The British Farm Standard mark ­ the little red tractor ­ is moving into the fast lane with growing usage and a strong endorsement from agriculture minister Nick Brown. He said: "The little red tractor mark is helping to join up the food chain, and clearly marking out British farm assured produce to shoppers. "The challenge is to build the little red tractor into a powerful brand that communicates all that is best about British farm assurance." The mark, launched in June 2000, was heralded as the way forward for farming by farmers and politicians at the NFU agm this week. NFU president Ben Gill said: "The tractor was the most important development for farming in 2000, it is a living link between farmers and consumers, and will continue to spread to more products and outlets." The logo is already in use on 500 food lines across 5,000 supermarkets for produce adhering to independently verified levels of animal welfare, environmental and food hygiene standards. Sainsbury announced this week it was to start using the tractor logo on liquid milk. The initiative, which goes live on February 19, means 18,000 farmers will also be able to offer other retail buyers milk that can be accredited. Perkins Foods is also giving the tractor a push with a new British Made brand for a range of farm assured meats being stocked by Asda, Farm Foods and, from next month,Tesco. The range, launching with beef quarterpounders, grillsteaks, and pork sausages, comes from British Farm Standard certified farms. UK sales director Bill Sibbett said: "We have not set out to capitalise on doubts being raised about meat safety and quality standards elsewhere in Europe, but the British Made brand does make absolutely clear our commitment to the quality of British Farm Assured meats." {{NEWS }}