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The number of NI dairy farmers signed up to Red Tractor Assurance has seen a significant increase in the past few months.
Figures released at last weeks’ AGM of NI Food Chain Certification (NIFCC), the not-for-profit body which conducts inspections across various farm assurance schemes in NI, suggest that 64% of dairy farmers are now members of the scheme.
With membership standing at 1,841 at the end of the last financial year, there has already been a significant spike in numbers since then, with 2,130 members recorded in November 2019.
The increase is understood to be mostly suppliers to Lakeland Dairies
In addition, another 300 have applied to join and are at various stages of the approval process.
The increase is understood to be mostly suppliers to Lakeland Dairies, after the co-op wrote to suppliers earlier this year requiring them to register for the scheme in 2019 or face a 0.5p/l deduction from January 2020.
Most suppliers to other processors are already Red Tractor-assured.
Stable
Meanwhile, in the other assurance schemes inspected by NIFCC, numbers are generally stable.
The core scheme remains beef and lamb farm quality assurance, and at end of the last financial year membership stood at 11,700.
A total of 9,489 inspections were conducted across the year.
There are also 820 in cereals quality assurance and 570 in the Red Tractor poultry scheme.
NIFCC provide audit and certification services to food processors across various schemes, and recently advertised a new chief executive role aimed at strengthening the management team within the organisation.
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