Red Tractor has been continuing its work in creating an Entry Level Standard for feed grains, allowing growers who grow just for feed a bespoke assessment to reflect their farming enterprise.
The new standard aims to meet legal minimum requirements for Feed Hygiene Regulations and will give combinable crops scheme members an alternative to the Core Red Tractor standards that grants access to the premium malting and milling sectors, as well as for oilseeds, sugar beet, oats, and other sectors outside of animal feed.
The inclusion of additional standards to allow for acceptance into the biofuels industry in line with the Renewable Energy Directive II (RED II) is also being considered.
Currently, UK growers must be members of a farm assurance scheme recognised by the Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC), such as Red Tractor Assurance Crops or Scottish Quality Crops, to supply feed mills in the UK under the Universal Feed Assurance Scheme (UFAS). Red Tractor has faced criticism from farmers that its standards are out of step with import standards, and farmers have called for a levelling-up.
A final decision will not be made by the Red Tractor Combinable Crops & Sugar Beet Sector Board until further discussions have been had with the supply chain, FSA, AIC and farming bodies. We will also need to consider the conclusion of the wider independent review into UK farm assurance which will assist in informing this work.
Kit Papworth, Red Tractor Combinable Crops and Sugar Beet Chair commented in his recent sector board update that the new standard will provide more options for Red Tractor Crops members.
