2
January 2013
Waikato Farming LiFestyLes
New environmental farming systems advisor for Waikato
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ATTENTION: FARMERS
Easily Control and Enhance Effluent Management Stricter New Zealand legislation surrounding the management and control of dairy effluent in the NZ dairy industry has resulted in increased volumes of nutrient rich effluent being collected from dairy sheds, feed pads and holding areas for application onto land and pastures. The application of dairy effluent is now common and offers both environmental and economic benefits. In many cases these benefits are not truly being UNLOCKED. Effluent management is a real science and when managed correctly it can save thousands in inorganic fertilisers. One of the real secrets’ of UNLOCKING the maximum nutrient potential of Effluent is MINERALISATION.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT?
Poorly conditioned effluent may be more hazardous to the environment, and when irrigated to pastures may not produce the maximum nutrient potential for uptake by grasses.
BENEFITS AND SAVINGS:
The major economic benefit of good effluent management is the ability to utilise effluent to reduce inorganic fertilisers. While the nutrient value in effluent may vary for a number of reasons, when MINERALISATION occurs: - The potential fertiliser value increases. - The uptake by grasses and crops also increases.
- The environmental risks are reduced.
How to increase MINERALISATION of Dairy Effluent?
Treat the dairy effluent by introducing Dairy-Kleen™ SHOTS into the effluent holding system. When dairy effluent is treated with Dairy-Kleen™ SHOTS the benefits will continue throughout the whole ponding system through to its application onto land establishing and enhancing the necessary biological activity within the soils.
What is Dairy-Kleen™ SHOTS
Dairy-Kleen™ SHOTS is an easy to use all-natural heavy duty powdered formulation developed for the treatment of animal effluent. Dairy-Kleen™ SHOTS contains billions of tiny beneficial micro-organisms which are harmless to humans, animals and the environment. These micro-organisms bio degrade the animal effluent and continue to rapidly develop throughout the whole process.
University of Waikato doctoral student Electra Kalaugher will take up the position of Environmental Farming Systems Advisor with the Waikato Regional Council (WRC) in March. Ms Kalaugher will be joining a team under Environmental Farming Systems manager Alan Campbell, working to help make dairying and horticulture in the region more sustainable. “It will involve a lot of networking within the industry, sharing information and catalysing initiatives that will support farmers, both in making the way they farm more sustainable and in coming to grips with the changing regulatory environment,” said Ms Kalaugher. Ms Kalaugher’s focus on agriculture began after a summer research project in 1993 when she stayed on a number of cropping farms around New Environmental Farming Systems Advisor Canterbury, and had discussions for the Waikato Regional Council, with farmers about the issues Electra Kalaugher, takes up the position in March they were facing. “It became really clear to me during After completing a B.Sc in Ecology at those conversations especially, that Otago University in 1994, Ms Kalaugher adapting to the changing regulatory then worked in several countries and environment might be even more of a raised her family. While living in Rome she challenge than adapting to changes in held an agricultural biodiversity position climate, and I’d like to do what I can to with the Food and Agriculture Organization help support farmers in this process.” of the United Nations. A few years later Ms Kalaugher said she is sure there she worked in The Netherlands, producing a magazine featuring sustainable will be a lot of challenges in her new agriculture case studies from around position but believes that it is possible to farm sustainably, both from an economic the world. Ms Kalaugher completed a Masters and environmental perspective. Mr Campbell said Ms Kalaugher will degree through Massey University in 2009 and started a PhD at Waikato University have big shoes to fill in this role. the following year. “The previous two incumbents, Gabi She said her PhD, which focussed Kaufler and Kate Ody, initiated among on adaption of New Zealand dairy farms other things the Farm Dairy Effluent Code to climate change, leads well into the of Practice and the Effluent Expo. position with WRC. “Both initiatives are nationally “Climate change is of course only significant and were built on collaboration one of the challenges facing NZ farmers, with DairyNZ and the wider dairy and and the way I’ve approached the study effluent management industries. has been both computer modelling of “These kinds of projects are a hallmark dairy farms and having some really good of the Environmental Farming Systems conversations with farmers about the team at Waikato Regional Council and way they see their systems and what the Electra’s track record in working with main challenges are, to understand where others means we’re very pleased to have climate change fits into the picture. persuaded her to join us.” Transporter + Truck & Trailers available for bulk delivery
- Dairy-Kleen™ SHOTS is available in a handy 4x Shots Pack: Each individual shot is designed as a treatment for up to a 250 cow farm. (More shots can be used as
Sand, Metal, Topsoil, Decorative Stone, Pebbles and Farmers Race Metal.
required)
12 & 2 TONNE
- Simple to use: Just pour into and mix the entire Shot in a bucket of warm water and apply this mixture directly into the ponding system.
DIGGERS
Have you had your shot today? Treat with Dairy-Kleen™ SHOTS
Manage Animal Effluent with Ease.
Site Excavations, Farm Work, Sand Pads, Hole Drilling up to 600mm Dia., Driveways, Sections Cleared, House Pads, Tennis Courts, Horse Arenas, Laser Leveling.
Treat with Dairy-Kleen™ SHOTS
For Dairy-Kleen™
Call: 0800 109 202 Website: www.ecoworld.co.nz
SUPPLY & CARTAGE
P. (07) 827 7710 or
Bryan (COS) 027 410 7772 E. cosseycartage@slingshot.co.nz Tony (TC) 027 410 7770