New code & standards for farm dairy effluent design released

New code and standards for farm dairy effluent design released

In another step to improve the performance of dairy farm effluent systems, the dairy industry has released a code of practice and design standards. It has been two years in the making.

The Farm Dairy Effluent (FDE) Design Code of Practice and Design Standards have been driven by a steering group consisting of representatives across the dairy industry, the effluent services industry and regional council.

They signal a change to the way future effluent systems will be designed and built according to Dr Rick Pridmore DairyNZ’s Strategy and Investment Leader for Sustainability who funded the steering group.

“Preventing effluent non-compliance is a focus for farmers and through the code and standards we’re addressing a key structural reason which has been letting our industry down by giving guidance around what a good practice effluent system looks like,” Dr Pridmore says.

He says new effluent systems built under the code and standards will help address the issue of poorly designed systems leading to non-compliance with regional council regulations for the management of effluent.

“The new code aims to support the people who design and install dairy effluent systems with well thought-through, industry-agreed standards and a process to come up with systems which are fit for purpose.”

Tim Scott of the New Zealand Milking & Pumping Trade Association Inc (NZMPTA) says the code and standards direct designers to consider nationally-agreed performance criteria when they are designing effluent systems.

“Performance criteria for new effluent systems and any upgrades to existing systems are now set out in this code, meaning designers know what level of performance the industry expects them to build to.

“It’s a win for farmers as systems which are designed to deliver nutrients more efficiently improve production and they reduce environmental impacts which can result from poor performing systems.”

Irrigation New Zealand Chief Executive Andrew Curtis says information sessions, formal training and an accreditation process for effluent system designers and suppliers will be delivered to bring them up to speed with the code and standards.

“We expect to have industry training courses for designers and installers up and running by mid 2011, followed by an accreditation process.

“This will give suppliers a good idea of how they will formally integrate these standards and the code into their individual businesses. We expect there will be strong uptake of accreditation over the next 18 months.”

In the interim Fonterra Manager Sustainable Dairying Field Team Emma Parsons advises farmers who are considering upgrading their effluent systems to ask their supplier if their recommendations are based on the code and standards.

“We want farmers to know that when they contract a supplier in this area they can ask them to follow the new code and standards. Farmers want to know that they will get an effluent system that will measure up to their expectations, and that is fit for purpose for their farm.”

Federated Farmers Dairy Chairperson Lachlan Mackenzie says resources for farmers were being developed to help them work through the changes with their designers and effluent system contractors.

“Good support resources will let dairy farmers make better decisions around investing in advice and systems which give them peace of mind and they also go a long way to making systems easier to manage on a daily basis.”

Irrigation New Zealand, the New Zealand Milking and Pumping Trade Association, Fonterra, and DairyNZ and Federated Farmers Dairy are committed to implementing the standards and the code.

The documents are available for download on www.dairynz.co.nz/effluentcode

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ABOUT DAIRYNZ
DairyNZ is the industry good organisation representing New Zealand’s dairy farmers. We are funded by a levy on milksolids and our purpose is to secure and enhance the profitability, sustainability and competitiveness of New Zealand dairy farming. We deliver value to farmers through leadership, influencing, investing, partnering with other organisations and through our own strategic capability. Our work includes research and development to create practical on-farm tools, leading on-farm adoption of best practice farming, promoting careers in dairying and advocating for farmers with central and regional government. For more information, visit www.dairynz.co.nz

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