I feel no hesitation in dedicating this piece to Red Tractor farm assurance.

I think it’s time we cease the squabbling and backstabbing and get behind the standards and brand that we successfully created over the past 20 years.  

As British farmers, it is our only true brand, the envy of farmers from around the world. What other organisation can demonstrate to our customers that we actually do what we say we do? 

See also: Farmers split on Red Tractor standards proposals

We all want premium prices for our products. We all think that we deserve it. We all put a massive amount of effort into producing food to some of the highest standards in the world. The question is, does our market agree? 

Well, the sure-fire way of proving these facts is amazingly simple – all we have to do is to pass a very modest inspection, one that meets our customers’ standards and requirements. Surely that’s not hard? 

We all enjoy showing someone how well we do our job, taking pride in producing fantastic crops/stock and the pleasure in demonstrating that we have done our job well. 

Almost every other trade or profession in the country has to prove that they are competent and safe. This ranges from those who service the electrics in our houses to those who check our accounts. Why do we think that we are above scrutiny?    

The logo does appear on a number of products, but visibility of the brand in the marketplace is not what it is about for some of us in the cereals sector.

It’s about being able to give our customers the surety and security that we have been independently assessed and that we are proud producers of great British food. 

Producing to these standards does indeed give us an edge to be able to compete against imports of inferior quality.

As we know, in some cases these imports are produced with inputs that are illegal to use here.

What we all need to do is to make our markets aware of the disadvantages of purchasing these cheap imports, whether it be the environmental damage that they are causing or the amount of carbon that it has taken to get them to our mills.

This awareness will ensure that we obtain the deserved premium for our efforts.

Andrew Blenkiron is vice-chairman of Assured Food Standards, which governs the running and development of Red Tractor’s standards.