Inspired by peers and former Cotton Growers of the Year Matt and Daisy Toscan, Julie Bellato and her husband David undertook the myBMP (Best Management Practices) certification to improve their farm operations and safety standards.

At first, Julie and David were unsure about starting the process, worried it might be too demanding. But with experience in food safety accreditation from other parts of their business, they decided to give it a go. They focused on making sure their chemical shed and workshop met the required standards, reviewing their processes and protocols to ensure they were up to standard.

As they worked through the certification, they identified areas for improvement, especially in workplace health and safety (WHS). One of the things they realised during the process was that the fire extinguishers in their new workshop needed updating. Fixing issues like this not only brought their facilities up to standard but also gave them a chance to talk with their employees about the changes.

Julie found the myBMP process easier to manage than she had expected. While gathering all the necessary information was time-consuming, the steps to complete the certification were straightforward. Now that they’ve completed it, the Bellato.s have a solid system in place to keep their farm operations running smoothly and up to standard.

For Julie, achieving myBMP certification brought a real sense of accomplishment. It has given her confidence in their ability to meet future compliance needs and continue improving their farm's safety and management practices.