Thursday, 30 May 2019 10:46

Don’t take pests with you on Moving Day

Written by 

Farmers are being urged to help protect farms from pest plants by cleaning machinery, vehicles and equipment before they move on Moving Day.

In time for the new dairying year starting June 1, masses of cows and machinery are trucked around New Zealand as farm contractors relocate themselves and their stock.

“Farmers and contractors can prevent the spread of pest plants and weeds,” said Waikato Regional Council pest plants team leader Darion Embling. 

“Unclean machinery is a confirmed pathway for the spread of infestations such as velvetleaf and alligator weed between some farms in our region. That makes machinery hygiene especially important with Gypsy Day coming up.”

Embling said machinery cleaning is essential before moving between properties. 

“Any form of plant or soil contamination can harbour pests or weeds. Machinery should be cleaned so no visible soil or plant matter remains which might spread pests or weeds.”

Ideally, machinery wash down should occur on the property prior to movement, containing any problems at the source. Alternatively, machinery may be cleaned in a wash-down facility but taking care not to risk pest spread during trucking.

No green feed for stock

Stock must be stood off green feed before they’re transported to help keep roads clear of effluent and safe for users.

A cow’s daily combined effluent is about 52L and a truck effluent tank’s capacity is just 200L. It means the spillage of effluent onto roads is a real risk unless farmers in particular take some simple steps ahead of time.

The regional council recommends that farmers:

confirm stock pick-up times in advance to eliminate confusion

move stock close to the loading ramp the day before when possible

stand stock off green feed for a minimum of four hours (with water)

use dry feed before transport because it results in less effluent.

• More information is available at waikatoregion.govt.nz/biosecurity 

More like this

$52,500 fine for effluent mismanagement

A Taupiri farming company has been convicted and fined $52,500 in the Hamilton District Court for the unlawful discharge of dairy effluent into the environment.

Featured

Dr Mike Joy says sorry, escapes censure

Academic Dr Mike Joy and his employer, Victoria University of Wellington have apologised for his comments suggesting that dairy industry CEOs should be hanged for contributing towards nitrate poisoning of waterways.

People-first philosophy pays off

The team meeting at the Culverden Hotel was relaxed and open, despite being in the middle of calving when stress levels are at peak levels, especially in bitterly cold and wet conditions like today.

Farmer anger over Joy's social media post

A comment by outspoken academic Dr Mike Joy suggesting that dairy industry leaders should be hanged for nitrate contamination of drinking/groundwater has enraged farmers.

From Nelson to Dairy Research: Amy Toughey’s Journey

Driven by a lifelong passion for animals, Amy Toughey's journey from juggling three jobs with full-time study to working on cutting-edge dairy research trials shows what happens when hard work meets opportunity - and she's only just getting started.

National

Machinery & Products

JDLink Boost for NZ farms

Connectivity is widely recognised as one of the biggest challenges facing farmers, but it is now being overcome through the…

New generation Defender HD11

The all-new 2026 Can-Am Defender HD11 looks likely to raise the bar in the highly competitive side-by-side category.

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

Buttery prize

OPINION: Westland Milk may have won the contract to supply butter to Costco NZ but Open Country Dairy is having…

Gene Bill rumours

OPINION: The Gene Technology Bill has divided the farming community with strong arguments on both the pros and cons of…

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter