Red Tractor is proposing to cut the number of Beef & Lamb assurance requirements by a third and Dairy requirements by a quarter as part of a major overhaul.

Just 8% of England’s farm businesses account for 62% of agricultural output, while almost half generate just 2%, according to newly updated Defra figures.

British vets told to watch for an unusual disease syndrome reported in the Netherlands and Denmark, although no cases have been detected in Great Britain.