Fodder Consumers and Producers Set to Benefit
7 Sep 2009
By Nick McClelland
 Both hay producers and consumers are set to benefit from the Australian Fodder Industry Association’s “Fodder Care” quality procedure program.
Our quality management program continues to evolve. We are considering the problems with previous QA programs and have saved costs for producers in a number of ways. Training for Fodder Care is now done via teleconference typically before 8 am. This avoids interstate travel and trains members while they are using their own computers at home.
Industry Development Manager Nick McClelland operates these teleconferences with up to 10 members from all parts of Australia on the same call getting to know each other and learning how the system works. The training calls take between 90 and 120 minutes.
We have also developed a self auditing feature of the Fodder Care program which enables producers to have their chemical applications collated against the label recommendations according to the APVMA. This avoids the need to have a fleet of people driving around the country asking for records.
Once records for spray diaries are entered onto the Fodder Care system, accredited members are provided with an electronic Fodder Care logo to be used on paper work for hay invoices as well as stickers for machinery and vehicles illustrating compliance to the industry program for that season.
Spray records are required in many states anyhow so we reckon you might as well make the red tape work for you and gain some market recognition.
Hay and silage producers are to be recognized for their professionalism through Fodder Care. The program maintains all records involved with preparation, production and harvesting of fodder crops and pastures. These clear and concise records are exactly what livestock producers are looking for in their industry based quality programs. Fodder Care accredited producers will be regarded as preferred hay suppliers to the dairy and livestock industry. “We have developed Fodder Care with the assistance of Australian Government funding through the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry said Lyall Schulz, Chairman of the Australian Fodder Industry Association (AFIA).
Nearly 100 AFIA members throughout Australia have undergone training in the first of five modules which encompasses an online record of paddock inspections, chemical applications and hay production and inventory information. These records are entered into the online Fodder Care program and collated against the label recommendations for chemicals applied. “Recording of agricultural chemical applications is already mandatory in many states and, we are providing a simple program that makes the red tape work for producers” says AFIA Industry Development Officer, Nick McClelland. “The extra work that Fodder Care producers are going to will ultimately benefit their customers involved in both dairy and red meat production. These dairy and red meat producers will not need to chase down vendor declarations and other associated paperwork as the Fodder Care stamp will be recognized by industry players and already meet their quality systems” added Nick.
Consumers sourcing fodder from Fodder Care producers will be comfortable that they are purchasing feed with proper recording mechanisms behind it to verify the production process of the particular batch of hay and silage. Fodder Care producers will be identifiable and promoted on the AFIA website www.afia.org.au with the Fodder Care logo. The logo will also be used on invoices relating to the Fodder Care produced hay which will satisfy food safety requirements of the milk companies and participants in red meat QA programs. For more information about Fodder Care see www.afia.org.au or call Nick McClelland at AFIA on 03 9530 2199.
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