Pig World
  • News
      • Animal Health
      • Breeding
      • Business
      • Environment
      • EU
      • Food Safety
      • Housing
      • Marketing
      • NPA
      • National Pig Awards
      • New Products
      • Nutrition
      • People
      • Pig Fair
      • Politics
      • Training & Education
      • Welfare
  • Features
    • Animal Health
    • Breeding
    • Environment
    • Farm Visits
    • Herd Recording
    • Housing
    • Marketing
    • Nutrition
    • Products
    • Training
  • Comment
    • AHDB Pork
    • Chris Fogden
    • Dennis Bridgeford
    • Peter Crichton
    • Red Robin
    • Veterinary View
    • Zoe Davies, NPA
  • Numbers
  • Pig Prices
  • Magazines
    • May 2025
    • April 2025
    • March 2025
    • 2025 Buildings supplement
    • February 2025
    • 2025 Nutrition Supplement
    • January 2025
    • December 2024
    • November 2024
    • National Pig Awards supplement
    • October 2024
    • September 2024
    • August 2024
    • 2024 Pig Health supplement
    • July 2024
    • June 2024
    • Innovation supplement 2024
    • Pig & Poultry Fair Guide 2024
    • May 2024
    • April 2024
    • Buildings Supplement
    • March 2024
    • Pig Nutrition (Beyond Zinc)
    • February 2024
    • January 2024
    • December 2023
    • November 2023
    • National Pig Awards Supplement 2023
    • October 2023
    • September 2023
    • Health Supplement
  • Suppliers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Classified
  • Events
    • Pigs Tomorrow
    • National Pig Awards
Podcast
Pig WorldPig World
  • News
      • Animal Health
      • Breeding
      • Business
      • Environment
      • EU
      • Food Safety
      • Housing
      • Marketing
      • NPA
      • National Pig Awards
      • New Products
      • Nutrition
      • People
      • Pig Fair
      • Politics
      • Training & Education
      • Welfare
  • Features
    • Animal Health
    • Breeding
    • Environment
    • Farm Visits
    • Herd Recording
    • Housing
    • Marketing
    • Nutrition
    • Products
    • Training
  • Comment
    • AHDB Pork
    • Chris Fogden
    • Dennis Bridgeford
    • Peter Crichton
    • Red Robin
    • Veterinary View
    • Zoe Davies, NPA
  • Numbers
  • Pig Prices
  • Magazines
    1. May 2025
    2. April 2025
    3. March 2025
    4. 2025 Buildings supplement
    5. February 2025
    6. 2025 Nutrition Supplement
    7. January 2025
    8. December 2024
    9. November 2024
    10. National Pig Awards supplement
    11. October 2024
    12. September 2024
    13. August 2024
    14. 2024 Pig Health supplement
    15. July 2024
    16. June 2024
    17. Innovation supplement 2024
    18. Pig & Poultry Fair Guide 2024
    19. May 2024
    20. April 2024
    21. Buildings Supplement
    22. March 2024
    23. Pig Nutrition (Beyond Zinc)
    24. February 2024
    25. January 2024
    26. December 2023
    27. November 2023
    28. National Pig Awards Supplement 2023
    29. October 2023
    30. September 2023
    31. Health Supplement
    Featured

    May 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    May 1, 2025
    Recent

    May 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    May 1, 2025

    April 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    April 4, 2025

    March 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    March 6, 2025
  • Suppliers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Classified
  • Events
    • Pigs Tomorrow
    • National Pig Awards
LinkedIn X (Twitter)
Pig World
News

Red Tractor reassures pig scheme members over its stance during pig backlog

Alistair DriverBy Alistair DriverOctober 14, 20213 Mins Read
LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email

Red Tractor will not take action against farms that are failing to comply with scheme standards due to factors out of their control in the current crisis, the scheme’s pigs sector board chairman Stewart Houston has confirmed. 

An estimated 120,000 to 150,000 pigs are currently backed up on farms across the country, with many facing serious problems with overstocking. In some cases, producers are having to cull some pigs to ease space pressures and there are fears this could escalate unless steps are taken to ease the backlog, including steps to enable processors to recruit more butchers from around the world.

Mr Houston said he and the Red Tractor team were ‘acutely aware of the extreme difficulties faced by pig producers, and we are doing all that we can to support them’.

“We want to give members clarity, provide peace of mind and tackle unhelpful misinformation at this time of heightened sensitivity. I want to reassure members that during this time, no action has been taken against any farmers where our standards on farm have not been met because of circumstances beyond their control.

“While members normally have 28 days to address any non-conformances, we are working with them on a case-by-case basis to offer extensions where possible.

“Non-conformances will be recorded in the usual way, as is our legal obligation. This information is valuable in demonstrating the scale of the problem and making the case for greater support for the sector in our meetings with government. As ever, pig welfare is the top priority for all involved. We need to make sure that proper oversight of any issues, such as overstocking are being managed in the best way possible.”

In the past month, Red Tractor’s chair, Christine Tacon, and chief executive, Jim Moseley have met with Defra minister Victoria Prentis to impress upon her the scale and impact of the supply chain problems.

Mr Houston has also been attending and in regular contact with Defra, the NPA, NFU, processors and other industry stakeholders to ensure the scheme is fully abreast of the challenges faced by the sector. “We continue to back our members by encouraging millions of consumers to buy British. Throughout October we are investing more than £250,000 in digital, print advertising and social media activity,” he said.

NPA chief executive Zoe Davies said: “Red Tractor has been working constructively with the NPA to ensure producers are not unfairly penalised for non-conformances caused by this crisis, while taking account of its legal obligation to record these. We will continue to make the case for greater industry support at this unprecedented time.”

Share. LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Email
Previous ArticleNew £0.5m fund to enable research into sustainable agricultural systems
Next Article Government needs to step up and help pig sector – Shadow Defra Secretary
Alistair Driver

Editor Pig World, group editor Agronomist and Arable Farmer and Farm Contractor. National Pig Association webmaster. Former political editor at Farmers Guardian. Occasional media pundit. Brought up on a Leicestershire farm. Works from a shed in his Oxfordshire garden.

Read Similar Stories

Red Tractor appoints farmer as chair for the first time

May 23, 2025

US-China trade tensions creating opportunities for Brazil and Europe – RaboResearch

May 23, 2025

AHDB CEO to join Sofina Foods later this year

May 22, 2025
Latest News

Red Tractor appoints farmer as chair for the first time

May 23, 2025

US-China trade tensions creating opportunities for Brazil and Europe – RaboResearch

May 23, 2025

AHDB CEO to join Sofina Foods later this year

May 22, 2025
Sponsored Content

THE GATEKEEPER OF RESPIRATORY HEALTH – MYCOPLASMA HYOPNEUMONIAE (M.HYO)

April 30, 2024

Tackle the root cause of PWD with free diagnostic tests

March 1, 2024
Current Pig Industry jobs
  • Senior-Level Pig Stockperson – Ref 1742 Norfolk

    • Norfolk
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
  • Pig Stockperson – Ref 1471 West Sussex

    • West Sussex
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
  • Pig Stockperson – Ref 1740 Norfolk

    • Norfolk
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
GETTING IN TOUCH
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Meet The Editors
  • About Us
  • Email Newsletters
  • Subscribe
  • Reuse permissions
OUR SOCIAL CHANNELS
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
PARTNER EVENTS
RELATED SITES
  • Farmers Weekly
  • Agronomist & Arable Farmer
  • Farm Contractor
  • National Pig Awards
  • Pigs Tomorrow
  • Poultry News
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
© 2024 MA Agriculture Ltd, a Mark Allen Group company

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.