Friday, 11 March 2016 06:55

Field day turnout shows farmer interest

Written by 
Logan Bowler, DairyNZ (right) and Jon Palmer, Waikato Regional Council at the effluent field day. Logan Bowler, DairyNZ (right) and Jon Palmer, Waikato Regional Council at the effluent field day.

A large dairy farmer turnout at a recent effluent management field day shows they want to do the right thing with the environment, says organiser Jon Palmer.

"We had about 100 farmers and industry professionals at the field day at the Tumunui Dairy property to see how its effluent system works," says Palmer, a sustainable agricultural advisor at Waikato Regional Council.

"It's excellent to see such farmer interest in managing dairy effluent."

Farmers at the event, held near Rotorua, were able to consult experts from DairyNZ, AgFirst and OPUS, and council staff. Dairy companies Fonterra and Miraka were on hand to talk about their environmental initiatives.

The council is talking one-to-one with farmers to help them ensure their effluent management systems are up to scratch, and is encouraging them to make improvements where required. It's part of a new region-wide approach.

"Farmers have been responding positively to this approach," says Palmer.

More like this

DairyNZ project wins national award

A project reducing strains and sprains on farm has won the Innovation category in the New Zealand Workplace Health and Safety Awards 2025.

Featured

Horticulture exports hit $8.4B, surge toward $10B by 2029

A brilliant result and great news for growers and regional economies. That's how horticulture sector leaders are describing the news that sector exports for the year ended June 30 will reach $8.4 billion - an increase of 19% on last year and is forecast to hit close to $10 billion in 2029.

National

Machinery & Products

Farming smarter with technology

The National Fieldays is an annual fixture in the farming calendar: it draws in thousands of farmers, contractors, and industry…

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

110,000 visitors!

OPINION: It's official, Fieldays 2025 clocked 110,000 visitors over the four days.

Sticky situation

OPINION: The Federated Farmers rural advocacy hub at Fieldays has been touted as a great success.

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter