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Fertcare Assessed Systems

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December 03, 2023
Fertcare Assessed Systems

Many advisors use nutrient decision support systems to interpret soil and plant analysis results and aid the creation of recommendations. Systems which have been Fertcare® assessed by an independent auditor are able to offer various levels of Fertcare service to their users.

Nutrient decision support systems are able to be recognised as competence in a number of industry/farming sectors by Fertcare. These segment include:

    • broadacre crops,
    • cotton,
    • dairy,
    • pastures,
    • sugarcane,
    • orchards, vineyards and tropical fruits, and
    • vegetables.

This change is being progressively implemented from July 2020. As systems are audited over the coming two year cycle, each systems industry sector competence will be listed. 

 

 Fertcare Full Service Systems:

  • Meet all five FAA Performance Standard Areas
  • Has a documented process in place to assess the initial competence of advisors who are granted access to their system.
  • Has a FAA approved internal audit program of users. 

Full Service System Managers can recommend initial FAA status for individuals and FAA renewals. The biennial FAA licence fee is administered through the System Manager. FS systems offer advisors FAA status in a simple one stop solution. 

Fertcare Qualifying Systems:

  • Meet all five FAA Performance Standard Areas
  • Has a documented process in place to assess the initial competence of advisors who are granted access to their system.

Qualifying systems can recommend your initial FAA status. To maintain FAA status, advisors need to engage a peer review auditor to undertake their biennial audit. The FAA licence fee is administered through the System Manager for the advisors initial accreditation. Subsequent biennial FAA renewals are administered through the Fertcare Customer Service Manager. Systems currently able to offer Fertcare Qualifying Service are:

  • NUlogic: Assessed as competent in broadacre crops, dairy, pastures, orchards - vineyards - tropical fruits, and vegetables.  

  • Nutrient Advantage Advice: Assessed as competent in broadacre crops, cotton, dairy, pastures, sugarcane, orchards - vineyards - tropical fruits, and vegetables.   

  • Soilmate: Assessed as competent in broadacre crops, cotton, dairy, pastures, sugarcane, orchards - vineyards - tropical fruits, and vegetables. 

Fertcare Interpretation Systems:

  • Meets the analysis and interpretation components of the FAA Performance standards including the ASPAC competency of the laboratory used.

To obtain your initial FAA status, you will need to engage a Fertcare Trainer or Auditor to assess you in the remaining three FAA Performance Areas. The Fertcare Trainer or Auditor submits the FAA application to the Fertcare Customer Service Manager on the advisors behalf. To maintain FAA status, advisors are required to engage a peer auditor to undertake the biennial audit. The FAA licence fee is administered through the Fertcare Customer Service Manager. Systems currently able to offer Fertcare Interpretation Service include:

  • Summit Fertilizer: Assessed as competent in broadacre crops, pastures, orchards - vineyards - tropical fruits, and vegetables
  • WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development: Dairy and pastures.

A system can offer advisors the Fertcare service for the level they are assessed at, plus any lower level. i.e. A System Manager offering Full Service could also offer a Qualifying or Interpretative service with the agreement of the system user.

For details on Fertcare requirements for System Managers wanting to offer Fertcare® services, refer to the FAA System Managers Manual available here.

Fertcare Accredited Advisor System Managers Manual.pdf