Recent results from AgResearch trials in South Otago as part of the Pastoral 21 project have shown that grazed winter forage crops contribute significantly to the risk of nutrient losses to water.

The purpose of measuring and monitoring effluent is to provide information to assist with system management and tracking of performance, and as the basis for reporting for regulatory compliance. 

Good effluent management requires a well-designed effluent system and processes for people that make sure the effluent the system collects is applied to pasture in the right amount at the right time, says DairyNZ.

A Coromandel farmer was fined $72,750 for deliberately discharging dairy effluent into farm drains that flow to the Tairua River on the Coromandel Peninsula.

Effluent irrigation expert Stuart Reid, Spitfire Revolution, was recently called to Southland to attend to a bridge mixing propeller fouled by a rope.

With the increase of standoff pads and wintering barns, the amount of slurry being stored for distribution is soaring. 

Toplink Machinery exhibited at National Fieldays the Tramspread contractor unit, a self-contained system that enables one-man operation and the ability to arrive on farm, set up quickly and spread effluent, then pack up and move to the next job.

Effluent has become a big topic over the last few years, with major pressure being put on farmers by their regional authorities to clean up their act.

An app which sends out a daily text message to dairy farmers can completely eliminate the risk of them receiving a hefty fine for spreading too much effluent on their farms but can also save them money of fertiliser.

Good effluent management requires having a well-designed system and processes for workers to ensure the effluent collected is applied to pasture in the right quantity at the right time, says DairyNZ.