INSPECTION PROTOCOL
General notes:
- Questions may have subjective answers. Try to record your observations as accurately as you can.
- If you are not familiar with some aspect of an operation, ask the producer. This is a good opportunity to ask everything you’d like to know about how they grow or process food.
- Please perform a thorough investigation of the operation.
Prepare for the inspection:
- Print out and read the applicant’s certification forms and become familiar with the producer’s operation. If you have not received these forms, or have other questions, please contact the administrator ()
- Carefully review the KMG standards that apply to the operation. Standards include Produce (hay, transplants, crops, vegetables), Livestock (meat, eggs, other primary animal products), Fungi, Fencing (especially for treated posts), and Processing (all value-added products).
- Print out the full, blank inspection form and review the questions you will answer during the farm inspection.
- Schedule an inspection time with the farm.
Conduct the inspection:
- Tour the farm and record your observations on the inspection form as you tour.
- At the tour’s end, review any remaining inspection questions with the farmer and record your observations.
- You may ask to see records on purchases and sales to ensure sales roughly match with what has been grown or processed.
- Discuss any observed non-compliance with KMG standards. Note the farmer’s plans to remedy problems on the inspection form.
- Record any final observations or recommendations to the Certification Committee.
Submit the inspection:
- Type all your notes into electronic forms OR scan your hard copy notes. (If scanning, please ensure handwriting and scanned images are very clear.)
- Email the completed inspection forms to the KLAS administrator ().
- If the Certification Committee submits follow-up questions to you via email, please respond quickly.
INSPECTION FORM
Farm name:
Grower name:
Inspector name:
Inspection date:
Time arrived on site:
Time left site:
Total inspection time:
General Questions
Kootenay Mountain Grown Standards
Please check the KMG standards of practice that apply to this farm:
KMG Produce Standard
KMG Livestock Standard
KMG Fungi Standard
KMG Fencing Policy
KMG Processor Standard
Have you (the inspector) read the applicable Kootenay Mountain Grown (KMG) Standards?YES/NO
Appearance
Does the farm look like a place from which you would want to get food?
Markets
Where does the farmer sell and what is sold? Is everything the farmer sells grown on the farm? If you have particular questions about matching products grown to sales made, ask to see the records.
Irrigation Water
What is the farm’s irrigation source? Is it known to be contaminated? Are other farms irrigating from this water source? Do you feel the producer’s water source is safe for irrigation? Is clean water used to wash produce?
Field Health
How long have the fields been in production, and when was the last time a chemical fertilizer, pesticide or herbicide was used? Do plants in the fields and pastures look healthy, including on edges and borders? Is there evidence of chemicals?
Biodiversity
Do you see a lot of insects and spiders? Spiders are a very good indicator species, often the first to disappear with chemical spraying.
Spray Drift
Do any of the neighbours use sprays, and if so, what, when, how often, and how is it applied? If there is any chance of drift, the farmer should know these answers.
SPRAY EXAMPLE: A hay field that is not sprayed with anything but a broadcast chemical fertilizer, low to the ground, may not be much of a concern. Even a boom sprayer on a tractor stays very close to the ground so that a once-per-year herbicide may not require much of a buffer. But if the neighbours use high‐pressure sprayers that go 50‐60 feet (e.g. orchard farmers), spray could easily get blown longer distances in a breeze. In that case, prevailing winds, a much larger buffer area, and/or significant trees or taller shrubs would become a factor to determine acceptable buffer widths, as would prevailing winds.
Drift Buffers
Does the farmer have a buffer that looks adequate based on the spray concerns? How wide is the buffer? Are there shrubs or trees that help to block drift? Is the farmer confident and comfortable with their buffer zones? In the inspector’s opinion, could spray drift be a problem here?
Weeds
Are the producer’s weeds under control, and how do they control them? What kind of weeds do you see in the growing fields? Are there a variety of weeds, for example both grass and broadleaf weeds? Having only broad leaf or grass weeds may indicate the use of prohibited substances.
Equipment
Does the producer own their equipment? If equipment is borrowed, do they make sure it is thoroughly cleaned before it is brought onto the land?
Buildings
Take a look at greenhouses, processing areas, and other outbuildings. Are they safe? Are prohibited materials used in their construction (e.g. treated wood in greenhouses)? Are processing areas clean?
Fences
Are the fences built with approved materials? If not (e.g. certain treated posts, or treated posts of unknown origin) is the sufficient distance between the fence and crops or animal pasture?
Approved and Prohibited Substances
Where are KMG/Organic approved materials (fertilizers, pesticides, medicines, …) stored? Are they stored with prohibited substances as well? Are toxic materials stored safely?
Hazards
Do you see any hazards that could contaminate soil (e.g. equipment dripping fluids)? Do you see any hazards that are unsafe to humans or animals (e.g. sharp objects)?
Additional Notes
The space below is provided for additional observations:
Produce Operations
Soil
Dig into the soil in different fields. Does it look and smell alive, or is it putrid smelling or “dead” looking? Is it very compacted and compressed, or does it seem to have lots of aggregates and channels that air and water can move through? Do you see any worm castings or holes, or other signs of invertebrates? Are lots of bugs crawling around or is it completely lifeless? Do you see visible pieces of old plants or roots and other plant organic matter?
Soil Tests
Does the farmer have soil tests done? Ask to see them. Can the farmer explain the results to you? If there are specific nutrients lacking or recommended in the soil tests, how is the farmer addressing those deficiencies? Is the farmer happy with the soil, or do they feel improvements can be made? How are they working towards soil health goals?
Crop Rotation
Does the farmer rotate crops to minimize insect or disease pressure? Does the farmer use a written plan, or follow certain principles? Does the farmer feel their rotation goals are being met?
Tillage
What tillage practices does the farmer use? How does the farmer minimize damage to the soil, such as compaction and erosion?
Cover Crops
Is ground that is not currently growing crops laying bare, or does it have a cover crop? What kind of cover crops are used and when?
Manure
Does the farmer use fresh animal manure? Where is it from? If they get fresh manure, when do they apply it? Are crop harvests at least 120 days after they may have come into contact with manure?
Compost
Does the farmer use compost? What goes into the compost? How do they decide when the compost is finished? Is unfinished compost applied to crops? If they use compost, check it out yourself. Does it look and smell like “digested compost” to you, or does it still look like the original source material?
Nutrient Management
Besides cover crops, manure, and compost, how else does the land rejuvenate between cash crops?
Insect Pests
Do you see insect damage? What’s the farm’s biggest pest problem? Ask to see the damage and the bug. How do they deal with that problem in particular and insect pest problems in general. Most crops have endemic pests, for examplethrips and spider mites on cucumbers, caterpillars on brassicas, and leaf hoppers on potatoes. Do you see evidence of these, and how are they dealt with? If they are using a commercial spray for insects, ask to look at the label. Is it approved for KMG/Organic use?
Fertilizers and Conditioners
If bagged commercial fertilizers or soil conditioners are used, ask to see the bags and ensure they are approved for KMG/Organic use.
Plant disease
How are plant disease problems handled? If commercial disease sprays are used, ask to see the labels and ensure they are approved for KMG/Organic use.
Seed Sources
Where does the grower get seed? Do any of the seed companies also sell treated or Genetically Modified seeds?
Transplant Sources
Does the farm grow their own transplants? If transplants are purchased, were they grown according to acceptable KMG or Organic practices?
Livestock Operations
Grazing
How does the farmer manage grazing? Does the pasture look healthy and abundant? Roughly how much of the ruminants’ food intake comes from grazing pasture versus hay? Are the livestock on pasture most of the time during the entire growing season? During what months are they on pasture?
Seed Sources
Where does the producer get seeds for new pasture? How does the producer ensure that seeds are not genetically engineered or treated?
Feed Sources
Where does the producer get hay and grains? How does the producer ensure they are grown to Organic or KMG standards?
Water Impacts
Are there water sources that could be affected by run-off from livestock? What measures has the farmer taken to ensure water is protected from livestock?
Animal Health
What is the general appearance of the animals? Do the animals appear healthy and content, or stressed out? (too close together, no clean water, fighting for food etc.)
Purchased Livestock
Does the farmer purchase livestock? Where from, and how do the sellers raise their animals? Has the farmer visited and looked around the seller’s farm? Do they raise livestock according to organic standards? Do they use the same methods to raise animals as you do? If livestock is purchased from an operation that does not adhere to KMG standards, is livestock KMG-managed for at least 9 months before being sold as Kootenay Mountain Grown?
Confinement and Bedding Areas
Are animals ever confined? Why (e.g. winter, quarantine, …) and for how long? Are there strong odours such as ammonia in animal bedding areas? Are confinement areas safe, clean, and sufficiently large?
Pests and Disease
What are your animal pest problems? How do you control the pests? Do you worm your livestock, and with what? What are your animal illness problems? How do you handle the animals who are ill or diseased? Do you separate or confine them? Do you use methods that prevent illness?
Final Observations
Did you make any observations not already noted above that you feel are important for the Certification Committee to know and understand prior to making their decision?
Produce Operations: Is this a place you would feel comfortable and eager to get your produce from? Why or why not?
Livestock Operations: Is this a place you would feel comfortable and eager to get your meat and poultry from? Why or why not?
Inspector’s Declaration
To the best of my abilities and based on my observations on the farm and my personal interview with the producer, I feel confident in making the following declarations:
The producer adheres to the Kootenay Mountain Grown standards, guides and policies.
AGREE/DISAGREE
The producer demonstrates a commitment to sustainable agricultural practices that seek to maintain and increase the long‐term fertility of soils, and to protect and conserve water resources.
AGREE/DISAGREE
The producer is careful to ensure that no genetically modified or chemically treated seeds are used on this acreage.
AGREE/DISAGREE
I saw no evidence of prohibited insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, prohibited chemical fertilizer, hormones, or antibiotics use.
AGREE/DISAGREE
The fields and pastures under consideration look to be surrounded by an adequate buffer to protect from chemical or spray drift contamination.
AGREE/DISAGREE /Not applicable
The farmer is not irrigating or providing livestock with water from a water source that I know or suspect to be contaminated.
AGREE/DISAGREE
The producer demonstrates a commitment to the health and welfare of the animals under his care and conscientiously raises them according to KMG standards.
AGREE/DISAGREE /Not applicable
I certify that to the best of my abilities, based on my observations and my personal interview with the producer, I feel confident in recommending that this producer be included in the Kootenay Mountain Grown certification program.
YES/NO
Name of Farm:
Name of Inspector:
Date of Declaration: