Fonterra eyes EcoPond pilot to reduce on-farm emissions
Fonterra has invested in a new effluent pond mobile dosing service to support farmers to reduce emissions and make progress towards its on-farm emissions reductions target.
A Waikato farmer has been fined $57,375 for the unlawful discharge of effluent to a local stream from a storage pond.
Terry Hazlehurst, of Morrinsville, pleaded guilty in the Hamilton District Court on February 4.
On 8 June 2018, Waikato Regional Council carried out a proactive inspection at Hazlehurst’s farm and found a pipe from an effluent storage pond was actively discharging effluent into a waterway that leads to Tauhei Stream.
An investigation by the council discovered that the discharge had been occurring intermittently for the previous 43 months.
At sentencing, Judge Melinda Dickey expressed “serious concern” over the length of time over which the discharge occurred.
Dickey described the offending as “deliberate” and demonstrating a “disregard for the effects of the effluent discharge on the environment”.
An enforcement order was also issued aimed at immediate improvements to the effluent ponds.
Council investigations manager Patrick Lynch said the case was of particular concern.
“This kind of behaviour needs to change. Obviously it has a detrimental effect on the environment, but it also undermines all of the good work being done by the farming industry and wider community to improve water quality.”
A major milestone on New Zealand's unique journey to eradicate Mycoplasma bovis could come before the end of this year.
We're working through it, and we'll get to it.
The debate around New Zealand's future in the Paris Agreement is heating up.
A technical lab manager for Apata, Phoebe Scherer, has won the Bay of Plenty 2025 Young Grower regional title.
Following heavy rain which caused flooding in parts of Nelson-Tasman and sewerage overflows in Marlborough, the Insurance & Financial Services Ombudsman Scheme (IFSO Scheme) is urging homeowners and tenants to be cautious when cleaning up and to take the right steps to support claims.
Newly elected Federated Farmers meat and wool group chair Richard Dawkins says he will continue the great work done his predecessor Toby Williams.
OPINION: It's official, Fieldays 2025 clocked 110,000 visitors over the four days.
OPINION: The Federated Farmers rural advocacy hub at Fieldays has been touted as a great success.