As this year’s harvest is stored away, it is important to make sure your grain stores are fully compliant. Meeting Red Tractor standards protects your grain quality, maintains buyer confidence, and secures your assurance status.
Red Tractor requirements for grain stores
- Cleanliness – Stores must be emptied of old residues, swept, and cleaned before grain enters.
- Pest Control – Bait boxes in place, checks carried out, and records kept.
- Moisture & Temperature – Grain stored cool and dry to prevent spoilage.
- Segregation – Treated or rejected crops clearly separated and marked.
- Record Keeping – Cleaning logs, pest control records, and inspections must all be up to date.
Tip: Keep a whiteboard in your grain stores for cleaning, traceability, mass balance calculations and checks – inspectors value clear records.
Temporary vs permanent grain stores
Permanent stores
- Weatherproof
- Vermin proof
- Dedicated store
- Doors must fit with no gaps
Tip: The assessor may ask for all or a sample of the doors to be closed at the assessment to demonstrate they fit and close properly.
Temporary stores
- Short-term use only when space is limited.
- Can be open with no sides.
- Must be sound enough to keep the crops dry and free from contamination.
- If using a Livestock Shed, no livestock can be housed during the crop storage period and it must be thoroughly cleaned, power washed and sanitised with a combined food grade detergent/ disinfectant and allowed to dry before grain is tipped.
- The grain store walling must be constructed from materials that do not pose a risk of contaminating the stored grain
Reminder: If a member is likely to exceed the 31st October deadline, they must apply for a derogation as early as possible through their certification body – either Intertek SAI Global or NSF.
Please note that derogations are not automatically granted and are assessed on a case-by-case basis. In exceptional circumstances, such as a nationwide shortage of transport, blanket derogations have been granted in previous years.
Do’s & Don’ts
DO
✔ Clean and inspect stores before filling.
✔ Maintain bait stations and records.
✔ Keep grain cool and dry.
✔ Record all treatments and checks.
DON’T
✘ Store grain in damp, dirty, or vermin-accessible areas.
✘ Forget to separate treated/rejected crops.
✘ Rely on temporary sheds for long-term storage.
Whether using silos, sheds, or temporary stores, the rule is simple: clean, dry, pest-free, and well-documented.
Helpful links
Safe storage time calculator | AHDB
Storage – Crops & Sugar Beet (CR) – Red Tractor Assurance
Further help & advice
For further help and advice on Red Tractor grain store standards, please contact our Farm Assurance team on 01981 590514.