increase font size
Nathan and Lois Smith have developed their own solution to prevent bulk tank contamination.
The greatest nightmare for any dairy farmer is the fear of contaminating the milk vat, either with milk from a treated animal or water from the wash cycle.
Besides the financial penalty and milk needing to be thrown away, repeated offences will result in downgrades from the milk company.
Nathan and Lois Smith are dairy farmers in the Turakino Valley, south of Whanganui, milking 400 spring calving cows on the 174ha home block, with a further 200 dairy followers and 100 beef animals on a nearby run-off block.
Always keen to adopt new technology, the clever couple have developed their own solution for bulk tank contamination, with the aptly named VatGuard.
At the heart of the system, a central Hub monitors the position of the main valve on the vat supply line. When the valve is set to the "to vat" position, this is confirmed by a bright green LED light in the milk room, repeated by corresponding green lights along the length of the milking shed.
If the valve is in the closed or divert position a similar bright red, flashing light in the milk room and milking shed draws the operator's attention.
Nathan says the system is "a clear visual prompt to staff that the valve is in the correct position, meaning it's also particularly useful for relief milkers who are not completely familiar with the plant".
Manufactured in New Zealand from high quality, durable components, the systems wireless connectivity between the hub and indicator lights, means there is no wiring, so installs are easy.
The Hub and indicator lights are powered by rechargeable batteries offering run times of around 90 days or 180 milkings.
An external LED display on the exterior of the Hub displays battery health.
Visit www.vatguard.co.nz
A huge reduction in ACC claims from on-farm accidents over the last five years is due to thousands of small, practical decisions being made in sheds, yards, paddocks and around kitchen tables across the country, says Safer Farms ambassador Lindy Nelson.
Decisions you make in an instant on the farm can be the difference between life and death.
Dairy farmers around the country are into the busy spring calving period.
Recent rain has offered respite for some from the ongoing drought.
As spring calving farmers around the country enter in the final stage of lactation, the incentive to keep the milk flowing is certainly there. A strong milk price and kind first half of the season has left cows in good nick and milking well.
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) says no new cases of H5 bird flu have been detected following a case found earlier this week.
Two months after unveiling a major upgrade to its beef product, Halter says its farmers are on track for major production gains and additional grass growth.
New Zealanders are being urged to be alert following a confirmed positive case of H5 bird flu this week.
With a third of NZ dairy farmers still running outdated refrigerants, the country's largest farm refrigeration company says the opportunity for quick, meaningful emissions gains has never been clearer.
OPINION: Farmers are being put on notice by the Green Party.
As dairy farmers lock in plans for the upcoming mating season, a partnership between Fonterra and Silver Fern Farms has been formed with the aim of making it simpler to create additional value from calves not entering the replacement herd.
OPINION: City and regional councils have been put on notice - stop using extreme climate forecasting scenarios that can drive…
OPINION: The Green Party’s rivers and oceans policy may have a new name but nothing else has changed.
