Effluent Expo attracts the crowds

The Effluent Expo will begin on October 17th

Nearly 40 exhibitors, with more expected, have been confirmed for the latest Effluent Expo being run by Waikato Regional Council, with support from DairyNZ.

Hundreds of farmers are expected to attend the event on Tuesday, October 17 from 9am to 3.30pm, at the Claudelands Conference and Exhibition Centre in Hamilton.

The expo - now in its sixth year - provides an opportunity for farmers to talk to industry professionals about effluent management and infrastructure. The council sees 'doing it once and doing it right' is a guiding philosophy for upgrading farm effluent management systems.

Taking a holistic approach to farm effluent management is promoted and the expo provides a one-stop-shop for water, effluent storage and effluent application advice.

"The event aims to help farmers increase their effluent knowledge and have well-managed, fit-for-purpose effluent systems on their farms," said council sustainable agriculture advisor Mark Gasquoine. "Information will be available on a range of systems which will help ensure full compliance with relevant rules and good management practices in the region."

Council farming services team leader Stuart Stone said there's a lot of positive farmer effort on meeting effluent management rules, although compliance data for the last financial year shows there are still some gains required.

"The farming services team strongly appreciates the efforts individual farmers are making to lift their game on the compliance front, whether it's having the right infrastructure in place or sufficiently trained staff to ensure infrastructure is working as it should.

Seminar subjects include Council monitoring, getting effluent storage volumes sorted and extracting value out of farm dairy effluent.

* More information at www.waikatoregion.govt.nz/2017-effluent-expo