AHDB refuses to release annual Red Tractor payment

The AHDB has withheld a £250,000 annual payment to Red Tractor, demanding greater clarity on how the funding will be spent.  

Each year the AHDB makes the payment to Red Tractor, with the money mainly used to fund the auditing of Red Tractor licence holders to underpin the integrity of the scheme.

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However, although the AHDB has earmarked the £250,000 in its annual budget, it has so far refused to release the cash for 2021-22.

A spokesman explained that the money would remain in the AHDB’s coffers until a detailed spending plan had been agreed.

“We have asked for a five-year plan, detailing how that money will be used to benefit farmers and growers,” the spokesman said.

“The AHDB remains fully supportive of assurance schemes, but we must be satisfied the funding we provide is spent wisely. Scrutinising our activities is good practice and is what should be expected of a levy payer-funded organisation,” he said.

The AHDB added that there had been no specific incident triggering the move, but it instead reflected a drive towards increased transparency for levy payers.

“Levy payers are rightly demanding more transparency, and we want to demonstrate that due diligence is being served,” the spokesman said.

This latest evidence of a more open approach on aspects of funding follows a vote by the AHDB Cereals and Oilseeds board to block a £40,000 payment to Red Tractor.

The payment would have been used to help market its Farm Assurance Crops scheme.

Instead, the £40,000 was reallocated in March to the AHDB’s work on pest and weed management and its integrated pest management programme.

Speaking at the time, the AHDB said the board had re-assessed its priorities to achieve best value for money.

Red Tractor was approached for comment, but declined to respond.