 In
recent years, the scrutiny on the pork industry has increased
dramatically. As the industry and the public have become more
concerned with food production issues, the producers’ responsibility
to provide accurate accountability for many day-to-day operations
has increased.
To help offset some of this burden, the Kansas Pork Association
has initiated the Kansas GOLD Program. The GOLD program is
designed to ensure that when a regulator visits your farm,
the information they request can be found easily and is packaged
in a pre-approved format. After input from a producer committee
and “trying out” the program on 5 pilot farms,
the Kansas GOLD coordinator has developed a system based
on the needs of each farm which speeds the collection of
the information and catalogs it in a usable form.
The process begins with a visit to your farm by Garry Keeler,
the Kansas GOLD coordinator, who will begin by examining
your KDHE permit for each facility number. This permit tells
the coordinator what information needs to be collected and
kept on file. By Kansas law, there are thresholds based on
the facility’s number of animal units which require
additional documentation.
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 Ron Suther, right, reviews his operation’s records which were updated through the Kansas GOLD Program.
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KDHE permit requirements can include:
- Manure Management Plan
- Emergency Response Plan
- Dead animal Removal Plan
- Odor Control Plan
- Closure Plan
- Financial Assurance Plan
- Monthly Operational Logs
- Precipitation Records
- Swine Certification Training
- Foreign Animal Disease Plan
Kansas Department of Agriculture Nutrient Utilization Plan
updates can include:
- Adding or deleting land from the NUP Current soil and
manure analyses
- Written spreading agreements
- Employee training records
- Equipment inspections and Maintenance
Records
- Chemigation and irrigation permits
Other governmental permits and industry program certifications
can include:
- Kansas Feedlot Permit
- Biosecurity Plan
- Pork Quality Assurance
- Industry certifications
While the requirements are not new, the documents can become
scattered over time and many need periodic updates. Following
the on-farm visit, the GOLD coordinator will assemble a set
of notebooks for each permit number enrolled in the program.
These notebooks will contain the information needed by the
regulatory agencies. As the program evolves, we also plan
a database program designed to notify the GOLD program coordinator
when an update is needed at each farm. This information will
then be forwarded to the program participant.
The GOLD program provides a cost-effective manner to ensure
your operation is in compliance. For pricing information
or to become a part of the Kansas GOLD Program, please contact
the Kansas Pork Association office at 785-776-0442 or e-mail
to kpa@kspork.org.
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