Effluent management is key to sustainable fertilization, while composting, managing critical source areas, adhering to synthetic nitrogen fertilizer caps, and handling silage all play vital roles in protecting water quality and environmental health.
Well-managed effluent is a great source of fertiliser. Making sure it stays on the land and doesn’t leach or runoff (to water) helps ensure local waterways (rivers, streams, lakes, and wetlands) stay healthy.
If you’re planning on running a composting operation of any size, there are some rules in the regional Water Plan and Waste Plan that you need to take into consideration.
Critical Source Areas (CSAs) are landscape features that collect runoff and direct it to water bodies, and need to be managed to reduce sediment, bacteria and phosphorus getting into waterways.
There is a cap on how much synthetic nitrogen fertilizer can be used on larger pastoral lands, and dairy farmers must report their usage to regional councils. This helps ensure farming practices are sustainable and protect the environment. ORC is here to help you understand what you need to do.
Managing your own silage and compost can be cost-effective, but needs to be carefully managed.
If you are using fertilisers on your land, it’s important to follow industry-agreed practices for managing them