Farmers are being encouraged to participate in a survey as part of an assessment of the UK’s farm assurance schemes, following criticism of the Red Tractor program.

The independent review of the UK’s farm assurance schemes, initiated by the UK Farm Assurance Review Commissioners, is now in progress.

This project, co-organised by the NFU, AHDB, NFU Cymru, the Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU), and NFU Scotland, aims to rethink UK farm assurance practices.

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The review comes in response to industry backlash against Red Tractor's controversial Greener Farms Commitment (GFC) module, which was introduced in October 2023 but has since been withdrawn.

Last month, the Commissioners launched a brief online survey for farmers across all sectors to gather evidence for the review and inform its recommendations.

Dr. David Llewellyn, former principal of Harper Adams University and lead commissioner, has urged farmers to take part in the survey.

He said: “The survey has been open for a few weeks now and has been widely publicised.

"We have had a strong response to date from farmers from all sectors and all parts of the UK.

"Our evidence gathering will also involve direct engagement by the Commissioners with other key stakeholders."

Farmers have until August 31 to complete the survey: https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/promaraf-2021/the-uk-farm-assurance-review