WHY HAVE A QUALITY PLAN?

The Farm Quality Plan is a declaration of the methods you will use to ensure your farm meets – and continues to meet – the standards set down in the Grower Accreditation Criteria.

The Farm Quality Plan helps you to develop and document a management system tailored to your particular property and farming operation while making sure all elements of the Criteria are being met.

During on-farm visits, accredited assessors will check how well your Farm Quality Plan meets the Grower Accreditation Criteria.

NAME OF PROPERTY _____________________________________________________________

WOOL BRAND ____________________________SHEEP BREEDS_________________________

NUMBER OF SHEEP (BY BREED) ____________________________________________________

NUMBER OF SHEARING STANDS ____________________________________________________

ADDRESS _______________________________________________________________________

NAME OF OWNER _________________________________________________________________

NAME OF MANAGER _______________________________________________________________

NAME OF PERSON COMPLETING THIS QUALITY PLAN ____________________________________

PHONE __________________________________________________________________________

Contents

SECTION 1: FACILITIES REQUIRED

1.1 MAINTENANCE

1.2 SAFETY

HEALTH & GOOD EMPLOYMENT PRATICE

1.4 NOTICE BOARD

1.5 WOOLSHED LIGHTING

1.6 CONTAINERS

1.7 WOOL TABLE

SECTION 2: PREVENTING CONTAMINATION

2.1 RUBBISH CONTAINERS

2.2 ASHTRAYS

2.3 CONTAMINATING FIBRES

2.4 WORKING ENVIRONMENT

2.5 TOWEL & CLOTHES HOOKS

2.6 SHEEP MARKING PRODUCTS

2.7 DOGS

2.8 CLEANING UP

2.9 WOOL PRESS BARS

SECTION 3: IMPORTANT PROCEDURES

3.1 ANIMAL WELFARE

3.2 DIP RESIDUES

SECTION 4: SHEEP PREPARATION

4.1 DAGS & URINE STAIN

4.2 PEN STAIN (SHED STAIN)

4.3 DRY WOOL

4.4 DRAFTING TO SEPARATE MOBS

4.5 BLACK & COLOURED ANIMALS

SECTION 5: STANDARDS & RECORDS

5.1 CODE OF PRACTICE STANDARDS

5.2 FARM RECORDS & DOCUMENTATION

SECTION 6: STAFF REQUIREMENTS

6.1 RESPONSIBILITY FOR PROVISION OF STAFF

6.2 MINIMUM SHEARER STANDARDS

6.3 MINIMUM WOOL HANDLER STANDARDS

6.4 WOOL PRESSER

6.5 STAFF CONTINUITY

SECTION 7: BALE PRESSING, IDENTIFICATION & TRANSPORT

7.1 WOOLSHED SUPPLIES

7.2 WOOL PACKS

7.3 WOOL PACKAGING STANDARDS

7.4 WOOL TRANSPORT

7.5 WOOL SPECIFICATION

7.6 PACKAGING FOR MILL CONTRACTS

SECTION 8: MILL CONTRACTS (GENERAL)

8.1 VARIATIONS TO NORMAL CRITERIA

SECTION 9: FAILURE TO MEET ACCREDITATION CRITERIA

9.1 NON-COMPLYING CLIPS

IMPORTANT:

This farm quality plan must be completed by the person responsible for:

Putting the Plan into practice

Future compliance with the Plan

Before completing the Farm Quality Plan, first read the Grower Accreditation Criteria (see text in the shaded boxes) and the step by step instructions “So you want to be a Fernmark Accredited Grower ...”

Before answering each question in your Plan, please read the relevant part of the Criteria first, so you fully understand what the question is all about.

To become an accredited grower you must meet all the requirements in the Criteria. They are compulsory. You should (but are not required to) follow the recommendations which are also included in the Criteria. These are advisory.

SECTION 1: FACILITIES REQUIRED

1.1 MAINTENANCE

Requirement

All the equipment provided for shearing, wool handling and pressing must be clean and adequately maintained.

This equipment may include, but is not limited to, shearing plant, grinder, wool press and wool table.

When do you carry out your maintenance checks on the following?

Shearing plant

Grinder

Wool press

Wool table

Other (specify)

1.2 SAFETY

1.2.1 Occupational Safety & Health Act

Requirement

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act the woolshed and its surrounds must be made a safe environment in which to work.

Recommendation

Growers should take all practical steps needed to ensure they comply with the Act.

Booklets on the Act and how it applies to farm workplaces are available free of charge from the Occupational Safety and Health Service of the Department of Labour. A comprehensive manual on the topic is also available for a fee from Federated Farmers.

These publications will help you identify and fix potential hazards, and to minimise any potential legal liability.

Some typical safety requirements which growers may consider appropriate for their woolshed are:

No children should be allowed in the shed unless they are under the direct supervision of a person who is not involved in shearing or wool handling.

All broken or weakened floorboards, gratings, stairs or ramps should be repaired or replaced before shearing and whenever they occur.

Safety goggles or glasses should be provided for shearers using the grinder(s).

Note: you are responsible for the safety and behaviour of your contractor’s employees as well as for your own workers. In other words, if you see a contractor’s employee doing something dangerous, you have a legal duty to stop them.

1.2.2 Spline Drives

Recommendation

It is strongly recommended that all shearing plants have a spline drive short gut. This is an important safety measure to minimise the risk of injury from handpiece lockups.

1.3 HEALTH & GOOD EMPLOYMENT PRACTICE

Recommendation

Hand washing facilities and a clean operating toilet should be provided. Clean drinking water is essential for employee health and is a requirement under the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Supply tanks should be checked before shearing begins, to ensure they are free of contamination.

1.4 NOTICE BOARD

Requirement

There must be a notice board located in a prominent position in the wool room. This will be used to inform staff and contractors of the ...

Clip preparation requirements

Classes of Sheep, Number in Each Mob & Mob Order

Where will the notice board be installed in the wool room?

1.5 WOOL SHED LIGHTING

Requirement

The woolshed must have good, consistent light in the wool handling areas. Natural light cannot be relied upon at all times of the working day and must be supplemented with artificial lighting.

1.5.1 Lighting Levels

The type of light must be in the daylight range with a colour rendering index of at least 85. All tubes must be 1.5 m long and fitted in pairs with clean reflectors.

The objective is a minimum light level of 400 lux at all times in the wool handling areas.

For advice on suitable tubes please contact Meat & Wool innovations.

State brand of fluorescent tubes installed

1.5.2 Light Placement

To achieve the required lighting level, lights must be installed over all wool handling areas. These include the shearing board in all cases and the table or blending heap, whichever is appropriate.

Wool table

Lights with double 1.5 m tubes placed lengthwise 1.4 m above the centre of the table

Blend heap

Lights with double 1.5 m tubes placed 2.2 m above the floor over the centre of the blend heap

Shearing board

Lights placed 2.2 m above the shearing board in the following arrangements:

State the number and position of lights over the:

table/blend heap

shearing board

How many spare tubes are available?

How often are the light reflectors cleaned?

CONTAINERS

1.6.1 Bins and Fadge Holders

Requirement

There must be enough bins and fadge holders in the woolshed to allow staff to make the required number of fleece and oddment lines. This includes separate bins for main fleece lines and key oddments, along with separate containers when required for ...

Dags

Urine Stains (must be labelled)

Black Wool (must be labelled)

Skin Pieces

Raddles

Acceptable containers for oddment lines are wool packs, solid plastic containers, cardboard boxes, plastic drench containers, drums and baskets. Sacks and bags, such as fertiliser bags must not be used for this purpose.

Number of bins

Number of fadge holders

1.6.2 Fadge Fastening Devices

Requirement

All the hooks, pins, clips or nails used to hold fadges in position must be permanently attached. This is to prevent them from falling into the wool and later causing expensive damage to mill machinery.

What are oddment containers made of if wool packs are not used?

Are all fadge holding devices permanently attached? Y/N

1.7 WOOL TABLE

If full wool sheep are to be shorn, the fleece wool is best skirted on a wool table.

Recommendation

A maximum of 1000 fleeces per wool table can normally be handled in a 9 hour day. If the shearing rate exceeds this an extra table(s) should be installed.

There are a range of shapes available, but the minimum size table surface area is 1.2 m x 2.4 m (or 2 m in diameter for round tables).

SECTION 2: PREVENTING CONTAMINATION

2.1 RUBBISH CONTAINERS

Requirement

Clearly marked rubbish containers of a suitable size must always be present in the shed and empty at the start of shearing.

The number needed will depend on the size and layout of the shed. It is essential to have at least two – one in the wool room and one by the grinder.

Containers must be of a suitable design; for example, woolshed rubbish containers or conventional rubbish bins.

Note: Do not use fertiliser bags or sacks, because of the risk of contamination.

Number of container(s)?

2.2 ASHTRAYS

Requirement

If smoking is permitted on the shearing board and in the wool room ashtrays must be provided. If smoking is not permitted, “no smoking” signs must be displayed and enforced.

Is smoking permitted? Y/N

IF SO . . .

Are ashtray(s) available in wool room and shearing board? Y/N

IF NOT . . .

Are “no smoking” signs displayed? Y/N

2.3 CONTAMINATING FIBRES

2.3.1 Potential Contaminants

Artificial and natural fibres – and synthetic twine from hay bales in particular – are serious contaminants of wool.

Requirement

Polypropylene, sisal and hemp in the form of string, twine, bags or fabric for any purpose, must not be present in the woolshed or yards. This includes, but is not limited to, ties on fences/gates/partitions, shearing machine cord, exit chute (porthole) covers, pads on catching pen doors, sun/wind/condensation shields in the woolshed or yards.

The wrapping fabric and metal straps used to wrap bales of wool packs is another potential source of contamination. These must be removed from the woolshed before shearing begins.

The woolshed roof lining material must not be frayed.

2.3.2 Acceptable Products

So long as they are unfrayed and otherwise in good condition, the following items are acceptable in the woolshed:

Shearing machine pull cords: Nylon or cotton sash cord.

Catching pen door pads (if present): Cotton, canvas, vinyl coated fabrics, wool pack fabrics – all pads must be in good condition, ie. not frayed.

Wool press ropes: Supplied by the manufacturer of the press.

Rope above wool press: As for shearing machine pull cords.

Ropes used for lift and swing gates: To be made of unfrayed twisted rope or wire rope.

How often are the shed, sheep yards and access ways checked and cleaned?

State the material and the condition of the:

Shearing machine pull cords

Catching pen door pads

Wool press ropes

Rope above press

Cord used for lift and swing gates

Woolshed roof lining material

2.4 WORKING ENVIRONMENT

Requirement

The woolshed must be clean and tidy before shearing begins to avoid the possibility of contamination. If necessary, the floor and board should be washed.

All articles or products that are not essential for the shearing and wool preparation activity (such as chemicals, bags of fertiliser and animal feed) must be removed from the shed or stored away from the shearing board and wool handling areas. These are defined as the areas where the wool is shorn, sorted, skirted, pressed and stored.

The sheep yards must be cleared of rubbish and twine.

The area where bales are to be stored must be clean and dry.

Before the start of shearing, all loose wool must be baled or put in labelled containers or fadges.

Recommendation

Smoko rooms or areas where food is consumed should be cleaned before and after use.

Is the woolshed used for storage of other material when not in use for shearing? Y/N

If Yes, please state type of material stored

2.5 TOWEL & CLOTHES HOOKS

Requirement

There must be enough securely attached towel and clothes hooks/pegs/wires/chains or nylon cord for shearers to use during work. Clothing and towels must not be stored in the wool handling, classing and pressing areas.

Is there adequate provision made for hanging up towels and clothes? Y/N

Are these securely attached and located outside the wool handling and pressing area? Y/N

2.6 SHEEP MARKING PRODUCTS

Requirement

All raddle, crayon and aerosol marks must be removed during wool preparation.

Sheep must only be marked with approved sheep marking aerosols, raddles or crayons.

An approved product must be available in the woolshed during shearing to enable shearers to identify sheep which have black spots.

Recommendation

Aerosols should be applied only to the ear or nose of the sheep. Marking of sheep during pregnancy scanning may make this recommendation difficult to observe.

What products are you using (aerosol, raddle, crayon, other)? State type and brand

2.7 DOGS

Requirement

To prevent contamination of the wool with dog hair, unsupervised dogs must not be allowed in shearing or wool handling areas. Only supervised working dogs may cross these areas for yarding purposes during shearing.

State clearly where dogs will be confined or tethered

2.8 CLEANING UP

Requirement

The shearing and wool handling area must be thoroughly cleared of any rubbish before each shearing run begins.

2.9 WOOL PRESS BARS

Recommendation

The press bars used to hold the flaps in place when pressing should be permanently attached to the press.

SECTION 3: IMPORTANT PROCEDURES

3.1 ANIMAL WELFARE

High standards of animal welfare have always been an important part of good animal husbandry. However, they are now of even greater importance in overseas markets, as more affluent consumers look for products which are produced in systems which they believe to be friendly to both animals and the environment.

3.1.1 Code for the Welfare of Sheep

Accredited growers should comply with the minimum standards of the “Code of Recommendations and Minimum Standards for the Welfare of Sheep” published by the Animal Welfare Advisory Committee in June 1996. (These are included in the Reference section of this Manual).

3.1.2 Winter Shearing

Requirement

Accredited growers who shear during the colder months must explain in their Quality Plan how they will protect their shorn sheep from exposure in the event of bad weather.

Recommendation

When planning shearing during winter or months when there is a high risk of adverse weather all sheep should be shorn with winter combs or blades.

When deciding on winter shearing, consideration must be given to:

the location of the property and the identification of any features that may impact on potential risk

the number of sheep normally shorn at each shearing

the availability of shelter, both natural and manmade

Do you shear pregnant ewes during high risk months? Y/N

Do you shear lambs and/or hoggets during high risk months? Y/N

Do you use winter combs or blades? Y/N

What shelter is available in the event of bad weather following shearing?

3.2 DIP RESIDUES

Requirement

Dip residues in the New Zealand wool clip need to be kept within limits which are acceptable to overseas and New Zealand wool processors. To achieve this, sheep must not be shorn within the withholding period for the breed.

Dipping includes saturation treatments, jetting and pour-ons applied to manufacturers’ directions of use, but does not include spot treatments.

3.2.1 Withholding Periods & Application Technique

At present, a 60-day withholding period is the general recommendation for all sheep, but dips degrade less rapidly in fine wools, so accredited clips must conform to the withholding periods listed below. This applies no matter what product sheep are dipped with.

Crossbreds

Must not be shorn within the 60 days after dipping.

Mid-micron

Must not be shorn within the 100 days after dipping.

Merino

Must not be shorn within the 180 days after dipping.

What is the Withholding Period for your breed?

3.2.2 Dipping technique restrictions

Note: Dip technique restrictions apply only to fine wool sheep ie breeds with a Merino genetic base eg Merino, Polwarth, Halfbred, Corriedale, Cormo, Quarter-bred

Requirement

High volume saturation dipping techniques (such as shower, mini shower or plunge dipping) must not be used on fine wool sheep with greater than eight weeks wool growth.

These techniques, when applied to long wool (ie especially fine wool sheep with greater than eight weeks growth) have been identified as generating extremely high dip residues on wool at shearing.

Wools that have a residue test certificate showing dip residues at less than 2 mg/kg total Synthetic Pyrethroids (SP), and less than 5 mg/kg total Organophosphate (OP) on the fibre, may still be sold as QA lots. When requesting residue tests farmers should identify the dip brand applied.

Dipping technique recommendations can be found in the publication “Fly and Lice: Numbering their Days” available from Meat & Wool Innovations or your dip chemical supplier.

If a Fernmark Quality Programme accredited lot is found to contain dip residues greater than 10 mg/kg total dip residue (IGR SP+OP), then that farm will be required to provide a dip residue certificate on all wool categories (ewe, wether and hoggets) to be sold in the next season before FQP status can be confirmed.

What is your method of dip application?

3.2.3 Shearing & Dipping Records

Requirement

Shearing & Dipping Records must be completed for each stock class of sheep dipped and show the ...

Date sheep were dipped

Numbers and class(es) of sheep

The brand of dip used and dilution rate

Dipping technique used

The average weight/per animal where the dose is determined by animal liveweight

Actual shearing date

Where do you record your dipping and shearing information?

3.2.4 Restricted Dips

Requirement

Only licensed and registered remedies may be used. Sheep must not be dipped with any product containing dichlofenthion, such as TRIGON DFF.

What dips do you use? (include pour-ons and saturation products)

SECTION 4: SHEEP PREPARATION

4.1 DAGS & URINE STAIN

Requirement

Sheep must be presented for shearing free of dags and urine stained wool. To achieve this, a range of husbandry options may be adopted, including ...

Crutching (and in the case of wethers, pizzling) within the three months before shearing

AND/OR ...

Dagging about two weeks before shearing. (Dagging any closer than seven days before shearing is not recommended, as any pen stain which occurs during dagging may not have enough time to clear.)

Other options may be acceptable, provided they result in the sheep being presented for shearing free of dags and urine stain.

When are sheep crutched or dagged prior to shearing?

4.2 PEN STAIN (SHED STAIN)

To reduce the likelihood of pen stain, all sheep need to be held in an area with no feed available and sufficient space to prevent them rubbing against each other while they empty. The time it takes for sheep to empty will depend on the sort of feed they have been grazing.

Requirement

Where sheep become pen stained, the stained wool must be kept separate and described for sale purposes as “pen stained wool”.

When and where do you allow sheep to empty out prior to shearing?

When?

Where?

What action will you take if a mob does become pen stained?

4.3 DRY WOOL

Requirement

Sheep must be dry at time of shearing.

4.4 DRAFTING TO SEPARATE MOBS

Requirement

Sheep must be shorn in mobs based on similar wool type.

4.4.1 Breed

Recommendation

Sheep of different breeds should be separated before shearing and their wool kept separate.

4.4.2 Age

Requirement

Lambs, hoggets and adult sheep must be shorn as separate mobs.

4.4.3 Sex

Requirement

Ewes and wethers must be shorn as separate mobs to reduce the possibility of urine stain downgrading all belly wool.

4.4.4 Wool Length

Requirement

Separate sheep that have been previously shorn at different times must be shorn as separate mobs.

Note: Differing wool lengths are likely to occur if some sheep have been bought in.

What mobs require drafting before shearing and why?

eg age, breed, length of wool

4.5 BLACK & COLOURED ANIMALS

Dark animal fibres can greatly reduce the value of a line of wool. Every effort needs to be made to ensure that fleeces do not come in contact with fibres, especially at shearing.

Recommendation

Accredited growers should not farm or shear black, coloured or black-faced sheep, goats and camelids on their property. This is particularly important in the case of Merinos, because of the extremely negative impact of black fibres in the manufacture of fine apparel.

Requirement

If black, coloured and black-faced animals are farmed they must not be shorn at the same shearing as white sheep.

If black, coloured or black-faced animals are shorn, all white wool must first be thoroughly cleared away from the shearing board (and wool room if necessary).

After shearing, the shearing board (and wool room if necessary) must be thoroughly cleaned and the black or coloured wool immediately packed up, clearly identified and removed from the shearing board and wool room area.

4.5.1 Sheep With Black Spots

Requirement

All shearers must be instructed to advise the wool handler of black wool when sheep with black spots are shorn. The black wool must be removed immediately from the fleece and placed in the black wool container. The shearer must also mark the sheep and advise the grower.

Are you farming any sheep, goats or camelids with coloured fibres? Y/N

What procedures do you have to prevent coloured fibre contamination?

What do you do about sheep with black spots?

SECTION 5: STANDARDS & RECORDS

5.1 CODE OF PRACTICE STANDARDS

Requirement

All wool preparation must be carried out according to the New Zealand Wool Industry Code of Practice for Clip Preparation. This Code has been approved by all industry sectors and lays down the minimum standards of wool preparation in New Zealand.

The Code must be available in the woolshed. A copy of the Code is included in the Reference section.

Any special clip preparation requirements determined by either the classer or grower must meet or exceed the minimum standards. These special requirements must be discussed with the wool preparation staff and displayed on the notice board.

Is the Code of Practice displayed on the notice board? Y/N

Do you understand all the requirements of the Code? Y/N

Are all wool preparation instructions consistent with the Code
and displayed on the notice board? Y/N

5.2 FARM RECORDS & DOCUMENTATION

Details from Previous Shearings

Requirement

Information about wools sent for sale during the current and previous season must be collated before shearing, as they usually form the basis for wool preparation decisions. These records might include ...

Reports from the selling agent or buyer

Test results

Line descriptions

Appropriate information must be made available to the classer and wool handlers as required by the Farm Quality Plan.

What information is available?

Test results Y/N

Lines descriptions Y/N

Number of bales in each line Y/N

Reports from the selling agent or buyer Y/N

Other (specify)

5.2.2 Details of Classes and Number of Sheep to be Shorn

Requirement

Details of the classes of sheep to be shorn, the number of sheep in each mob and the mob order must be displayed on the notice board. This information is needed for wool preparation and pressing decisions.

What information is available? Y/N

Classes of sheep to be shorn Y/N

Approximate number of sheep in each mob Y/N

Mob order Y/N

Grower Checklist

Requirement

The grower, the person in charge of wool preparation and the accredited shearing contractor (if employed) must complete and sign their section of the Checklist. A copy must be forwarded to the broker or wool merchant with the specifications.

The Checklists must be retained by each party for three years.

Grower Checklist pads are available from Meat & Wool Innovations offices, accredited wool brokers and accredited wool merchants.

To whom do you send the original copy of each Checklist?

Where do you keep your copies of the Checklist?

SECTION 6: STAFF REQUIREMENTS

6.1 RESPONSIBILITY FOR PROVISION OF STAFF

When an accredited shearing contractor is used, provision of qualified shearing and wool handling staff are the contractor’s responsibility.

In an open shed, or when a non-accredited shearing contractor is used, the accredited grower has responsibility for the provision of qualified shearing and wool handling staff, even though some or all of the staff may be supplied as part of the shearing contract.

Is an accredited shearing contractor used? Y/N

IF NOT …

How do you ensure that shearers and wool handlers meet the necessary standards?

6.2 MINIMUM SHEARER STANDARDS

6.2.1 Junior Shearing Certificate Holders

Requirement

All shearers in the shed (other than a designated learner) must have a Meat & Wool Innovations junior or higher level shearing certificate.

6.2.2 Learner Shearers

Requirement

There is an allowance for one learner shearer in a shed of three stands or more. If learner shearers are used, the accredited grower must arrange for their supervision.

6.2.3 Merinos

Requirement

All shearers in accredited Merino sheds, other than the designated learner, must hold a Meat & Wool Innovations Fine Wool Shearing Endorsement.

How many certificated shearers do you normally need?

Do you require shearers with a Fine Wool Shearing Endorsement? Y/N

Are learner shearers used? Y/N

IF SO ...

What provision is made for their supervision?

6.3 MINIMUM WOOL HANDLER STANDARDS

Requirement

All wool preparation must be controlled by a qualified person and a minimum number of certificated wool handling staff must be employed.

The level of qualification of the controller and the number of qualified wool handlers required will depend on the type of wool and number of stands.

How many wool handlers are required?

How many certificated wool handlers are required?

Is a wool classer required? Y/N

IF YES . . .

What category of classer would normally be present?

Wool Handling Controller or Classer

Requirement

A designated Wool Handling Controller or Classer must be appointed for each shearing. This person, who must be in the shed throughout shearing, is responsible for ensuring wool preparation standards are met, supervising the wool handling staff (except where a different leading hand is appointed by an Accredited Shearing Contractor) and for signing the Grower Checklist.

The qualified Wool Handling Controller must meet the following requirements for each of the specified wool types:

Crossbred

All crossbred clips must be prepared by either:

A registered wool classer in the crossbred category. This may be either a professional shed classer (including provisional) or an owner classer (in the case of an accredited grower classing their own clip)

A Q Stencil holder

A Meat & Wool Innovations senior wool handling certificate holder.

Halfbred/Corriedale

A registered wool classer in the Halfbred/Corriedale category. This may be either a professional shed classer (including provisional) or an owner classer (in the case of accredited growers classing their own clip).

Merino

A registered wool classer in the Merino category. This may be either a professional shed classer (including provisional) or an owner classer (in the case of accredited growers classing their own clip).

6.3.2 Wool Handler Qualifications

Requirement

Qualified wool handlers must have attained a Meat & Wool Innovations Senior Wool handling Certificate in the appropriate category for the wool being handled, eg 2/S, full wool or fine wool (see Reference section).

Wool Handling Certificates are issued in three categories: Second Shear, Full Fleece and Fine Wool. A certificate endorsed in the appropriate category for the wool being prepared must be held.

The following chart indicates the minimum number of qualified wool handlers, including the Wool Handling Controller.

6.3.3 Number of Wool Handlers

Requirement

There must be enough wool handlers present during shearing to prepare the clip to the standards laid down in the New Zealand Wool Industry Code of Practice for Clip Preparation.

While as a general rule, there should be a wool handler/shearer ratio of 1:1 this may vary, depending on . . .

The type of wool/sheep being shorn

The layout of the shed

The skill of the staff

What wool handler/shearer ratio is normally used in your shed?

6.4 WOOL PRESSER

Requirement

The presser must be instructed by the accredited grower or contractor on the operation of the press and the packaging standards required.

What procedures do you have for instructing the presser on the operation of the press and the correct packaging standards?

6.5 STAFF CONTINUITY

Recommendation

To ensure wool handling standards are consistent, the Wool Handling Controller should not change during shearing, other than in the event of ill-health or personal crisis. Every effort should also be made to ensure there are no changes in other staff during shearing.

SECTION 7: BALE PRESSING, IDENTIFICATION & TRANSPORT

WOOLSHED SUPPLIES

Requirement

New wool packs, bale clips, marker pens, branding fluid, pressing book (and pencil or pen) and paper for bale dividers must be available before shearing. Bale clips should be stored close to the press in a secure location to ensure that they do not fall in the wool.

Recommendation

Bale labels should be used for identification of brand, wool description, bale number and classer stencil.

Branding fluids

If branding fluids are used, only those designed specifically for marking wool packs may be applied.

What type of bale identification system do you use?

7.2 WOOL PACKS

Requirement

New industry specification wool packs, appropriate to the type of wool must be used.
The only exception is for the use of recycled packs in mill contracts (See 7.6 below).

Crossbred & Mid-micron

All wool must be packed in new packs. These may be polyethylene or nylon.

Merino

In order to meet customer requirements for minimal contamination, the fine section of the clip needs to be packed in nylon.

All Merino wool must be packed into new nylon wool packs.

What type of wool pack do you use?

Tick box

WOOL PACKAGING STANDARDS

Requirement

There must be no wool that may become contaminated exposed or protruding from the bale.

All wool bales must be clearly and uniquely identified with the farm name and bale number using the attached label. Labels should be filled out using:

Spirit based marker pens and inks, or

Spirit based stamps, or

Broker/buyer supplied stick-on labels.

The presser must also accurately record each bale number and contents in the pressing book before removing the bale from the press.

When do you:

Fill in the bale label?

Transfer information into the Press Book?

WOOL TRANSPORT

Recommendation

Accredited growers should ensure the:

Truck deck area is free of protrusions and contaminating materials or liquids.

Bales are handled with care to avoid damage.

Load is properly secured and protected against all weather conditions.

The grower is advised to specifically request that these requirements are met when arranging transport and to check when the truck arrives to collect the wool.

7.5 WOOL SPECIFICATION

Requirement

Each consignment of bales leaving the shed must be accompanied by a specification form. These forms, which are supplied by the broker, must be neatly and accurately completed by the accredited grower, classer or wool controller.

Who fills in these specification forms?

7.6 PACKAGING FOR MILL CONTRACTS

Where an accredited grower has a contract supply arrangement with, or directly linked to, a yarn spinner or topmaker and the contract specifically provides for the use of recycled wool packs, the wool supplied under the contract may be packed in Packmark branded recycled packs.

Wool that is subsequently not supplied to the contract and not supplied to another contract with a spinner or topmaker allowing for recycled wool packs may not be sold with the accredited offering.

Requirement

If an accredited grower has entered into such a contract supply arrangement, their Farm Quality Plan must show a means of ensuring wool not supplied under the contract will not be packed in recycled wool packs.

Do you have a direct supply contract with a NZ manufacturer or mill? Y/N

IF SO …

Do you use recycled packes? Y/N

Where do you store your recycled packs?

How to you ensure that non-contract wool is packed to normal FQP standards?

SECTION 8: MILL CONTRACTS (GENERAL)

8.1 VARIATIONS TO NORMAL CRITERIA

Requirement

An accredited grower may enter a contract supply arrangement with a yarn spinner or topmaker with specifications which differ from the Grower Accreditation Criteria. This wool may be prepared and supplied in accordance with the contract arrangements, but adequate contract documentation must be available to satisfy the programme assessors.

An accredited grower who has entered into such a contract supply arrangement, must explain in their Farm Quality Plan how they will ensure that wool not supplied under the contract is prepared according to the Grower Accreditation Criteria.

Wool prepared to the contract specifications, which is subsequently not supplied to the contract, cannot be sold as accredited wool.

ANSWER ONLY IF YOU HAVE A DIRECT SUPPLY CONTRACT

In what way do the terms of the contract differ from the normal Fernmark Quality Programme Accreditation Criteria?

How do you ensure that non-contract wool conforms with the Grower Accreditation Criteria?

Attach a copy of the contract specifications to this Quality Plan.

SECTION 9: FAILURE TO MEET ACCREDITATION CRITERIA

9.1 NON-COMPLYING CLIPS

If a grower fails to comply with elements of the Grower Accreditation Criteria, the resulting line(s) of wool may also fail to comply with accreditation standards. The response actions that must be taken when the wool is sold are detailed in the Reference section.

If, for what ever reason, you are unable to comply with the requirements of the Accreditation Criteria, how will you record that occurrence?