Healthy Effluent Pond Storage Checklist

Good dairy effluent management is a combination of having a well-designed effluent system and processes to make sure the collected effluent is applied to pasture in the right amount at the optimum time.

Benefits of good effluent management include:

• Fertiliser savings
• Improved soil condition
• Prevention of animal-health issues
• Compliance with council rules or resource consent.

A healthy pond is one that has:

• Minimal or a very small sludge accumulation on the pond floor.
• The solids within the pond are easily/quickly brought up into suspension when required.
• Been well mixed (solids and liquids).
• No dry crust or vegetation on the surface.
• Safe and easily accessible.
• No odour.
• Contains the maximum amount of farm dairy effluent (FDE) nutrients.

CHECKLIST

Daily

• Before and after every milking, check that the stormwater or washwater diversion is in the correct position

Weekly to monthly

• Clean and clear the effluent stone trap and gratings
• Check that the pipes running in and out of the ponds are not blocked
• Control weeds in and around ponds
• Check that the fencing remains stock-proof

Six-monthly to annually

• When the area around the ponds and any seepage areas are dry – graze them
• Check there is not excessive build-up of solids in the anaerobic pond
• Desludge the ponds regularly, when the sludge level is over half the normal effluent depth – this can be checked with a long pole.

For more advice on how to maximise your effluent pond and how to get the best quality effluent back onto your pasture, contact the team at Nevada.