Fodder Care is AFIA’s quality procedure program that aims to recognise professionalism in hay and silage production. AFIA is the peak industry body for fodder producers, contractors and exporters. With Australian hay and silage production valued at over $2b each year, AFIA undertakes to actively represent and further develop an efficient, safe and sustainable industry for all stakeholders.

 

Through AFIA hay producers can become accredited with Fodder Care to distinguish themselves to their prospective clients as industry professionals. AFIA Fodder Care accredited member Jarrod O’Sullivan says “Many of our clients are now placing a great deal of emphasis on traceability and chemical applications when purchasing hay. Not only can they be assured our records back up our product but they get the benefit of a streamlined auditing process with less paperwork”

 

Growers producing Fodder Care hay and silage adhere to guidelines that require producers to carry out and record the following:

1.       Paddock inspections

2.       Chemical spray diaries

3.       Harvest details

This information is recorded electronically on AFIA’s web based Fodder Care program and is permanently and securely stored on a central server, which provides a pathway of traceability from the bale, back to the paddock it was produced from and the chemical history for that paddock. One of the unique features of the Fodder Care program is that the recorded chemical information is cross referenced against the AVPMA database of agricultural chemicals and any off the label use is automatically alerted to the producer.

 

What does this logo mean and how is it used?

Once hay producers have been accredited they must show that they have chemical records in the online system, it is at this point that AFIA issues the Fodder Care logo which is embedded onto the hay producers invoices. 

 

      

 

Where do I find a Fodder Care hay producer?

Accredited hay producers will be promoted and identifiable with contact details on the AFIA website www.afia.org.au  Those without internet access can simply phone the AFIA office on 03 9530 2199 and they will provide you with contact details of accredited producers.

 

Nick McClelland, Industry Development Manager, AFIA