Red Tractor Virtual Audits

[glow worm]

Apologies if this has been discussed elsewhere and I've missed it. Red Tractor Virtual Audits. I've just been reading the requirements for this new way of doing a Red Tractor Audit and I'm wondering if anyone on here has been involved in the trials or had practical experience of one? As someone who has basic computer skills only, even less basic skills in scanning, never used Skype or Zoom etc, in an area where internet connection is quite often ****, I've read the first couple of pages and thought 'time to get out of farming girl'. I'm all for embracing new technology, and goodness knows, how we farm now is light years away from years ago, so I can do it!! BUT .. this looks horrific .. or am I just being a stick in the mud scary cat?! Will the person remotely assessing me have as much knowledge and experience of day to day farming as I have of computers? I can see the bio security advantages of it, and not just because of the current pandemic, but is it just giving office based inspectors even more distancing from the realities of farming life?

 

[colhonk]

Time to tell them to do a running jump. Threr is life without them blood suckers.

 

[deleted user 837354]

The whole industry needs to ditch red tractor and now is the prefect opportunity. It is meaningless.

 

[glow worm]

I'm sure we could all write reams about previous inspections and what we think of them but what I'm wanting to know is if anyone has actually had one under the new virtual way and what it was like.

 

[shakerator]

There is going to be a shortage of grain next year

but it’s not due to lack of stickers

 

[bobk]

There is going to be a shortage of grain next year

but it’s not due to lack of stickers

And a shortage of buyers .

 

[ewald]

I have an online audit booked for the week after next - I will let you know then!

We would all rather not have to deal with audits/inspections, but look at most other industries - most have some form of quality assurance. All we can realistically do is try to keep it as uncomplicated as possible. Sadly it is here to stay.

 

[R.B.H]

Only at trial stage as i understand, phoned them last week as got letter they thought i hadn't paid membership.
Posted cheque end of March. No one in office to open post apparently so had to make a trip to the bank to pay by other means.
Asked if i was going to get stickers answer was they were going to send me a pdf of the membership certificate once paid.
Still waiting for reply via email, hopefully all grain will be gone this month while i still have valid stickers.
Uncle wanted to tell them stick it as they couldn't be bothered to go to the office to open the post.

Edit
Just read NSF twitter page, post on there 25th March regards payment of membership, maybe they should have sent me an email direct instead of just posting it on twitter.

 

[bitwrx]

We have one booked for the week after next too. Have been talking it through with dad.

For him, the novelty factor is a huge mental load and is causing significant anxiety.

As far as I can see, it's just normal. But I've been working off farm for most of the last decade and over the last 5 years scanning, uploading, and tele/video-conferencing have become second nature. I've done whole projects without ever meeting my colleagues in real life.

It's just a matter of what your life experiences have been. In our case, those experiences are generational.

If you're struggling as you don't actually have the resources available (i.e. scanner, appropriate computer training, fast internet connection) then I'm sure the audit company will be able to make reasonable accommodations. Just phone up the auditor and have a chat.

This is all a new (and temporary) thing. I see nothing in the standard that says we *must* upload our docs to a portal; just that we have to keep the records, and presumably make them available to the auditor. If it's not in the standard, they can't fail you for it.

If I didn't have a scanner, I'd propose sending photos of the docs via WhatsApp. Make the buggers squint into their phones!

ETA: just noticed our assessor's phone no ends in 666. It's a sign!?

 

[R.B.H]

This was posted on twitter, looks like i need a smart phone.

 

[Two Tone]

If you have a good previous record of consistently having no Non-conformance, why the heck can’t they just shelve the idea of any Audit this year?

Just the same as NRoSO testing of sprayers have done till it is over.
So there is at least one question they can’t ask for a start!

 

[Tarw Coch]

If you have a good previous record of consistently having no Non-conformance, why the heck can’t they just shelve the idea of any Audit this year?

Just the same as NRoSO testing of sprayers have done till it is over.
So there is at least one question they can’t ask for a start!

Even MOT’s have been suspended, the cynic in me is sure there s only one reason they want to do this,
There’s still plenty out there who don’t use a computer and plenty more, myself included who have very poor tech ability, my only internet access is only from my phone but then again I don’t use it for anything important

 

[farmerfred86]

I was told the other day that when our grain passport stickers run out this month that the passports should be sent without stickers and mills will have to lookup to see if the business is currently assured! Really!

 

[Brisel]

I've been asked to help trial the portal and remote assessment. I did explain that I have no phone signal in the yard so won't be able to do that bit of it but they said we could just take photos of what they'd asked for. My inspection is due soon anyway but so far I've had no deadlines & I'm getting more important work dumped on me from above by people sat at home, bored, so this has had to take a back seat for now.

 

[Clive]

If you have a good previous record of consistently having no Non-conformance, why the heck can’t they just shelve the idea of any Audit this year?

Just the same as NRoSO testing of sprayers have done till it is over.
So there is at least one question they can’t ask for a start!

because it’s all about MONEY for them

never has this been more clear than now

they need to furlough staff and leach tax payers money instead, get out our bloody way for the next 6 months

 

[Clive]

I've been asked to help trial the portal and remote assessment. I did explain that I have no phone signal in the yard so won't be able to do that bit of it but they said we could just take photos of what they'd asked for. My inspection is due soon anyway but so far I've had no deadlines & I'm getting more important work dumped on me from above by people sat at home, bored, so this has had to take a back seat for now.

if we ALL say no then what are they going to do ?
did they offer to pay you for helping with their development ?

 

[Brisel]

if we ALL say no then what are they going to do ?
did they offer to pay you for helping with their development ?

Cease to exist.
No.

 

[Clive]

I was told the other day that when our grain passport stickers run out this month that the passports should be sent without stickers and mills will have to lookup to see if the business is currently assured! Really!

mills and stores should be doing that anyway, it’s a very simple search on a website to check assurance

it’s the sticker bit that is nonsense

 

[CollCrofter]

We haven't had an inspector out here for going on 2 years

 

[acorn]

I have an online audit booked for the week after next - I will let you know then!

We would all rather not have to deal with audits/inspections, but look at most other industries - most have some form of quality assurance. All we can realistically do is try to keep it as uncomplicated as possible. Sadly it is here to stay.

.....this is true BUT in any other industry you would be able to employ another member of staff to deal with the extra paper pushing AND would be able to pass on the COST......