John Morison is one of SFQC's Lead Assessors who is a valued auditor in his 14th year of service for SFQC. John has a wealth of farming experience which serves him well when he assesses for QMS Cattle & Sheep, Scottish Quality Crops (SQC), Scottish Quality Wild Vension (SQWV) and Assured Dairy Farms (ADF). John enjoys the variety involved in the job but says there are some down sides too.
BACKGROUND
Having farmed all my life until the 1990's, I hit financial problems and had to give up. A friend, Bob Cowan, was an assessor with SQBLA (now known as QMS Cattle & Sheep) at the time and suggested that I ask if I could join the assessor team for the fledgling SQBLA farm assurance scheme.
During those first few years farmers were very sceptical about the scheme and, as an assessor, we had to be convincing in persuading farmers to join and also be robust in defence of the scheme for those who were set against it. Now farmers accept the schemes as part of life knowing that without being members it would be nearly impossible to sell their produce.
LIKES & DISLIKES OF BEING AN AUDITOR
I have met so many farmers during my time as an assessor with as many diverse systems of farming that I could hardly wish for a more interesting job. There is no such thing as ‘a typical day for an assessor', each day offers a different scenario, with often widely differing methods of producing the same article whether it be a prime lamb a ton of malting barley or a litre of milk.
I feel it a great privilege to be sometimes on a farm with outstanding quality cattle or a superbly run arable unit. I learn something new every day and often think, should I ever be reincarnated as a farmer, I would combine all the best I have seen on farms and have the most perfect farming system- dream on!!
I have worked all over Scotland with the job and had many experiences, some good, some bad. I was bitten twice by the same dog! I think just because it had been castrated the previous day, not by me, but by the vet. On a more serious note, a few of us were seconded to the Ministry in Dumfriesshire at the time of Foot and Mouth to help with the campaign. This left a lasting impression on me and one I hope never to experience again.
FUNNY MEMORY
I was sent to Shetland when almost the whole county wished to join because farmers were to receive a supplement to the ewe premium if they were a member of SQBLA. The word went round after two or three weeks what the assessor (me) was looking for and one requirement was that medicine stores should be locked. A crofter showed me his cabinet, in a wee shed, with a red cross emblazoned on the outside and tied up with a big chain and bigger padlock. After he opened it up, with much ceremony, you could imagine my amazement to find it empty, save for a half bottle of Grouse whisky and two glasses- for the assessor! He passed with flying colours!
I enjoy the work. My colleagues both in the office and the assessors on the road are great to be with. The downside- if I get behind another camper van on a single track road - well I don't know what I'd do!