What Agent covers
Thirteen areas of English farming, one rulebook.
Every farm answers to three sets of rules: the law, its assurance schemes and its buyers. Agent covers all three for England, and tells you which apply to you.
| Area | Who it's for | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Dairy | Milking herds | Milk hygiene, herd health, medicines, Red Tractor Dairy, milk buyer requirements |
| Cattle | Beef, suckler and pedigree herds | Tagging and movements, TB testing, welfare, medicines, Red Tractor Beef |
| Sheep | Flocks of any size | Tagging, the annual inventory, scab and other disease, worming, welfare |
| Pigs | Indoor and outdoor units | Herd marks and movements, disease control, medicines, welfare, Red Tractor Pigs |
| Poultry | Broilers, breeders and hatcheries | Flock records, Salmonella testing, bird flu, welfare, buyer standards |
| Arable | Combinable crops and potatoes | Sprayer and pesticide records, nutrient planning, grain and potato stores |
| Horticulture | Fruit and vegetable growers | Pesticides, water, seasonal workers, produce assurance |
| NVZ | Farms in nitrate vulnerable zones | Spreading periods, storage, nitrogen limits, the records and when they're due |
| Environmental permits | Large poultry and pig units | Permit conditions, annual returns, management plans |
| SFI | Farms in the Sustainable Farming Incentive | Your actions, the evidence each needs, the yearly declaration |
| Countryside Stewardship | Farms with Stewardship agreements | Options, capital items, claims and evidence |
| Organic | Certified and converting farms | Conversion, inputs, livestock rules, your certifier's inspection |
| Health and safety | Every farm | Risk assessments, machinery checks, chemicals, accident reporting |
How do I know it's up to date?
Every rule carries its official source and the date we last checked it. The fast-moving rules are checked every week, the whole rulebook every month, and every change is logged.
What doesn't it cover?
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own rules, which Agent doesn't cover yet. Behind-login standards, like Red Tractor's full text and buyers' own standards, are referred to by clause, never reproduced. Agent is information to help you check your position, not legal advice.
Grants and schemes.
Because Agent knows your farm in detail, it can point out the schemes and grants you're likely to qualify for, and what you'd need to apply. The RPA or the funder decides who's eligible.