Farmers flood Red Tractor governance review with responses

Farmers have been flooding the Red Tractor governance review with responses, after a survey link was made public by the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (Aims).

Aims had emailed Campbell Tickell, the consultant carrying out the review, before the Christmas break to ask how it could contribute, and was told about the survey.

See also: Red Tractor ‘secrecy’ driving poor decisions

Farmers on social media reacted angrily to the news, with many saying they had been unaware they could share their views, and with the deadline for responding being this Wednesday (3 January).

https://t.co/QZeAL9aWO9 Stakeholder survey for red tractor governance review. Closes on Wednesday. The first I’ve heard of it. Has anyone else seen it?

— Adam Driver (@driverfarms1) January 1, 2024

As this review has a tight remit focused on Red Tractor governance, Campbell Tickell’s research has been focused mainly on surveying about 200 people who are actively involved with its governance, through sitting on sector boards, technical advisory committees and the Red Tractor ownership body.

Some of those in these positions have expressed disappointment at the multiple-choice survey approach, believing it only offers a shallow insight.

Responding to questions on social media about why the link to respond to the survey had not been shared widely with farmers, NFU deputy president Tom Bradshaw said: “I wasn’t expecting this review about the governance to be made widely available, whereas the much wider review about ‘farm to fork’ will give everyone an opportunity to feed in.

“I know that members of all Red Tractor boards and technical committees have been surveyed.”

Respond to the Red Tractor survey online.