Glen Armbuster, Corndale, keeps simple records of what he does on the farm which were adequate for the Livestock Production Assurance (LPA) audit.

North coast beef producer Glen Armbuster, Corndale, admits to being a bit worried when notified that he was about to be audited as part of the Livestock Production Assurance(LPA) program.

Every day, thousands of National Vendor Declarations (NVDs) are filled in by beef producers and accompany cattle on every movement to saleyards, abattoirs, feedlots and between properties.

Now it was up to Glen to show the evidence that backed up the information he had provided about his cattle on NVD declarations.

He had been randomly selected as one of 2000 cattle producers being audited each year under the Livestock Production Assurance (LPA) program.

'I must admit I was pretty apprehensive about it but looking back I had nothing really to worry about,' he said.

'Before the audit I received plenty of advice and had time to make sure I was adequately prepared using the information sent out by the LPA administrators as a guide.'

Glen keeps simple, but adequate, records of what he does on farm - the key is his farm diary.

He records in that all details regarding what animals or mobs he treats with a chemical, what was used, treatment date, dose rate and when the animal is free from a Withholding Period (WHP) or Export Slaughter Interval (ESI).

A minor non-compliance was detected regarding the property risk assessment requirement. Glen was aware of the risk sites on his property such as around old sheds, disused dairies, and power poles but he had not formally recorded them on a property map/plan.

With assistance of the auditor, Glen produced a hand drawn map and marked in the sites together with some notes regarding how they were being managed to avoid any potential residue problems.

'Looking back now, being audited was not as worrying as I thought it may be, instead the auditor was very accommodating and helpful,' said Glen.

Graeme Booth, an LPA auditor based at Alstonville on the north coast, said if your PIC is selected, the LPA administration advises you well in advance by letter.

'Then an auditor like myself rings to arrange a suitable time for the actual on-farm visit,' he said.

'LPA also mails to you a kit of information advising what you will need to have available when I visit.

'On the day, I look at how the five elements outlined in the information kit have been addressed on farm.'

The five elements are:

1. Property risk assessment
2. Safe and responsible animal treatments
3. Fodder crop, grain and pasture treatments and stock feeds
4. Preparation and dispatch of livestock
5. Livestock transactions and movements.

For example, regarding property risk assessment, the auditor asks about the essential requirements which are:

• A map of the property (hand drawn is fine) with risk sites such as old building sites, power poles, dip sites, rubbish dumps etc. marked on it. These are sites where persistent chemicals may have been used or disposed of in the past.
• A brief statement about how those sites are managed, eg. ensuring good grass coverage through grazing management or restricting livestock access.
• Results of abattoir samples submitted for residue testing from that Property Identification Code. (This may require advice from the Rural Lands Protection Board.)

'I also look to make sure chemicals are stored safely and the storage area is secure from access by livestock, and that a recording system with details of animal treatments is kept, among a range of other requirements outlined in the information kit,' he said.

The LPA auditor is looking for the property owner to show how they are meeting the outcomes required in the five elements.

This story appears in Agriculture Today.