30 Sep 2010

Pressure on dairy farm effluent management

12:53 pm on 30 September 2010

Wet conditions in most parts of the country are putting pressure on some dairy farmers who are struggling to manage effluent.

Dairy Farmers chair Lachlan McKenzie says a number of effluent ponds are reaching capacity because of the continuing wet weather.

He advises farmers to lightly apply effluent to paddocks if their storage is full.

Southland Regional Council says it is giving farmers breathing space to deal with effluent build up, by suspending compliance in the short term.

Senior compliance officer Andy Nesbit says he's received a number of calls from farmers in the region who are having to irrigate already saturated pastures because effluent ponds are overflowing.