What Does 'Farm Assured' Actually Mean?

If you've ever bought British beef, you've probably seen the words Farm Assured somewhere on the packaging.

Most people recognise the phrase.

Very few actually know what it means.

So we thought we'd explain it.

It's about giving people confidence

When you buy food, you want to know it's been produced responsibly.

Farm assurance is there to help provide that confidence.

It shows that farms are regularly checked against recognised standards covering everything from animal welfare to food safety and traceability.

It's not something you simply sign up for and forget about.

Standards have to be maintained.

Looking after livestock properly

One of the biggest parts of farm assurance is animal welfare.

That means making sure livestock are cared for properly every day.

Fresh water.

Suitable feed.

Safe housing when needed.

Regular health checks.

Clean environments.

Good stockmanship.

At the end of the day, good welfare isn't just about passing an inspection.

It's simply good farming.

Knowing where your food comes from

One of the biggest strengths of British farming is traceability.

Every animal has an identity.

That means it's possible to trace where livestock have come from throughout their lives.

For us, that's something we're proud of.

Knowing where your food comes from shouldn't be unusual.

It should be normal.

It's more than paperwork

People sometimes imagine farm assurance is just forms and inspections.

There is paperwork.

Quite a lot of it sometimes.

But the paperwork exists for a reason.

It helps demonstrate that high standards are being maintained and provides confidence for everyone further along the food chain.

Looking after the farm as well

Modern farming isn't only about producing food.

It's also about looking after the land we're responsible for.

Good farming means thinking beyond this season and considering how today's decisions affect the future of the farm.

Why it matters to us

Being Farm Assured isn't something we see as a badge to advertise.

We see it as part of running the farm properly.

If somebody chooses to buy beef from Flatts Farm, we want them to feel confident about where it's come from and how it has been produced.

That's what really matters.

Building trust

We're always going to be a relatively small farm.

One of the advantages of that is being able to speak directly to the people buying our beef.

If you've got questions, ask.

If you're interested in farming, read our blogs.

The more people understand British farming, the better.