18 Dec 2009

Farm discharge compliance rate up

12:47 pm on 18 December 2009

There's been a big improvement in dairy farmers complying with effluent discharge rules in the Wellington and Wairarapa region.

Last year, over half of the farmers met all the conditions covering the discharge of dairy shed effluent onto pasture.

Monitoring by Wellington Regional Council now shows almost three quarters of dairy farmers are complying fully.

Federated Farmers says that being able to halve the level of non-compliance this season is due to a greater awareness among farmers of what's required.

But Wairarapa dairy chair Graeme Stuart says it's also due in large measure to a much improved working relationship between farmers and council staff.

Graeme Stuart says the regional council now views farmers as part of the solution and not the problem.

But he says there's still progress to be made in areas such as keeping stock out of waterways.