The Red Meat Profit Partnership, OSPRI and Silver Fern Farms are testing technology that lets farmers file animal status declaration (ASD) forms electronically by Smartphone or over the internet.
SFF agribusiness technical support manager Melissa Sowden said last year 1700 ASD forms handled by the company’s Finegand plant in South Otago were not correctly filled out.
The company calculated it took on average 10 minutes a form for a staff member to chase up the farmer to get them completed correctly – the equivalent of working 24 hours for 12 days.
Some omissions or mistakes took half a day to correct.
Sowden said the ASD form was a legal document and stock could not be processed until it was completed correctly.
“A lot of farmers don’t understand this is a legal document.
“We legally can’t process any stock unless this is correctly filled out.”
The electronic ASD system could be filed with the processor only when it had been completely filled in, which removed the problem of omissions.
The trial involved stock sent to SFF’s Finegand plant near Balclutha and Sowden said the 60 farmers, company field reps and staff testing the system were all enthused.
“It’s working and it’s easy. Farmers think it’s a great idea.”
The form could be filled in on a Smartphone app or computer with the document automatically filed with the processor and OSPRI.
The transport operator was notified by email that a form had been lodged and a version was stored electronically for the farmer.
Information that did not change, such as the farmer’s name, trading names, address, contact details, NAIT and AHB numbers were all automatically retained once entered.
As well as information required by OSPRI and the Ministry for Primary Industries, individual meat companies could add their own requests for information and details.
Sowden said the trial was confined to sheep and beef but could easily be rolled out for deer.
Gore farmer Julie Crawford praised the system, saying it was clear, easy to use and, importantly, forms could not be filed if there was a mistake.
“I think it is a lot clearer, easy to understand and you can send it away the night before if you wish.”
A Red Meat Profit Partnership spokesman said the trial had been extended until the middle of the year when would be evaluated.
