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.
An award winning effluent storage ‘bag’ new in New Zealand is an effective alternative to open ponds or tanks, says distributor TechniPharm.
The 15,000m3 bag (or bladder) was developed in the Netherlands to comply with regulatory demands for farms to cut greenhouse gases, and to help recover more nutrients and energy from animal waste.
Originally designed for sludge, the Ecobag in NZ is seen as ideal for holding dairy yard-wash water.
It has been used 60 years in many countries and is certified internationally for farm use, Technipharm says.
The Ecobag recently won an innovation award at the Eurotier animal production exhibition in Hanover, Germany.
Technipharm suggests using it to handle ‘greenwash’, either with the company’s Dungbuster greenwash system or with flood washing.
A Rangiora farm recently commissioned such a system: the new conversion has two Ecobag systems -- a 1000m3 system for collection and re-use of greenwash, and a 3000m3 system for longer term storage and re-injection into the irrigation system.
This 4000m3 Ecobag system was preferred over a 7000m3 open pond system originally recommended, Technipharm says. The bag will increase the farm’s nutrient recovery, increase its N efficiency and reduce its fresh water use.
Meanwhile another Technipharm development is the Flextank effluent storage system specifically for peat and unstable ground.
This simple ‘roll out’ and pump system allows rapid installation of effluent storage without a lot of extra cost, the company says.
Earthworks are minimal, and it provides storage close to the dairy –often within the stipulated 45m zone because it exposes no pathogens to air.
A solar panel-driven Oloid mixing system keeps the stored effluent in suspension.
Tel. 0800 80 90 98
Fonterra has cemented its position as the country’s number one cheesemaker by picking up nine NZ Champion of Cheese trophies this year.
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.
Horticulture NZ chief executive Nadine Tunley will step down in August.
OPINION: Canterbury milk processor Synlait is showing no sign of bouncing back from its financial doldrums.
OPINION: It seems every bugger in this country can get an award these days.