$52,500 fine for effluent mismanagement
A Taupiri farming company has been convicted and fined $52,500 in the Hamilton District Court for the unlawful discharge of dairy effluent into the environment.
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."
Environment Southland's catchment improvement funding is once again available for innovative landowners in need of a boost to get their project going.
The team meeting at the Culverden Hotel was relaxed and open, despite being in the middle of calving when stress levels are at peak levels, especially in bitterly cold and wet conditions like today.
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