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Dairy and the environment

Dairy and the environment. Issues in NZ dairy farming. Why worry about the environment?. A key marketing strategy is selling NZ dairy products as being from a “clean, green environment ” As farmers we have a social responsibility to protect the environment in which we live

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Dairy and the environment

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  1. Dairy and the environment Issues in NZ dairy farming

  2. Why worry about the environment? • A key marketing strategy is selling NZ dairy products as being from a “clean, green environment” • As farmers we have a social responsibility to protect the environment in which we live • The rest of NZ society will not tolerate the excesses of a few in the farming community

  3. Environmental Issues • 1) Effluent Management • 2) Water Management • 3) Fertiliser Management • 4) Chemical Management

  4. 1) Effluent management • To have a treatment system for farm effluent that complies with industry standards and meets the requirement of the RMA • Need to have regional council permit that states how the effluent is handled, how spread and over how many hectares—about 4 ha per 100 cows

  5. 2) Water management • To control stock access to waterways so as to avoid degradation of water quality • To control stock access to significant wetlands to prevent destruction of native flora and fauna • To only modify or drain significant wetlands if in compliance with regional/district plans

  6. 3) Fertilizer management • To carry out an annual nutrient budget • To ensure proper execution of the budget to avoid unnecessary or excessive leaching from the soil • Budget should include: fertiliser inputs, production sold or moved off of the farm, soil test data—see overhead

  7. Nitrogen Management • Lysimeter research have shown that N fertilizers are not a problem • Each urine patch is equal to 1000 kg nitrogen per ha. • About ¼ of the farm gets covered in urine on the LUDF annually with a stocking rate of 4.2 cows/ha. • Nitrification inhibitors reduce the amount of N leeched during periods of high rainfall and low growth—can reduce leeching by 60% and increase winter growth by 25%

  8. Two main nitrogen losses from agriculture • Nitrate leaching in drainage water causes pollution of surface and groundwater • Nitrous oxide (N2O) is given off by soil and is a potent greenhouse gas. NZ agricultural greenhouse gases

  9. Results show most leeching from urine

  10. How can we reduce N losses • Hope it doesn’t rain too much • Take stock off the property • House stock and collect urine • Apply Eco-N • A nitrification inhibitor that effectively reduces the leeching on N by reducing the activity of nitrosomonas bacteria

  11. 4) Pesticide/Agrichemical management • To implement agrichemical management programmes to minimise adverse impacts on people or the environment • Must have proper storage facilities • Must have records of pesticide inventories • Must keep records of blanket applications • Keep records of operator training • Procedures for handling spills • Provide safety equipment

  12. Clean Streams Accord • Agreement between dairy industry, government and interest groups to improve water quality (2003), includes: • Stock fenced from streams • Crossing points to have bridges • Effluent discharges to be compliant • Nutrient management plans • Wetlands to be fenced from stock

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