DairyNZ lifts breakeven milk price forecast to $8.68 for 2025/26 season
According to DairyNZ's latest Econ Tracker update, there has been a rise in the forecast breakeven milk price for the 2025/26 season.
Good effluent management on a dairy farm combines a well-designed system with proper processes to ensure the right amount of effluent gets applied to pasture at the right time.
This not only saves on fertiliser costs and enhances soil health but also helps prevent animal health problems and ensures compliance with local rules. Understanding soil water deficit is crucial to prevent run-off and applying effluent to saturated soils.
There are tools available, such as the DairyNZ Farm Dairy Effluent Spreading Calculator, to help manage the application of effluent nutrients with precision. Finally, regular maintenance of your irrigation application equipment is vital for optimal performance.
Good effluent management is a combination of having a well-designed effluent system and processes for people that make sure the effluent the system collects is applied to pasture in the right amount at the right time.
On-farm benefits of good effluent management include:
Making good effluent irrigation decisions
The key to good decision making is understanding the soil water deficit. It is essential to prevent ponding and runoff and to avoid applying effluent to saturated soils.
Soil water deficit is the amount of water (i.e. effluent) which can be applied to the soil before it reaches field capacity (which refers to the amount of water held in the soil after excess water has drained away). If effluent is added at field capacity it will likely result in ponding, runoff or leaching.
Effluent spreading
New Zealand’s dairy farm systems produce large quantities of nutrient- rich effluent which are captured from milking sheds, holding yards, feed pads, standoff pads, and animal shelters. The average dairy cow produces about $25 worth of nutrients annually as farm dairy effluent (FDE). For a 400-cow dairy herd this represents about $10,000 of nutrients annually. Using effluent to supplement fertiliser presents an opportunity to capitalise on a cost-effective nutrient resource while improving whole farm nutrient use efficiency.
Effluent is commonly grouped into three broad categories based on dry matter (DM) content: liquids (0–5%), slurries (5–15%) and solids (>15%).
Application of effluents is typically via land.
Effluent application to pasture
To get good value out of effluent and reduce environmental risk consider:
Where possible, leave a buffer strip next to waterways and farm boundaries and know your consent conditions and/or regional rules.
Article - DairyNZ
Dairy farmers are shoring up their balance sheets, with almost $1.7 billion of debt repaid in the six months to March 2025.
Virtual fencing company Halter is going global but for founder Craig Piggott, New Zealand farmers will always remain their main partners.
A former Fonterra executive is the new chair of the Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand (DCANZ).
New Federated Farmers national dairy chair Karl Dean is looking forward to tackling the issues facing the sector.
OPINION: Ministry for Primary Industries' situation outlook for primary industries report (SOPI) makes impressive reading.
Sheep and beef farmers Matt and Kristin Churchward say using artificial intelligence (AI) to spread fertiliser on their sprawling 630ha farm is a game changer for their business.
OPINION: Just as it's healthy for cockies to get out of the shed and off the farm occasionally to get…
OPINION: It's official, Fieldays 2025 clocked 110,000 visitors over the four days.