Red Tractor pledges major reform after farmer backlash
© GNP Red Tractor, the UK’s largest farm assurance scheme, has vowed to implement sweeping reforms after facing intense criticism from farmers who feel the scheme’s standards place unnecessary burdens on them without delivering value for money.
Representing more than 48,000 farmers, Red Tractor has come under increasing pressure to address concerns over its operations and the complexity of its audits.
On Tuesday 25 March, the Red Tractor board issued its response (PDF) to the UK Farm Assurance Review, a comprehensive report commissioned by key agricultural bodies including the NFU, the AHDB, and other farming unions, which was published in January.
See also: Review calls for overhaul of Red Tractor leadership approach
The AHDB is expected to issue its own response to the review’s recommendations in the next fortnight.
The independent review, initiated following intense farmer opposition to Red Tractor’s planned introduction of the Greener Farms Commitment (GFC) in April 2024, called for a “fundamental reset” of the farm assurance system.
The GFC, which aimed to introduce voluntary environmental standards, was scrapped after farmers strongly rejected the initiative, accusing Red Tractor of imposing burdensome requirements.
While Red Tractor’s response to the review does not directly address the GFC, it focuses on broader issues, including transparency, simplification and greater farmer involvement.
However, while the review outlined suggested timelines for implementing its recommendations, Red Tractor’s response makes no reference to these deadlines.
Audit process criticised
The review, which followed a nine-month investigation, highlighted widespread dissatisfaction with Red Tractor’s operations, particularly the complexity and stress associated with its audits.
Farmers were also critical of the lack of representation in developing assurance standards, and poor communication from the scheme.
In response, Red Tractor has pledged to overhaul its approach, prioritising five key areas for improvement: simplifying audits, embracing new technology, improving communication, involving farmers more in decision-making, and implementing the governance recommendations from the Campbell Tickell report (PDF).
Red Tractor also committed to publishing a briefing by May this year on how it has delivered the governance recommendations.
“We want farmers to experience real change with smarter, risk-based audits that reduce burden,” the organisation stated. It also confirmed its full support for the review’s recommendation to simplify and standardise on-farm audits, and will work with its certification bodies, assessors and other schemes to achieve this.
Alistair Mackintosh, interim chairman of Red Tractor’s board, spoke about the organisation’s commitment to addressing farmer concerns.
“We want farmers to feel heard, involved, and proud to be part of Red Tractor,” he said.
“The actions we are outlining today reflect our genuine commitment to improving the system and addressing the issues that matter most to our members.”
A key recommendation from the review was a stronger focus on farmer involvement in the development of assurance standards.
Red Tractor has promised to place farmers at the centre of decision-making processes, rather than allowing bureaucracy to dictate the system.
David Exwood, NFU deputy president and a Red Tractor board member, welcomed this shift.
“The key now is that we use this opportunity to give farmers a stronger voice in assurance, and deliver better outcomes for everyone involved,” he said. “I feel we are now on the right track, ready to make positive changes at pace.”
Farmer comms irony
However, Staffordshire farmer Clive Bailye, a vocal critic of Red Tractor, took to The Farming Forum (TFF) to highlight the irony of the organisation’s claims to improve communication.
He pointed out that, despite Red Tractor’s commitment to better engagement with farmers, he had not received its official response to the review ahead of the 4.30pm embargo on Tuesday.
Kit Papworth, Red Tractor’s chairman for combinable crops and sugar beet, confirmed that Red Tractor would focus on working with the AHDB and other stakeholders to address the import equivalence challenge for UK crops (See panel).
Red Tractor has also pledged to work with the AHDB, farming unions and organisations, farmers, processors and government to promote British food both overseas and in the UK.
Monitor appointed
Dr David Llewellyn, lead commissioner of the Farm Assurance Review, has been appointed as the independent monitoring and reporting commissioner to track the progress of the reforms.
“Farm assurance must evolve to meet the challenges of modern farming,” Dr Llewellyn said. “Farmers must be at the heart of these schemes, not burdened by bureaucratic systems that feel disconnected from the reality of day-to-day farming.”
To ensure continued transparency, Red Tractor has promised regular updates on the implementation of the review’s recommendations. Ongoing feedback opportunities for farmers will be available through the organisation’s website at redtractor.org.uk/FAR and at face-to-face meetings across the country.
Red Tractor to progress alternative feed standard review
Red Tractor has announced plans to address calls for an alternative entry-level animal feed standard in response to growing concerns in the crops sector.
The organisation is committed to collaborating with stakeholders, including the NFU, the AHDB and others, to tackle the “import equivalence challenge”.
As part of its response to the UK Farm Assurance Review, Red Tractor will consult with the Crops Sector board and stakeholders to evaluate how best to implement the recommendations.
A review will compare Red Tractor’s crops assurance scheme with the Scottish Quality Crops and Northern Ireland’s Food Fortress schemes. This review aims to determine whether a new, comprehensive model should be adopted.
Red Tractor has been developing a new entry-level feed standard to meet legal food and feed regulations. If it is introduced, the alternative standard would give more options to growers producing only feed grains.
It would provide access to the Universal Feed Assurance Scheme without adding extra costs or requirements to farm businesses.
Kit Papworth, chairman of Red Tractor’s Combinable Crops and Sugar Beet sector, said: “Combinable crops is the only sector singled out for specific recommendations, with wider crops supply chain organisations and AHDB identified to lead this work.
“The RT team is fully committed to helping and supporting all these stakeholders to establish how best to address the import equivalence challenge for the sector.”