Waikato dairy effluent breaches lead to $108,000 in fines
Two farmers and two farming companies were recently convicted and fined a total of $108,000 for environmental offending.
Effluent is fertiliser already on farm, that just needs to be well stirred and spread onto the land.
Precision Slurry says they are effluent application specialists who pride themselves on leading the way in cleaning out any system - fully utilising the nutrients often seen as a problem on farms.
Owner operators Glen Crafar, his wife Paula, and Robert Crafar have been farming their whole lives and have a wealth of experience in how to stir and spread the most difficult of jobs.
Based in Reporoa and servicing the Central Plateau, Bay of Plenty and South Waikato, Precision Slurry has a full range of specialised equipment to tackle any job:
The modern fleet is well equipped with GPS systems, application rate control and proof of placement. Nutrient analysis is also available.
Precision Slurry says customers are pleasantly surprised, commenting 'I didn't know the pond was that deep' or 'I didn't think you'd get it that empty'.
It says the slurry that's spread is rocket fuel for grass growth, often transforming weaker paddocks to strong ones.
"Effluent is hundreds of tonnes of fertiliser which is already on farm, that juist needs to be well stirred and spread onto the land so it can start producing more feed.
"In most cases the fertiliser value outweighs the cost of applying it, not to mention the operational benefits of having a de-sludged effluent system."
One of New Zealand’s longest-running pasture growth monitoring projects will continue, even as its long-time champion steps away after more than five decades of involvement.
The Insurance & Financial Services Ombudsmen Scheme (IFSO Scheme) is advising consumers to prepare for delays as insurers respond to a high volume of claims following this week's severe weather.
Additional reductions to costs for forest owners in the Emissions Trading Scheme Registry (ETS) have been announced by the Government.
Animal welfare is of paramount importance to New Zealand's dairy industry, with consumers increasingly interested in how food is produced, not just the quality of the final product.
Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay is encouraging farmers and growers to stay up to date with weather warnings and seek support should they need it.
The closure of SH2 Waioweka Gorge could result in significant delays and additional costs for freight customers around the Upper North Island, says Transporting New Zealand.
OPINION: There will be no cows at Europe's largest agricultural show in Paris this year for the first time ever…
OPINION: Canterbury grows most of the country's wheat, barley and oat crops. But persistently low wheat prices, coupled with a…