From your Technical Manager:
Committed to the way you farm

- Supporting you with standards that matter for your customers

- Explaining why Red Tractor standards change over time

By your side

Dear Member,

Happy New Year from all of us at Red Tractor.

I’m pleased to share an update for dairy farmers, featuring the latest news and guidance from Red Tractor. But before diving into that, I’d like to first address the current situation in the industry.

As a sheep farmer myself, I know firsthand the challenges we face. Many of us are dealing with unprecedented pressures - from rising costs and extreme weather events to increased uncertainty due to recent government policy changes. I want you to know that at Red Tractor, we fully recognise the strain these challenges are placing on you. As we advocate on your behalf, we emphasise the importance of addressing these pressing issues with government officials and stakeholders across the supply chain.

Just like you, we are committed to building a strong, secure, and sustainable agricultural sector for the generations to come. It’s in everyone’s best interests to protect the future of British farming with the high standards you deliver—standards that customers trust and rely on.

Wishing you the very best in 2025.

Jemma Holden, Dairy Technical Manager

Updating Red Tractor standards to evolve with industry changes

As the industry faces new challenges or legislation Red Tractor needs to review and update its standards to reflect these developments.

By staying responsive to these changes, we are ensuring that you meet the highest standards for food safety, animal welfare, and environmental sustainability and ensuring that the Red Tractor logo remains a trusted symbol in a rapidly changing market.

Co-created by your Sector Board representatives and industry and government stakeholders, Red Tractor has ensured that these changes are:

Relevant: By staying responsive to these changes, we are ensuring that you meet the highest standards for food safety, animal welfare, and environmental sustainability and ensuring that the Red Tractor logo remains a trusted symbol in a rapidly changing market.

Evidence based: It's important to reaffirm to you that updates to standards and guidance are always developed in close collaboration with a wide range of partners, including scientific and veterinary experts.

Consistent: Red Tractor will also be working with assessors, conducting training and feedback sessions to ensure the updated standards are applied consistently during assessments across all sectors.

Practical: This partnership approach ensures the standards reflect both practical on-farm realities and best practices in animal health and welfare management.

Transparency is as important to us as it is to you, which is why we’re committed to keeping you informed about the discussions at our Sector Board meetings where decisions are made. You can find updates from the Chairs of each Sector Board here.