Red Tractor pledges smarter farm audits, action plan to reduce pesticide usage, & vigilance needed after bird flu confirmed in sheep

In this episode, the Red Tractor assurance scheme responds to criticism by pledging to make farm audits easier for farmers.

We speak to the Red Tractor interim chairman Alistair Mackintosh and operations director Philippa Wiltshire.

Also in this episode – the government unveils long awaited plans to reduce pesticide usage by 10% within five years.

We look at the likely impact on your farm business – and on food production.

And a medical microbiologist says farmers need to remain vigilant after the first case of bird flu is confirmed in a sheep in Yorkshire.

This episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast is co-hosted by Johann Tasker, Louise Impey and Hugh Broom.

Contact or follow Johann (X): @johanntasker

Contact or follow Louise (X): @louisearable

Contact or follow (X): @sondesplacefarm

For Farmers Weekly, visit fwi.co.uk or follow @farmersweekly

To contact the Farmers Weekly Podcast, email podcast@fwi.co.uk. In the UK, you can also text the word FARM followed by your message to 88 44 0.