Waikato Plan Change 1 litigation nears conclusion after 12 years
Following twelve years of litigation, a conclusion could be in sight of Waikato’s controversial Plan Change 1 (PC1).
Effluent is now an even more valuable resource, for its nutrient value continues to increase as fertiliser prices rise, says the Waikato Regional Council.
Therefore farmers should treat effluent as a fertiliser.
However, it needs to be managed with care because it is not a balanced fertiliser, being very high in potassium, it adds.
"This can lead to higher leaching levels of magnesium and subsequent animal health problems if potassium soil test levels are high.
"You can manage this risk by increasing the effluent area or by making silage on the effluent area and feeding it out on non-effluent areas of the farm."
Applying shed effluent at light rates will ensure stock feed intakes are not adversely affected.
Managing effluent is also necessary for the health of our waterways and groundwater, so knowing the regional council's rules for effluent management is important.
Under the Waikato Regional Plan you cannot exceed 25mm per application and 150kg of nitrogen from effluent per hectare per year.
"So you need to know how much your irrigator is applying and how concentrated your effluent is," it says.
Effluent must not discharge into surface water or contaminate groundwater. Having the capacity to store effluent before it is applied to land means effluent doesn't have to be applied during wet periods when the risk of surface ponding and run off is high.
This substantially reduces the risk of overflows to surface water and plant nutrient uptake is maximised.
Managing director of Woolover Ltd, David Brown, has put a lot of effort into verifying what seems intuitive, that keeping newborn stock's core temperature stable pays dividends by helping them realise their full genetic potential.
Within the next 10 years, New Zealand agriculture will need to manage its largest-ever intergenerational transfer of wealth, conservatively valued at $150 billion in farming assets.
Boutique Waikato cheese producer Meyer Cheese is investing in a new $3.5 million facility, designed to boost capacity and enhance the company's sustainability credentials.
OPINION: The Government's decision to rule out changes to Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) that would cost every farmer thousands of dollars annually, is sensible.
Compensation assistance for farmers impacted by Mycoplama bovis is being wound up.
Selecting the reverse gear quicker than a lovestruck boyfriend who has met the in-laws for the first time, the Coalition Government has confirmed that the proposal to amend Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) charged against farm utes has been canned.