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.
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."
Dairy farmers are set to benefit from the radical sweeping changes the Government is planning to make to the regulations that form part of the Resource Management Act (RMA).
The reported surge in interest in dairy conversions should be put into the context of falling overall cow numbers and improving environmental performance, says DairyNZ.
New Zealand's top trade official has told dairy farmers that their sector faces the most trade barriers internationally.
Waikato sharemilker Matthew Zonderop had no inkling that one day he would become a matchmaker for cows.
The coveted post of Federated Farmers' national dairy chair will see a two-way contest at the Federated Farmers annual meeting later this month.
Research lending to the production of dairy products that benefit the elderly and improves the overall wellbeing of all people is a key focus of Fonterra's Research and Development centre, based in Palmerston North.
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