State of the Dairy Nation 2024/25: DairyNZ Highlights Record Milk Production and Export Growth
DairyNZ's chief executive Campbell Parker says the 2024/25 dairy season reinforces the importance of the dairy sector to New Zealand.
"We had about a total of 100 farmers and industry professionals coming along to the field day at the Tumunui Dairy property to see how its great effluent system works," says Palmer, a sustainable agricultural advisor at Waikato Regional Council. The farmers were from the Reporoa and Waikite area.
"It's excellent to see such strong farmer interest in managing dairy effluent in a way that both protects the environment and enhances profits by using nutrients in effluent to boost farm production."
Besides staff from the regional council, farmers at last week's event south of Rotorua were able to consult experts from DairyNZ, AgFirst and OPUS. Dairy companies Fonterra and Miraka were also on hand to talk about their environmental initiatives.
The field day builds on work the council is doing to engage directly with farmers in the area one-to-one to help them ensure their effluent management systems are up to scratch, with a reasonable amount of time given to make improvements where required. It's part of a new region-wide approach the council has been implementing in recent years.
"Farmers have been responding positively to this approach," says Palmer.
The council's sustainable agriculture team is on 0800 800 401 and more effluent management advice is available at www.waikatoregion.govt.nz/forfarmers
