1. Introduction, registration and passwords

These help pages are divided up into sections:

1. Introduction, registration and passwords

2. Administration

3. Production

4. Product distribution

5. Land details

6. User management 

1.1 Terms and Conditions

You will be asked to agree Terms and Conditions on registration and logon.  As these may change over time, it is advisable to check them periodically. 

1.2 Useful links

Before starting it may be worth reading up on the Quality Protocol.  Information is available from: http://www.wrap.org.uk/composting/quality_protocol.html

Also 'Guidelines for the use of compost in crop production' and a list of suppliers of Quality Compost are available from www.wrap.org.uk and the Composting Association www.compost.org.uk .

1.3 Registering as a user and logging on.

There are different categories of users of this web tool, each with specific roles. Each user may only view or amend records that he/she has been granted permission to see.

The types of user are:

- The Composting Association system administrator
- Certifying Body administrator
- Certifying Body site inspector

- Production company administrator
- Production facility manager
- Consultant (optional)*

- Land manager*
- Consultant (optional)*
- FACTS Advisor (preferred verifier)*

* These users need to register their details and a password will be emailed to them within 1 working day. All users may change their password and request their password if they have forgotten it.

Information about FACTS can be found at www.factsinfo.org.uk.  FACTS is administered by BASIS www.basis-reg.com.

Users and Certifying Bodies

The Composting Association will establish  companies and facilities within the system, allocating codes, as required. Each  company will establish their own administrator who will then manage logons for each facility manager.

An administrator will be assigned within each Certifying Body by the Composting Association. The administrator will provide logons to Certifying Body facility inspectors. Each facility manager will select a Certifying Body to be associated with their facility. The Certifying Body administrator will allocate an inspector to each facility.

Each product at a facility will have a code and fall within a Certification Scheme, e.g. PAS100 or PAS110.

A facility manager may select a consultant to assist them and to view and amend their data.

Farming users

A land manager can request a logon and then add his farm(s) to the web tool. He can appoint a consultant and/or a FACTS advisor to assist him.

Consultants and advisors

Consultants and FACTS advisors can request a logon and assist their clients. The FACTS advisor has an important role and he/she should, preferably, carry out certain verification activities.

It is important for FACTS advisors to understand that they must comply with regulations and that their details will be checked with BASIS. Any deliberate breach of regulations or the system will be reported to BASIS and the Environment Agency and action may be taken.

1.5 Forgotten password

If you forget your password you can request a new one, automatically generated, and then change that to your personal one. It is a good idea to change your password from time to time.

1.7 Update your details

You can update your details.

2.1 Certification Bodies

Currently, there are two certification Bodies, CMi and OF&G.

2.3 Certification status options

There are currently four options:

PAS and Quality Protocol certified

PAS only certified

Applied for PAS and Quality Protocol

Applied for PAS only

2.4.1 Field parameters

The CA is allowed to change the field soil test parameters.  Their units, details, trigger values (for PTEs), max, min values and other information can be inserted.  The 'order by' indicates how the parameter will be seen by the end user when entering data.  If the parameter is obligatory, it 'must not be blank'.

Trigger levels are pH dependent and this format must be used:

pH|75% level i.e. 5|60; 5.5|75; etc

2.5 Page text

The CA can amend the text seen on each page of the website.

3.1 Organisations

The CA can add organisations to the system with details of their head offices and contact person.

3.3 Processes

Processes have a unique code which are issued by The Composting Association in the form PRxxx, PRxxx-INV or ABCx-W, for example

3.5 Product analysis

3.5.1 Data entry

Please enter the data in the correct units. 

To convert mg/kg dry basis to %w/w dry basis, divide by 10,000.

To convert mg/litre as received (fresh) basis to mg/kg dry basis, divide by the bulk density in g/litre and then by 1000, then divide by the dry matter % and again by 100.  Dry matter % is 100 minus the moisture content %.

3.5.2 'Type' of analysis

The facility manager can add individual ‘actual’ batch analysis results to the database. He can add re-tests for any sample. This will be useful for record keeping and auditing but is not mandatory. Only aggregated data would ever be used by the Composting Association to inform the industry on the ranges of results being found across the industry.

An actual batch analysis may be associated with a landspreading activity but, if a number of batches will be mixed on farm, then a ‘typical’ analysis needs to be derived and used for deliveries.

It is most likely that producers will use a ‘typical analysis’ to be applied to all deliveries during a sales campaign, reviewed at least annually. The typical analysis is to be based on actual analysis results and will be audited as it will be used to calculate the correct application rate and to model PTE loading in the soil.

3.5.3 Deriving a ‘typical analysis’

Typical analysis should be derived as the mean value from at least 3 Certification Scheme batch analysis results per grade (or re-tests of batches). Additional grades may use the principal grade results, where required, e.g. for nutrient values. PTEs shall be shown to one decimal place apart from mercury and cadmium which shall be to two decimal places. If mercury is reported at less than (<) a value, use the numeric value rather than zero.

A typical analysis shall not used for more than 1 year without a review/update.

3.5.4 Guidance on product testing

Tests per sample

In order to match product applications with crop nutrient requirements and other aspects of good agricultural practice, without any soil PTE concentration exceeding the limits set in the Code of Practice for the Agricultural Use of Sewage Sludge, product sample tests must cover the following parameters;

- PTEs (lead, chromium, cadmium, mercury, copper, zinc, nickel),
- pH,
- total N, P and K,
- moisture content,
- water soluble nitrogen (nitrate and ammonium),
- organic matter content, and
- organic carbon content.

According to the planned crop type(s) and soil characteristics, the FACTS advisor may want to know the following product sample test results on the following parameters;

- electrical conductivity,
- total Mg, Ca and S,
- water soluble P, K, Mg, Ca, and S, and
- neutralising (liming) value (calcium oxide equivalent). 

Producers are not required to sample and test every batch supplied for use in agriculture and soil-grown horticulture. Typical results can be supplied, based on the test results history for the product. They should ensure that batch sampling and testing covers the approved standard’s minimum requirements and the product characteristics information wanted by customers.

Test laboratories

Product sample tests must be carried out according to the methods of test specified in the approved standard (e.g. PAS100:2005). There is not an MCerts performance standard for the testing of products, but the Composting Association provides a list of laboratories it has approved suitable.

Soil and product sample testing costs

Laboratory test prices vary, so ask the laboratory to quote for the range of soil or product parameter tests appropriate to the application. Quotes may be lower per sample if the laboratory is given an estimate of the number of samples anticipated over a stated timeframe.

4.1 Delivery location management

A facility manager may talk with a land manager to negotiate the sale of product. The land manager will provide him with his unique farm number. The facility manager can print statements of agricultural benefit for his products, based on the data he has input as an aid to sales.

The facility manager may then open a delivery location and assign the product and an actual or typical product analysis. A delivery location should have a suitable name such as ‘July07 Comp1 to Wheatlands’ to indicate the month delivery started, the producer supplying the material and the part of the farm to which it is to be delivered.

The delivery location must have an opening 'start' date and will have a ‘life’ of 12 months during which time all product delivered into this delivery location must be spread on the farm. A 'location' does not necessarily mean that all product has to be kept in one place on a farm. The ‘location’ may have a number of heaps on the farm. This is an auditable method of tracking an amount of product from a producer to the receiving fields. Each farm can have more than one 'location' and any one time.

The land manager may then see and print the Quality Product Benefits Statement for himself.

The land manager may allocate fields to use the product, how many tonnes and to what area (hectares) with his FACTS advisor who should agree this ‘in principle’. This ‘planned tonnage’ is the basis of the amount of tonnes that the facility manager will deliver and over what time period.

4.2 Delivery and application details

4.2.1 Summary

In this section, you can see what is planned for delivery based on the allocated fields, what has been delivered and the balance to be delivered.

You can see what has already been applied to fields, what has yet to be spread (expected based on plans) and what is in stock ready to be spread.

At the end of spreading, all product applications must equal what was delivered.

4.2.2 Deliveries

Deliveries are added by the facility manager.  Batch numbers should be added.  Deliveries will usually be the total tonnage for e.g. a month.  Multiple time periods/deliveries can be added.

4.2.3 Fields planned

The land manager can enter the fields he expects to use.  It is recommended that the advice of a FACTS advisor is used in planning this and to 'approve' each field.  A message will appear:

'By clicking on OK to approve this application:

I agree to implement my responsibilities as the Land Manager (or as nominated advisor to the Land Manager) for the product delivered to this farm under the Quality Protocol.'

 a record is kept of who made the approvals.

4.2.4 Fields approved

The field moves 'down' the history and awaits product application.  Click on 'Apply to field' so that actual tonnage and actual hectarage can be inserted.  The effects of PTEs can be modelled.  If this is carried out before application, the modelling may result in a decision not to apply a product, otherwise you can 'approve' the application.  The fields move down into 'Fields - product applied' history.

4.2.5 PTE effects

The effects on the soil PTEs can be seen via the reports at any time or by checking the field analysis data under the farming section.

5.1 Farms

A land manager or his consultant may register and set up farms on the system. Each farm must be registered with its unique number and details.

The unique farm number is the farm (holding) number:

- County Parish Holding (CPH) number, (Rural Land Register, England),
- Customer Reference Number (CRN), (Land Parcel Information System, Wales) or
- Farm Grid Reference number e.g. TM123456 or TM12345678 being a main building or farm gate.  

A land manager may not necessarily be the owner of the farm but is responsible for its management. He may be managing more than one farm.

5.3 Field soil analysis

5.3.1. Basics on soil testing

The pH and Potentially Toxic Element (PTE) analysis must be carried out before a product is first applied.  It must be from an area which is uniform in soil type and management history, and from less than 50 hectares per sample.  The soil nutrient analysis may be carried out on the same sample but it may be that you will have routine soil analysis on a field by field basis already.  This can be used as long as the sampling and analysis were according to RB209 guidelines.

5.3.2. Detailed guidance

Soil sampling area

Soil samples should be representative of the soil over the whole application area of material, to a maximum of 50 hectares. These hectares do not have to adjoin each other, but should be similar in terms of soil type, previous crops and application of manures, fertilisers and other wastes.

If there is significant variation in the soil type, management history or applications then soil testing for each different area would be necessary in order to accurately match compost application rate to each soil area in terms of nutrient content and Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs). It is recognised that soil sampling for PTEs may be over a wider area than routine nutrient sampling that would normally be carried out field by field, but in some instances they may be combined.

Soil samples should be representative of the ‘uniform’ area (maximum of 50 hectares) and their collection should follow RB209 guidance*. This means as a minimum, 25 individual sub-samples (cores) for a ‘uniform’ area, thoroughly mixed before taking and sending one final sample for analysis by a suitable laboratory.

Sampling, taking account of the factors listed above, must be representative of the whole ‘uniform’ area intended to receive the product.

* RB209 – Fertiliser Recommendations for Agricultural and Horticultural Crops

Soil PTE sampling

The protocol requires soil Potentially Toxic Element analysis to be carried out BEFORE the first application of product. The sampling analysis must be recent and representative of the area of application of product. Soil analysis within the last 5 years can be used provided that no significant quantities of sludge, compost, digestate, manure or other PTE-containing materials have been added since the last soil sampling and analysis.

The soil should then be tested again when any predicted soil PTE level reaches the 75% trigger level for any one or more of the seven PTEs listed in the Code of Practice for the Agricultural Use of Sewage Sludge.

Once the soil has been re-tested, the 75% trigger level may not in practice have been reached, but caution should still be exercised when adding further material. More frequent soil sampling and analysis should be carried out to ensure that the limits in the Code of Practice for the Agricultural Use of Sewage Sludge are not exceeded for any of the PTEs listed.

Tests per soil sample

Soil sample tests must cover the following parameters;

- PTEs (lead, chromium, cadmium, mercury, copper, zinc, nickel),
- pH, and
- nutrients (Olsen’s P, available K and Mg)*.
* Although referred to in Appendix H of the protocol, it is not obligatory to test the soil sample’s total sulphur content because crop leaf testing should be a more reliable guide if soil sulphur deficiency is suspected.

Nitrogen should be sampled where RB209 suggests, but otherwise should be calculated using Soil Nitrogen Supply (SNS). Soil available nitrogen should be tested using KCl extractant.

Soil test laboratories

Soil sample PTE tests must be carried out by laboratories using appropriate methods that are accredited by UKAS to ISO/IEC17025 for the Environment Agency’s ‘MCerts performance standard for the chemical testing of soil’. Nutrient and pH tests should also be carried out by laboratories using methods for these parameters that are accredited to the MCerts performance standard. Although few laboratories have yet achieved the accreditation for soil nutrient and pH testing, it is recommended that these laboratories are chosen.

For a list of MCerts accredited laboratories;

- visit www.ukas.com,
- click on the ‘Accredited Bodies’ section,
- click on 'Testing and Calibration Laboratories',
- click on 'Testing',
- type 'MCerts' into the search box and click ‘search’, then
- ensure there is a green dot in the circle for 'Environmental samples - soils and sediments' and click ‘search’.

Soil and product sample testing costs

Laboratory test prices vary, so ask the laboratory to quote for the range of soil or product parameter tests appropriate to the application. Quotes may be lower per sample if the laboratory is given an estimate of the number of samples anticipated over a stated timeframe.

6.1 User roles

The CA can edit these sections.

Once set up they should not need to be changed.

Consultant covers both ordinary consultant and FACTS advisor (who can add his FACTS number).  A land manager may also be FACTS qualified.

A land manager role might include a farm assistant manager as well as a senior manager.

A production company may set up employees with more 'senior' rights as an 'Organisation Administrator' as well as others who are at operational level.

What each role can do is set up using 'permissions tables'.

6.2 User permissions

You can change user permissions.

6.3 User role management

The CA can decide which role can manage another.

7.1 Farms and fields

This page reports all the fields belonging to each farm.

7.3 Field report

This report shows the soil analysis status of each field.

Tip: remember to hide the navigation pane before printing.

7.5 Deliveries report

Select to see the deliveries made from an organisation by facility and grade.  Deliveries are shown by delivery location within each farm with dates, tonnages and batch codes.

7.6.2 Producer organisation permissions

This page shows who has permission to view and edit organisation information.

7.7 Analysis report by product

Obtain a report for each Facility