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.
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.
Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford says the 2025 Fieldays has been one of more positive he has attended.
A fundraiser dinner held in conjunction with Fieldays raised over $300,000 for the Rural Support Trust.
Recent results from its 2024 financial year has seen global farm machinery player John Deere record a significant slump in the profits of its agricultural division over the last year, with a 64% drop in the last quarter of the year, compared to that of 2023.
An agribusiness, helping to turn a long-standing animal welfare and waste issue into a high-value protein stream for the dairy and red meat sector, has picked up a top innovation award at Fieldays.
The Fieldays Innovation Award winners have been announced with Auckland’s Ruminant Biotech taking out the Prototype Award.
Following twelve years of litigation, a conclusion could be in sight of Waikato’s controversial Plan Change 1 (PC1).
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