Dairy shed wastewater treatment ponds
MAF Agriculture Policy Technical Paper 94/17
ISBN 0478 - 07381 - X
ISSN1171 -4662
FOREWORD
MAF's Sustainable Agriculture facilitation programme aims to assist the agricultural sectors to continually improve New Zealand1s trading position and international competitiveness, as well as protect the resources of agriculture - economic, social and environmental -
This five-year programme commenced in 1991/92, with workshops, discussion papers and submissions. One of the important environmental issues for the dairy industry identified by this process was the management and treatment of dairy shed effluent. Considerable effort is being channelled into this area by regional councils, the dairy industry, research organisations and MAF, all of whom are aware of some difficulties and are investigating solutions.
This report makes an important contribution to overcoming these difficulties by describing the technical issues and local efforts to alleviate the problems. It also provides some interim design recommendations, means for improvement of wastewater and describes the further long-term work that is needed.
In developing the report, MAF has worked closely with the dairy industry to ensure alignment with the industry's environmental strategy. The Dairy Research Institute is already investigating the next steps recommended in the report.
MAF, and the Dairy Industry, would like this report to be used as a discussion document for the industry, councils and researchers to encourage and prioritise further investigatory work and as a basis for extension messages and information for farmers.
It is envisaged that this initiative will help draw together other important research work aimed at dealing with wastewater that is currently being pursued in order to capture the benefits of a collective approach.
I have no hesitation in commending the report to you and trust it will encourage the development of a unified approach to the problem co-ordinated through the Dairy Research Institute,
Hon John Falloon
Minister of Agriculture
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