Agent for Farmers · Compliance
Eardisland Court Farms — Compliance Audit
Produced 23 October 2026
Farm records as at 23 Oct 2026
Farm records as at 23 Oct 2026
RED — active non-compliance, deadline within ~8 weeks, material consequence
Red
Arla Climate Check overdue since 14 August — sustainability incentive at risk
The last Climate Check was completed in April 2024. Arla's escalation email of 21 April 2026 (from its Farmer Engagement Lead) warned that the monthly Sustainability Incentive, then 0.49p/litre, would be suspended at the next settlement with no back-pay. Arla later gave the farm until 14 August 2026 (farm file). That date has passed and no Climate Check visit is booked.
Red
Slurry and digestate store holds about 4.4 months — under the 5-month legal minimum, with the closed period running
The store holds about 4.4 months of the farm's slurry and digestate. In an NVZ a store must hold 5 months of cattle slurry, 1 October to 1 March (6 months for pig and poultry manure; rule N5). The grassland closed period for slurry and liquid digestate runs 15 October to 31 January and the maize ground has been closed since 1 October (rule N2), so the shortfall can't be spread away. A handwritten working by farm staff in March put the store at about 3,000 m³ against about 3,400 m³ needed. The storage calculator printout was started but never finished, and the 18 March 2026 quote for a 1,500 m³ tank was never ordered. Whether a store of digestate made from cattle slurry counts as cattle slurry for the 5-month rule isn't settled in the law: confirm with the Environment Agency (rule NV9). Any new or enlarged store needs written notice to the EA at least 14 days before building starts (rule N8).
AMBER — at-risk items, deadline within ~4 months or required submission missing
Amber
Annual written vet health and performance review overdue since 12 September
The Veterinary Health Plan and the selective dry cow therapy protocol were signed with the dairy vet on 12 September 2025, so the yearly review fell due on 12 September 2026. Red Tractor Dairy asks for a written health and performance review with the vet every year (standard AH.1.1; rule DY17). The next routine assessment is due by May 2027, because dairy farms are assessed every 18 months, but Red Tractor can carry out a spot check at short notice or unannounced (rule CN13).
Amber
Red Tractor non-conformities from November 2025 still open
The routine assessment on 8 November 2025 passed with two minor non-conformities: mobility scoring records incomplete, and calf bedding in two pens. The certification body's letter of 28 March 2026 asks for closeout evidence of both; none is in the files. The farm's own health plan says mobility scoring every quarter, but the herd was last scored on 15 March 2026. Red Tractor itself sets no scoring frequency (rule DY17).
Amber
Digestate spreading log has a 14-day gap (9–22 May 2026)
The 2026 digestate spreading log has no entries from 9 to 22 May 2026, while the plant operator was on leave with no cover. In an NVZ every spreading of organic manure must be recorded within a week (rule NV1) and the records kept for 5 years (rule DY12). Whether spreading happened unlogged or didn't happen at all, the record has a hole. Rebuilding it was due by 10 July and hasn't been done.
Closed since the June audit
Pedigree bull pre-movement TB test. Tested clear on 20 July 2026, inside the 60 days before the move (rule C4); bull sold 7 August.
Crop 14 broiler paperwork. Food Chain Information declaration reissued complete and vet-countersigned on 25 June; the zero-use antibiotic return went to Avara on 24 June.
Broiler stocking density. Crops 15 to 17 were placed at 30,000 chicks and finished inside the Avara 30 kg/m² standard and under the 33 kg/m² legal standard (rule P5). Crop 18 went in on 2 October at the same number.
Performance recording. 200-day weights for the two heifer calves submitted to BREEDPLAN on 14 July.
Expected but not found
Current written Health & Safety policy. Only a 2022 "DRAFT v2" was found, marked "superseded by 2024 review"; the 2024 redraft isn't in the files. With 6 full-time staff the business must have a written policy (5 or more employees; rule H4). Old laptop dump/HS Policy DRAFT v2 FINAL.pdf — don't assume the current policy exists; find it or rewrite it.
Employers' Liability insurance for 2026–27. The farm policy schedule in the files ran to 30 September 2026. No renewal schedule is in the files, so current Employers' Liability cover (at least £5m by law; rule H4) can't be shown. Insurance/NFU Mutual farm combined 2026 schedule.pdf — file the new schedule.
AD plant DSEAR risk assessment. The Master Profile records the last review as 30 November 2024, but no document was found. A DSEAR assessment must be reviewed regularly and whenever something changes (rule HS9). Find it or have it redone.