Big tick for dairy effluent compliance

Bay of Plenty dairy farmers have received a “big tick” for doing better in complying with effluent rules, with no prosecutions taken by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council in 2014.

Council’s pollution prevention team leader Steve Pickles says the 2014 survey of 290 dairy discharge consents showed improved compliance levels, and no incidents were considered serious enough to warrant prosecution.

Three quarters of the sites inspected were complying and another 17 per cent had low-risk non-compliance issues. Fewer than 10 percent of consents monitored breached conditions related to environmental effects or best practice.

Steve Bailey, Bay of Plenty Federated Farmers’ dairy chairman, says that’s a great result and reflects the on-going efforts of farmers, council and Federated Farmers to improve the environmental performance of dairy farmers.

Steve says: “A lot of work has gone on between stakeholders and regional council with regular meetings to discuss concerns and a strong focus on education to help farmers manage effluent. No farmer wants to pollute.

“In fact, many farmers used last season’s high dairy pay-out to improve and up-grade their effluent systems.”

On Steve’s farm more than $100,000 was spent on a feed pad to keep animals off paddocks in the wet and a weeping wall to assist in effluent treatment. More complex effluent systems can cost in excess of $400,000.

Technology now makes it possible to better manage dairy effluent as well as protecting the environment, and Steve says farmers know international markets are watching what happens on New Zealand farms.

“They want to know we are looking after the environment and producing ethical food,” he says.

Council continues to carry out unannounced spot checks on farm effluent systems and Steve supports this, adding: “Now council staff visiting farms are working with farmers to help them address any issues.

“Obviously serious breaches must be fixed immediately, but increasingly council staff are using these visits as an opportunity to educate farmers.”

Steve Pickles says council issued seven abatement notices or formal instructions to take action, and 11 infringement notices or fines of around $750 for serious offences.

The pleasing result meant only one dairy prosecution had been taken in the last three seasons of monitoring.

“The top three issues were poorly managed ponds, poorly managed effluent irrigation and poorly managed storm water diversion systems,” he says.

Staff inspected all aspects of the effluent treatment and disposal systems, and also checked runoff where the property had feed pads or standoff pads.

“It’s great to see overall compliance has improved from the previous season,” he adds.

Regional council staff will be at next month’s Effluent Expo at Mystery Creek on March 17.

“The expo is a great place to see the latest innovations in effluent management,” says Steve, “as well as speak to a wide range of effluent specialists and industry experts. It would be great to see some Bay of Plenty farmers attend the St Patrick’s Day event.”


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