Effluent Expo ‘should happen more often’

About 500 farmers attended, many wanting to discuss the cost of upgrading effluent systems and compliance issues.

AgFirst spokeswoman Kate Ody says farmers who visited its stand also enquired about construction of weeping wall and mechanical separation systems, and how to consider the different nutrient loading of different types of effluent.

“As always cost and compliance were key levels of concern. As we were also discussing water use within the farm dairy and how it can influence effluent systems, many inquries were about advice on completing the Variation 6 – water consent applications,” she told Dairy News.

Ody, who coordinated the first expo in 2011 as a Waikato Regional Council employee, suggests it may be time to hold two events every year.

“I still consider the expo to be a success but the demand for our accredited system designers [suggests] it’s time to move biannually for the event….

“However I see merit in having other singular focused events that farmers can be benefit from, perhaps something for the beef and sheep sector where resources for on farm advice are limited.”

Firestone Lining Systems product manager Vaughan Podbielski was also happy with the turnout. He says the drought was on the minds of farmers.

Podbielski says it will attend the “effluent focussed” annual event with Waikato Regional Council and wants other regional councils to hold similar events.

“The regional days, especially Mystery Creek, are good but often too generalised and do not deliver the same bang for your buck,” he says. “Therefore it was disappointing that ECAN decided not to host an effluent expo this year, but instead elected to incorporate it with the Lincoln Field Days.”

WRC spokesman Alan Campbell says the big turnout was a “very healthy” sign of the industry’s commitment to doing the right thing with effluent.

The expo had 44 exhibitors.