Red Tractor Inspection Any Heads-Up info

[ifindoubtflatout]

I think I’ve just discovered a new business proposal...... a farmer friendly Red Tractor pre-assessment assessment service, who can provide all the correct documents in shiner folders so they can be ready for the assessment

I’m off to patent that one !!

 

[bobk]

There’s a website called BeeConnected. It’s part of the Voluntary Initiative
Got a certificate and everything

Good one .

 

[mixed breed]

making the whole process feel more like a day in court.

In the early days of assurance with express foods we had a lady who visited, you know the sort "if she could she would" she'd spend half the day outdoors and when you finally got in the house she would pick your records to pieces.
She had a strange way about her, little eye contact and far from sociable, avoiding any deviation from the days "business". Finally she would write out your non conformances, sheet after sheet after sheet, With the reassurance that "she WILL be back"

She fell out with a lot of farms in the area and was eventually pensioned off due to stress.

Thankfully nowadays, these self employed, ex farmer sorts seem far more with us, than against us.

 

[colhonk]

the assesor is there to help and advise you.

Hmmmmm. Depends on who your `Inspector` is.

 

[kiwi pom]

Hmmmmm. Depends on who your `Inspector` is.

There is of course good and bad at anything and there'll also be people that have higher standards than others. I'd be very surprised if RT didn't have a complaints process if you thought you were unfairly/incorrectly treated.

 

[neilo]

I think I’ve just discovered a new business proposal...... a farmer friendly Red Tractor pre-assessment assessment service, who can provide all the correct documents in shiner folders so they can be ready for the assessment

I’m off to patent that one !!

Good luck with patenting. Cross Compliance Solutions are already making a very tidy income from doing similar for Ministry inspections.

To be fair, their folder is very shiny and thorough. I used them for a year when I got here, to get everything in order and relevant paperwork all filed & checked, all of which shouldn’t need changing from year to year. They will even meet the inspector for you, and I see they’ve moved into covering HSE too now. Not cheap, but if you have a severe dislike of such paper nonsense and would rather be farming.....
https://www.cxcs.co.uk/

 

[Tarw Coch]

I think I’ve just discovered a new business proposal...... a farmer friendly Red Tractor pre-assessment assessment service, who can provide all the correct documents in shiner folders so they can be ready for the assessment

I’m off to patent that one !!

My milk buyer was offering the services of a company that would do such a pre inspection for a fee of a few hundred pounds so that we could sail through our farm assurance. I took the view it was better to keep the money and correct a few minor non compliance’s afterwards.
IIRC those on one of their aligned contracts have to use the service.

 

[7610 super q]

They don't like it up 'um.

 

[traineefarmer]

In the early days of assurance with express foods we had a lady who visited, you know the sort "if she could she would" she'd spend half the day outdoors and when you finally got in the house she would pick your records to pieces.
She had a strange way about her, little eye contact and far from sociable, avoiding any deviation from the days "business". Finally she would write out your non conformances, sheet after sheet after sheet, With the reassurance that "she WILL be back"

She fell out with a lot of farms in the area and was eventually pensioned off due to stress.

Thankfully nowadays, these self employed, ex farmer sorts seem far more with us, than against us.

They do seem to come from interesting backgrounds. We have been in FA since the very early days too, and most inspectors for us back then were ex-ADAS and fairly sensible. Recently we have seen ones with former careers in farm management, NIAB/TAG and similar research organisations and college lecturers. The twit (more accurate descriptive words are not allowed on this forum) we had last year was ex MAFF/DEFRA. Says it all really...

 

[ifindoubtflatout]

I’ve recently signed up on the Red Tractor website for online access
There is a checklist for the farmer to go through pre inspection to make sure all the policies are in place
Interestingly there is also all your previous inspections and the ability to give
Post-Inspection Feedback

I would urge everyone to send in Post Inspection Feedback this year and let Red Tractor know how your assessor behaved

They won’t do anything about it if they don’t know about it

 

[marshbarn]

I’ve recently signed up on the Red Tractor website for online access
There is a checklist for the farmer to go through pre inspection to make sure all the policies are in place
Interestingly there is also all your previous inspections and the ability to give
Post-Inspection Feedback

I would urge everyone to send in Post Inspection Feedback this year and let Red Tractor know how your assessor behaved

They won’t do anything about it if they don’t know about it

This is the right
Let RT know who the bad inspectors are i have told RT when inspectors have been rude and offensive and made sure that inspector was not allowed on to our farm again, likewise when an inspedtor has been polite and informative and helpful i have also told RT, the feedback option is there so use it.

 

[Brisel]

What is the craic with sampling spray tank water? I'm on mains water here. No mention of it last year. I can understand the guys using bore holes or rain water having a greater need to do it.

 

[ifindoubtflatout]

Surely if it’s mains water and therefore clean enough to drink it should be good enough to spray

 

[Wombat]

What is the craic with sampling spray tank water? I'm on mains water here. No mention of it last year. I can understand the guys using bore holes or rain water having a greater need to do it.

Wasn’t mentioned here this year???

 

[7610 super q]

Had my visit this morning. No mention of water testing. Heads up for those in Wales....pre 1991 non bunded diesel tanks could be a thing of the past. Nothing to do with RT, it's NRW that's pushing for changes in the very near future.

 

[Brisel]

Wasn’t mentioned here this year???

Just looked through the Standards booklet. Only applies to irrigation water. Little detail on what is required here.

https://assurance.redtractor.org.uk/contentfiles/Farmers-6799.pdf?_=636790172297881368

 

[kiwi pom]

They do seem to come from interesting backgrounds. We have been in FA since the very early days too, and most inspectors for us back then were ex-ADAS and fairly sensible. Recently we have seen ones with former careers in farm management, NIAB/TAG and similar research organisations and college lecturers. The twit (more accurate descriptive words are not allowed on this forum) we had last year was ex MAFF/DEFRA. Says it all really...

If the inspectors are always changing it probably means its a crap job.
Certainly not one I'd like, imagine the rubbish they have to put up with from their managers I imagine the inspections are the easy bits.

 

[Dman2]

Have you cut that branch down yet that used to rub on the side of the asbestos sheets spreading fibres everywhere
Be nice to her
Plenty of brandy in her coffee works apparently

 

[traineefarmer]

If the inspectors are always changing it probably means its a crap job.
Certainly not one I'd like, imagine the rubbish they have to put up with from their managers I imagine the inspections are the easy bits.

I don't think it's staff turnover, but more a case of inspectors are regularly rotated between members to ensure they don't become too chummy and to allow a fresh pair of eyes look at a farm.

 

[neilo]

Had my visit this morning. No mention of water testing. Heads up for those in Wales....pre 1991 non bunded diesel tanks could be a thing of the past. Nothing to do with RT, it's NRW that's pushing for changes in the very near future.

Errr, yes. That’s been on the cards for several years. It’s the only reason I put in a new tank on my Farm Business Grant application last year, as the clock was ticking already.