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Farm Dairy Effluent Workshops
Over the last few months, Environment Southland has been working collaboratively with the dairy industry on
reviewing its approach to farm dairy effluent. The aim is to have a practical regime based on sound science
that addresses environmental effects but does not unnecessarily constrain dairy farmers’ freedom to operate.
A new approach has been developed, underpinned by a scientific report prepared by AgResearch that matches
effluent management practices to different soils and slope.
Consultation on the proposed changes is occurring at present. A series of workshops run jointly by the
dairy industry and Environment Southland were held as shown below:
| Date |
Location |
Time |
Venue |
| 9 June |
Gore |
2.00-4.00 pm |
Croydon Lodge, Queenstown Highway, Gore |
| 9 June |
Winton |
7.00-9.00 pm |
Central Southland Lodge (Middle Pub), 232 Great North Road, Winton |
| 10 June |
Woodlands |
2.00-4.00 pm |
Woodlands Tavern, Main Highway, Woodlands |
All the relevant background material can be downloaded below:
Feedback on the proposed changes closed Friday, 2 July 2010. Please email this to service@es.govt.nz,
fax to (03) 211 5252, or post to:
Environment Southland
Private Bag 90116
Invercargill 9840
In accordance with the feedback received, Environment Southland publicly notified a plan change to update the regional plan provisions dealing with farm dairy effluent on Saturday,
17 July 2010. See more details on the Water Plan page.
Updated consent conditions will be available on this website in early August 2010.
Dairying
Environment Southland wants to work with farmers and industry to develop effluent strategies that will result in achieving the community's goals for water quality and dairy farmers'
compliance with their resource consent conditions.
To help dairy farmers manage farm dairy effluent, the Farm Dairy Effluent booklet was produced and aims to achieve the following:
- Guidance on storage of dairy effluent, including construction of storage ponds.
- Advice on management and maintenance of irrigation systems, including information about low application systems such as K-line.
- Guidance on how to comply with consent conditions, particularly those concerning effluent application rates.
- Information about soil types, topography and the risk of surface runoff, leaching or flow into tile drains.
- Advice on minimising water use and total effluent volume.
- Advice on nutrient management.
Require a Consent?
Download our Farm Environmental Management Plan Template as this will assist you in the preparation of your farm plan to meet the requirements of your resource consent.
Farm Environmental Management Plan Template
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Farm Environmental Management Plan Template (153.21 KB)
Case Studies
K-Line
Hugh and Monica Luoni realised that whilst tile drains were an effective form of drainage, there were major environmental impacts such as green tile drain discharges associated with
conventional effluent irrigation. Therefore, K-line irrigation has been used in an attempt to minimise these impacts, resulting in increased pasture growth.
Hugh and Monica have been using nutrient budgeting for 3 years. Economic benefits have been limited on the majority of the farm because of a capital fertiliser programme...
K-Line Case Study
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K-Line Case Study (175.22 KB)
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Travelling Irrigator
Vaughan and Megan Templeton farm next to the sea, on sandy loam soils. These soils are very susceptible to nutrient leaching. Since converting the farm to dairy in 2002, the Templetons
have focused on using effluent to build up soil humus levels, as well as maximising the utilisation of the valuable nutrient resource in effluent. Eco-N has also been used to increase the
nutrient use from effluent.
Three years ago, the Templetons completed a nutrient budget using the Overseer programme. This helped to refine the fertiliser policy on farm but most benefit
was achieved...
In 2008 the Templeton's changed to a low-rate system for better management of the nutrients in the effluent.
Travelling Irrigator Case Study
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Travelling Irrigator Case Study (154.15 KB)
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Agricultural Effluent Ponds
A new policy and rule regarding the design and construction of agricultural effluent ponds was added to the Water Plan in March 2009.
Read more about the pond construction rule on
the Water Plan page.
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