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DairyNZ advises Waikato farmers on high risk soils to seek early support in light of the Waikato Regional Council's new effluent compliance monitoring process.
Development project manager for effluent, Dr Theresa Wilson, says farmers will now consider how the changes may impact them so they can prepare for the season.
"Nationally, farmers lowered the level of significant non-compliance below 10% for the first time, which is a good achievement and we're keen to see this trend continue.
"The way Waikato Regional Council process is supporting the Farm Dairy Effluent Standards and Code of Practice for system design, should also give farmers some of the clarity they have been asking for," she says.
"It's reassuring that the council will refer farmers who need support to people with demonstrated skills – the accredited effluent design companies. We have done a lot of work to lift standards and the quality of advice in this area through this programme and it is being acknowledged.
"We hope farmers contact DairyNZ for resources and accredited design companies for technical support if they have any questions around how they will perform."
Wilson says if farmers are unsure of their farm's soil risk, DairyNZ has a new soils guide to help them assess risk. "It will give farmers a better idea of where the council may be monitoring this season, so they can get prepared.
"Farmers can also self-assess their effluent system with the Waikato Effluent Compliance Checklist which is on the DairyNZ website, www.dairynz.co.nz/checklists."
Last season was a mixed bag for Waikato contractors, with early planted forage maize, planted on the dry soils around Cambridge, doing badly after germination and failing to meet potential, says Jeremy Rothery, Jackson Contracting.
OPINION: Soil is one of the most valuable assets that a farmer has. It is our collective responsibility to make use of soils without damaging either the soil or any other part of our environment, protecting them for our own use and use by future generations.
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