By coming out and forcefully opposing lifetime assurance, the Ulster Farmers Union (UFU) has put down a marker that will make it difficult for other farming unions to support the proposal.

Opposition has been reported on the ground at farmer meetings organised by the National Beef Association while the main farmers’ representative body, the National Farmers Union (NFU) has not taken an official position yet. It is thought the leadership is broadly supportive of lifetime assurance for cattle but grass roots feedback seems to be cooling their enthusiasm.

That’s where UFU’s strong decisive leadership is key – it makes it difficult for other farmer bodies to support a proposal that will make Quality Assurance (QA) much more difficult for farmers on the ground and that applies to Ireland too even if Irish farmers do not enjoy the full benefits of the Red Tractor in selling their beef.

The factory view in GB is divided.

Some, mainly among those with Irish origin inclined against lifetime assurance while the others are being more receptive to the idea. The Red Tractor board and senior management are adamant that QA that isn't for the entire lifetime of the animal lacks credibility and the present 90 day rule (70 in the Bord Bia scheme) isn't what consumers expect. They say that they have the research to back up this view but many people in the trade are equally adamant that it isn't an issue either with consumers or retail and food service customers.

Whatever the merits of lifetime assurance, one thing is certain. It would seriously reduce supplies of Red Tractor assured beef. To achieve lifetime assurance means from the moment a calf is born until it enters a factory it must be QA. If that was a farm only issue it may be achievable in theory at least.

We may wonder how many elderly farmers just keeping a few cows almost as a hobby in retirement would join and these make up a good number of the breeding farms that produce the stores for finishing in Ireland and across the UK. Where it really gets complicated, however, is that the QA has to be in place each step of the way and that includes hauliers and marts.

Persuading very small farmers, marts and lorry men to all get themselves QA is a big hurdle indeed given the issues that there have been with the present more limited QA scheme.