Here you’ll find practical steps for creating an effluent strategy, managing ponds, spreading effluent as nutrients, and training your team, plus tools and expert advice.
Summary:
Effective effluent management reduces methane, protects waterways, and improves farm performance. Here’s how to take action.
Create an effluent strategy
Plan, maintain, and improve effluent systems to cut methane and protect waterways.
- Plan how to create and maintain effluent ponds and spreading systems.
- Regular stirring reduces solids in ponds and lowers methane emissions.
- Spread effluent to avoid leaching, ponding, or runoff into waterways.
- Contact an effluent consultant or your Sustainable Dairying Advisor.
- Review effluent actions and recommendations in your Farm Environment Plan for improvements.
- Improvements can save time and money, boost crop growth, and improve cow productivity.
- Make sure your team understands the importance of managing effluent systems.
- Train them on correct actions for ponds and spreading systems.
- Empty ponds before summer when methane production peaks.
- Separate solids or stir regularly to reduce anaerobic conditions and methane emissions.
What you can do
- Stay updated on new effluent emissions technologies and news.
- Use DairyNZ’s free information and tools for effluent management.
Spread effluent as nutrients
Maximise effluent’s nutrient value with smart spreading practices and industry tools.
- Spread effluent on paddocks as a nutrient source.
- Use industry tools like DairyNZ’s Effluent Spreading Calculator to calculate nutrient loadings and application rates.
- Apply effluent at the right timing, rate, and depth.
- Best practice maximises pasture response and minimises nutrient loss to the environment.
What you can do
- Spread separated solids at a low rate on paddocks.
- Or store them on concrete until conditions are suitable.
What's the opportunity for your farm?
Productivity, Profitability and Sustainability.
Productivity
- Spread effluent regularly to grow better crops and forage.
- Better crops mean more milk from your cows.
Profitability
- Effluent can add value on-farm, with an average dairy cow producing $25 worth of nutrients annually. For a 400-cow herd, this totals about $10,000.
- Proper effluent management prevents costly blockages, enhances crop quality, and boosts milk yield and quality, increasing profitability.
- Using effluent effectively can reduce your farm’s carbon footprint, appealing to environmentally conscious customers.
- Consult your farm advisor for more ideas on maximizing effluent benefits.
Sustainability
- Methane from manure management accounts for up to 4% of agricultural emissions on New Zealand dairy farms, with 80% from anaerobic effluent storage ponds.
- Improving effluent pond management can help reduce these emissions.
- Effective practices include stirring to reduce solids and spreading effluent to avoid leaching, ponding, or runoff.
- Additionally, higher productivity per cow lowers emissions intensity by spreading emissions across more milk produced.
Need help right now with effluent? Talk to us
Customer Service Team
Our Farmer Support Team is available 24/7 for urgent help and immediate guidance.
Local support
The My Co‑op app has contact details for your local Farm Source team for more complex issues.
Chat in person
Your Farm Source store is there for local face‑to‑face support with our team. They’re always happy to help.