Theresa Wilson DairyNZ Project Manager

Farmers around the country have made great strides improving the quality of their dairy effluent ponds and farm practice around effluent management.

To keep up the momentum and lower non-compliance issues, the DairyNZ message this summer is – empty your storage ponds when you can.

The issue we come up against is that effluent storage ponds won't cope if they are full and sustain wet weather hits when autumn arrives. The best way to ensure your pond can cope is to empty it regularly and make sure it's well maintained.

The response to our reminder has been positive, with farmers we've talked to being more aware of the benefit of regular checking routines.

We know dairy farmers are seeing an effluent management system as an important part of the whole farming system. When the system is correctly designed and operated, not only will it comply with regional council requirements, but the whole system will work more efficiently.

Staying on top

The easiest way to stay on top of pond levels is to keep an eye on the conditions. By getting to know what the weather is doing as far ahead as possible with current forecasting, and knowing the level of your storage pond, you can avoid being caught out with inadequate storage when a storm blows in.

Dairy NZ has organised with Met Service to have reminder ads on the weather forecasting page, a place where many farmers are regular visitors. The adverts will appear in March at www.metservice.com/rural/index

To help spread the message, we're using a magnetic pond level indicator, t-shirts and, the highlight of the promotion, a ‘Prize Pond' photo competition. Farmers are invited to send in a picture to show how low their ponds can go – visit dairynz.co.nz/prizepond – and the farmer with the best looking pond wins a barbecue hosted by former All Black prop, TV sport commentator, radio personality and farmer, Richard Loe.

The magnetic pond markers can be obtained by emailing [email protected]

Comparing ponds

Having people compare their ponds can helps farmers promote good practice for managing effluent ponds.

Farmers have made good progress meeting effluent management requirements and nationally the rate of serious non-compliance fell to 11 per cent last season.

But it's clear the bar is high, so any non-compliance is unacceptable.

If you've got a pond – the best advice is to keep it low.