Farm Assurance – New Standards – Mathew Beale (Chippenham)

The farm assurance standards were updated on 1^st November, adding in new requirements, and revising others.  It’s worth looking into the new standards before the auditor calls to book your next inspection.

The one main new requirement across all sectors (dairy, beef & lamb, combinable crops, pigs, and poultry etc.,) is a health and safety policy now needed to be in place and communicated to employees.

To coincide with this, the standards for employee training and inductions have been revised.  A new starter must now be inducted into their new role, explaining their role, all relevant health and safety information and reporting lines.  Training records will be required to show workers are competent at undertaking the tasks they are required to do.  Review records are required to show training is on-going and ‘address any gaps in competence’.

Dairy standards have the most new and revised standards, with a new requirement of a breeding and management policy to be in place.  This standard is being implemented so to eradicate the use of routine euthanasia of any unwanted calves, which should be eliminate this practice by 2023.

Beef and Lamb standards have upgraded and revised some standards.  At least one person now must have completed medicine training and hold a certificate of competence, and the course has been completed since 2016.

Both in Dairy, and in Beef and Lamb Standards, tethered housing systems are no longer permitted.  Derogations can be applied for to continue to use these systems in the short term.

Vermin control standards have also changed, requiring a site survey at least annually, containing records of rodent activity and environmental management requirements.

In combinable crop standards, there are revised standards on having a documented emergency plan, requiring all ‘key’ personnel to have access.  Toxic baits are no longer allowed in grain stores while grain is being stored.

These are just a few of the updated and new standards that are now required in order to pass your farm assurance audit.  We at FCG are here to help get all paperwork up together and can assist in giving recommendations on farm with what auditors will be looking for.  If you would like any help, please contact Mathew at mathewbeale@fcgagric.com or your local FCG Office.