'Free fertiliser' from the pond
Otorohanga farmer Grant Mitchell milks 176 cows once-aday throughout the year, so good grass growth is crucial.
The strategy is in response to farmers wanting to know more about managing their total environmental footprint, including effluent management, says Amanda Hodgson, who owns and run the event with her husband Matt.
“Management of a farm’s total environment is under the spotlight more than ever, so farmers are asking for wider solutions than just how to manage effluent around their dairies
or dairy housing systems,” Hodgson said.
“Effluent management is still the expo’s primary focus for now, but we can see potential to broaden it to offer farmers advice, products and services across the entire farm environment package.”
Renamed the Effluent and Environment Expo, the event returns to Mystery Creek Events Centre on November 19 and 20.
At least 90 exhibitors will be available to advise on design, storage, containment, management, application and technology for farm systems.
DairyNZ is sponsoring the two-day event and will be on site with resources and independent advisers.
Seminars led by industry experts, including some from DairyNZ, will provide farmers opportunity to ask questions and talk with other farmers.
This year’s keynote speaker is former All Blacks coach Sir Graham Henry.
DairyNZ’s biosecurity experts will be on hand to talk about simple steps to protect against disease, pests and weeds. Waikato Regional Council, Ministry for Primary Industries and OSPRI will also be on the biosecurity stand to help answer questions and to check farmers’ NAIT accounts.
Entry is free and farmers can choose to attend one or both days. To register online or to secure a seat in the seminars, visit effluentexpo.co.nz
At the expo, farmers will have access to companies accredited for effluent advice and work. DairyNZ helped to set up training for designers of effluent management systems to attain accreditation, which is an assessment of competency.
The Farm Dairy Effluent System Design Accreditation programme is administered by IrrigationNZ and funded by DairyNZ. It requires designers to show systems and processes that provide assurance of good design practice resulting in fit-for-purpose effluent systems.
Of the 18 accredited companies most will be at the Expo.
