Piggery effluent polluting stream
Waikato Regional Council has sought an interim Enforcement Order from the Environment Court to stop piggery effluent from entering a waterway north of Te Aroha.
EXHIBITORS AT the one-day Effluent Expo in Waikato last month say good farmer turnout shows demand for specific advice.
About 500 farmers attended, many wanting to discuss the cost of upgrading effluent systems and compliance issues.
AgFirst spokeswoman Kate Ody says farmers who visited its stand also enquired about construction of weeping wall and mechanical separation systems, and how to consider the different nutrient loading of different types of effluent.
“As always cost and compliance were key levels of concern. As we were also discussing water use within the farm dairy and how it can influence effluent systems, many inquries were about advice on completing the Variation 6 – water consent applications,” she told Dairy News.
Ody, who coordinated the first expo in 2011 as a Waikato Regional Council employee, suggests it may be time to hold two events every year.
“I still consider the expo to be a success but the demand for our accredited system designers [suggests] it’s time to move biannually for the event….
“However I see merit in having other singular focused events that farmers can be benefit from, perhaps something for the beef and sheep sector where resources for on farm advice are limited.”
Firestone Lining Systems product manager Vaughan Podbielski was also happy with the turnout. He says the drought was on the minds of farmers.
Podbielski says it will attend the “effluent focussed” annual event with Waikato Regional Council and wants other regional councils to hold similar events.
“The regional days, especially Mystery Creek, are good but often too generalised and do not deliver the same bang for your buck,” he says. “Therefore it was disappointing that ECAN decided not to host an effluent expo this year, but instead elected to incorporate it with the Lincoln Field Days.”
WRC spokesman Alan Campbell says the big turnout was a “very healthy” sign of the industry’s commitment to doing the right thing with effluent.
The expo had 44 exhibitors.
New Zealand dairy processors are welcoming the Government’s commitment to continuing to push for Canada to honour its trade commitments.
An educational programme, set up by Beef + Land New Zealand, to connect farmers virtually with primary and intermediate school students has reported the successful completion of its second year.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has welcomed a resolution adopted by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly to declare 2026 International Year of the Woman Farmer.
Waikato herd health veterinarian Katrina Roberts is the 2024 Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year.
Trade Minister Todd McClay says New Zealand has no intention of backing down in a trade dispute with Canada over dairy products.
Horticulture NZ chief executive Nadine Tunley will step down in August.