$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.
Dairy effluent, particularly slurry, can be a big problem.
As environmental pressures increase, there's no doubt that New Zealand's dairy farmers will need to take a close look at their existing systems, and learn to understand the nutrient value of this by-product.
Big problems need big solutions, and they don't come much bigger than the Giltrap Engineering vacuum tanker shown on their Fieldays site. With a capacity of 20,000 litres, 8.5 metre length, 3.2 metre height and a tare weight of 7.7 tonnes, this behemoth should certainly make a large hole in the effluent pond during the working day.
Manufactured from 6mm plate steel the tank is supported along its full length by a heavy duty integrated chassis, the superstructure is carried on a HD tri-axle bogie system, with steered front and rear axles, fitted with oversized tyres, and offering hydraulic braking on all six wheels to stop progress safely.
High spec European componentry is used throughout and includes a Battioni Pagani rotary vane vacuum pump featuring auto lubrication to deliver 12,000 litres per minute output to fill the beast in less than two minutes. Pump protection sees a double moisture trap layout, whilst all fittings are either brass or heavily galvanised steel for corrosion protection and an extended operating life
Internally the tank is fitted with a reinforced baffle plate to prevent liquid surging as the tank empties, and offers twin manhole access points for easy entry to facilitate cleaning and maintenance. Around the machine, three filling points are fitted as standard, which use 200mm sectional hoses for rapid filling.
Shown at Fieldays with optional sprung axles, and the operator friendly Autofill system, the range is offered with a 3 year warranty for peace of mind, and can be customised with a range of accessories to suit individual operating requirements.
Ashburton cropping and dairy farmer Matthew Paton has been elected to the board of rural services company, Ruralco.
The global agricultural landscape has entered a new phase where geopolitics – not only traditional market forces – will dictate agricultural trade flows, prices, and production decisions.
National Lamb Day is set to return in 2026 with organisers saying the celebrations will be bigger than ever.
Fonterra has dropped its forecast milk price mid-point by 50c as a surge in global milk production is putting downward pressure on commodity prices.
The chance of a $10-plus milk price for this season appears to be depleting.
Keep focused on things that can be controlled on farm.

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