increase font size
FARMERS AND exhibitors alike were enthusiastic about Canterbury's first-ever Effluent Expo, held last week on the outskirts of Christchurch.
"It's good; a good learning curve and good to have it all under one roof," Geoff Donald, Leeston, told Dairy News.
He was there looking at storage options for his 300ha, 800-cow unit with his farm worker Chris Tukaki.
"It's given me a few ideas about which way we should go."
Mid Canterbury farmers Greg and Rachel Roadley were also looking at storage.
"One farm needs a bit of an upgrade. It's got three days' storage so it's compliant, but only just," said Greg.
Rachel Roadley echoed Donald's comment about the convenience of the event, as did non-dairy farmer Mike Chaffey.
"Having everything under one roof makes it easy. To do all this on my own would take me the best part of a week by the time I'd travelled to all the different firms."
As a sheep, crop and dairy grazier, he's considering conversion of his farm at Te Parita, on the north bank of the Rakaia.
He also found it a good opportunity to buttonhole dairy farmers about what's working, or not, with their effluent systems.
Westland field officer Rob Pieper had travelled over Arthur's Pass with four suppliers to see what was on show.
"It's been a really good event to bring farmers to, to keep them in touch with the latest developments and also just to put some dollars to the various options, and learn a bit more about the detail."
Pond lining was a particular focus.
"The ball-park figure seems to be about $10 per cubic metre of storage. That's a lot more expensive than just digging holes but as an industry we need to maintain certain standards."
While lining ponds isn't necessarily a consent requirement on the West Coast, Westland is keen to ensure its suppliers' effluent management is best practice for the soil and climate they operate in, he adds.
"If we're going to achieve a premium payout we've got to earn that. We've got ISO 14001 right across the factory. It would be really good if we could extend that down to the farm as well."
Synlait's Lucy Bowker, one of the event organisers, echoed that 'keeping ahead of compliance' theme.
"If you do the minimum to meet current regulations you're probably not future proofing your business."
Under Canterbury's Natural Resources Regional Plan a minimum of three days' storage for effluent and storm water is required but many at the event, such as the Roadleys, and Donal, were looking at more.
"We're looking at putting in 10 days' storage," said Donald.
With a focus on producing their own on-farm dairy feed requirements, it would be safe to say that the Fleming family are no strangers to a fertiliser spreader on their North Canterbury farm, near Culverden.
Fonterra has invested in a new effluent pond mobile dosing service to support farmers to reduce emissions and make progress towards its on-farm emissions reductions target.
As the New Zealand Government launches negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement with India, one Canterbury-based vegetable seed breeder is already benefiting from exporting to the world's fifth-largest economy.
Two high producing Canterbury dairy farmers are moving to blended stockfeed supplements fed in-shed for a number of reasons, not the least of which is to boost protein levels, which they can’t achieve through pasture under the region’s nitrogen limit of 190kg/ha.
An innovative dairy effluent management system is being designed to help farmers improve on-farm effluent practices and reduce environmental impact.
Tractor manufacturer and distributor Case IH has announced a new partnership with Meet the Need, the grassroots, farmer-led charity working to tackle food insecurity across New Zealand one meal at a time.
The DairyNZ Farmers Forum is back with three events - in Waikato, Canterbury and Southland.
To celebrate 25 years of the Hugh Williams Memorial Scholarship, Ravensdown caught up with past recipients to see where their careers have taken them, and what the future holds for the industry.
Among this year’s Primary Industry NZ (PINZ) Awards finalists are a Southlander who created edible bale netting and rural New Zealanders who advocate for pragmatic regulation and support stressed out farmers.
Rockit Global has appointed Ivan Angland as its new chief operating officer as it continues its growth strategy into 2025.
Nominations are now open for the Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) board.
