Farm Assurance Diary
21 January 2008
I have been taking my stock to market for several years but after discussions with the auctioneer and others round the ring, I think that being farm assured will make my stock more attractive to buyers and have decided to have a look more closely at what farm assurance involves. Picked up an 'Are you farm assured?' leaflet from the market office and visited the ABM website. After reading all the information I think this is definitely the route to go down and have applied for an application pack. I found the 'How to Become Farm Assured' section and there were three certification bodies who can help me become farm assured. I clicked on 'Request a pack' and completed the on-line form to contact all three certification bodies for their application pack.Now waiting for a pile of paper work to drop through the door.
24 January 2008
Have now received all three application packs. Looks like a fair bit of bedtime reading is needed!
25 January 2008
Lots of good information there. I have finally made a decision and filled out the application form, I now just need to find the cheque book...
Form and cheque safely in the envelope. Now going to head to post office.
31 January 2008
This morning I received a letter from the certification body acknowledging safe arrival of the cheque (!) and letting me know that one of their inspectors will be contacting me to arrange an inspection.
04 February 2008
The inspector just called. Inspection booked for Monday 11th February at 9:30am.
Sounded like a nice guy. He explained the format of the inspection and gave me an idea as to the information he will need to see on the day with reference to the scheme manual, which had arrived with the original application form. I think I’ll spend a few minutes looking at the manual before he comes just to make sure (!) although I’m not so worried now, it’s just common sense.
11 February 2008
D’ Day! Inspector arrived on time. Good to see he had his own disinfectant! Very nice guy and before we went anywhere he explained clearly what was going to happen.
First stop, was the cattle sheds, followed by the feed store. The inspector was very chatty and wasn’t asking impractical questions like I half expected. We must have spent a good hour and a half walking and talking around the farm.
Next step – the office. The inspector got out his checklist and went through the required records and publications. Obviously I hadn’t read the standards as well as I should have…..
Glad it’s all over – there were one or two (!) minor non-conformances, which the inspector tells me will need to be sorted before I get my certificate. However he explained the format and left with a copy of the non-conformance report that explains the source of the evidence that I would need to send within 28 days of the inspection. He pointed me in the direction of the ABM website where I will apparently find all the information I need. We shall see!
15 February 2008
It's pouring with rain outside so thought that I had better get started on trying to sort some of those non-conformances. I've got to sort out a training record, complete an animal health plan, manure management plan and complaints record. Outside I need to fix the hole in the feed bin, put a lock on the medicine cabernet, mend the gate so that the rough metal is not a risk to the animals, move the rubbish out of the way in the field and put some disinfectant in the footdip!
As the inspector advised me, I have been on the ABM website and easily found the templates for the training record, health plan, manure management plan and complaints record. I then used the worked examples in the appendices to help me fill them out. Hope I’ve done it right! I also found the publication that I was missing on there – Code of Recommendation for the Welfare of Cattle. The website has been surprisingly helpful.
21 February 2008
Over the last couple of days I have managed to tidy up those bits on the farm that the inspector queried and fixed the housing, trailer and feed trough. Now just got to find the camera to take a few photos to send as evidence.
25 February 2008
Raining again but at least it gave me a chance to find the camera! Still got a few days left.
28 February 2008
Was nice and sunny – so have done my David Bailey impression – hope photos are good enough. Managed to print photos from the computer (thanks to my Daughter!) – so just need to pull everything together now.
4 March 2008
Received a reminder letter from the certification body today.
7 March 2008
All required evidence safely gathered together – now to send back to the certification body. Click here to see copy of letter.
Hopefully the next thing I receive will be my certificate.
18th March 2008
Received confirmation this morning that all evidence was OK and certificate and stickers were enclosed.
I am now fully farm assured!!