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.
With the increase of standoff pads and wintering barns, the amount of slurry being stored for distribution is soaring.
Effluent traditionally spread on paddocks around cowsheds now needs spreading further afield as storage ponds increase in size. Until recently tankers have filled that role, but large volumes have pushed up the time and cost of doing this.
Webbline Agriculture now distributes the Slurry Quip umbilical system developed by Irishman Richard Fitzpatrick, involved there in slurry for 15 years.
Says Webbline sales manager Glen Malcolm, “We could see Slurryquip leading in effluent distribution. In the last 18 months we’ve sold 14 Slurryquip units, with several large contractors achieving outstanding results and performance.”
“Feedback from clients was on the ability move 200-300m3/hour of slurry, using a Bauer pump, operating at 6.15 bar pressure, which easily outperforms a tanker.”
Slurry Quip offers an optional 7.5 or 9.5m dribble bar which helps reduce losses of N from 80% to 20% versus a standard splash plate system. This helps reduce odour because less ammonia is lost to atmosphere, it keeps the tractor a lot cleaner and minimises pasture contamination and re-grazing cycles.
Riversdale, Southland, contractor Waimea Contracting bought a system last spring and now can pump up to 2500m using a combination of 6in. supply hose and 5in. delivery hose.
Manager Jason Hawker comments, “Having the ability to pump over a long distance, it allows our clients to get their effluent to areas on farms that were previously uneconomical to reach with a tanker”.
“At 2500m pumping distance over flat terrain, with thick slurry, we still average 120-140m3/hour discharge rate. On the shorter jobs, say, 1000m distance we see 200-300m3/hour depending on consistency of the effluent.”
He says clients prefer the system to tankers as they see less damage to gateways and races, which occurs with repetitive movements in the same areas.
Tel. 0800 932 254
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.
Funding is proving crucial for predator control despite a broken model reliant on the goodwill of volunteers.
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.
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.