the NFU the opportunity to assess and comment on the various red tractor proposals. As farm assurance continues to evolve, it is vital that as well as addressing the future pressures on the scheme, they’re also practical, relevant and provide value to scheme members.

The consultation (details here) closes on 31 December 2016 and we will be consulting with members during the next two months to ensure that your views are represented as we prepare our response.

Phil Bicknell, NFU head of food and farming, said: “The NFU is calling for all farmer and grower members to contribute to the Red Tractor standards consultation to ensure they have their say. It is vital that farmers voice their opinion and continue to influence the continuing standard of assurance that the Red Tractor gives to the public.

“The NFU’s involvement with Red Tractor ensures that farming’s voice is heard when shaping, developing and amending standards and the next two months are critical to give members and organisations such as the NFU the opportunity to assess and comment on the various proposals. Farm assurance continues to evolve and all of the NFU commodity boards will be discussing the proposals at both national and regional levels. We urge members to feed into this process.

“The future role of Red Tractor assurance was prominent in recent Brexit consultation meetings with NFU members, given its potential ability to distinguish UK agriculture from competitors. As the largest farm assurance scheme in the UK and with broad coverage across all sectors, farm assurance is important to many NFU members. It is essential that as well as addressing future pressures on the scheme, the standards are also practical, relevant and provide value to scheme members.”

How to have your say…