Rewarding farmers who embrace sustainability
Winners of DairyNZ’s Sustainability and Stewardship awards in the Ballance Farm Environment Awards have their eyes firmly fixed on progressing a positive future for New Zealand dairy.
The effluent collection infrastructure must be designed to handle the volume and consistency of effluent being produced, says DairyNZ.
The system must be designed to handle the peak flow rate of effluent without blocking, overflowing, or leaking. Wash-down system
A water supply is required for wash-down of the dairy shed and, periodically, for washing of other areas such as standoff areas and feed pads.
Wash-water can form a large proportion of the total volume of FDE produced. Thus, it is important to determine the final specifications of the wash-water system prior to designing the rest of the collection and conveyance system.
Wash-down water is usually supplied from clean bore or surface water.
Consider any available alternative systems to minimise water use. For example, consider the use of recycled water, or harvested stormwater, for washing areas that do not require high quality water (eg feed pads, stand-off areas or animal housing areas).
Always check local regulatory requirements prior to designing systems that use recycled water.
In addition to the general hydraulic design requirements, the collection infrastructure must be able to:
Initial collection may be by a number of different methods. Common effluent collection methods include:
Trade Minister Todd McClay says New Zealand has no intention of backing down in a trade dispute with Canada over dairy products.
There have been leadership changes at the Hamilton-based Dairy Goat Co-operative, which has been struggling financially in recent years.
Horticulture NZ chief executive Nadine Tunley will step down in August.
OPINION: In recent years farmers have been crying foul of unworkable and expensive regulations.
Another 16 commercial beef farmers have been selected to take part in the Informing New Zealand Beef (INZB) programme designed to help drive the uptake of genetics in the industry.
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Kiwi exporters will be $100 million better off today as the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) comes into force.