Managing Waste in Dairies
Industry background
There are just under 6000 dairy farms located within Victoria with an estimated 1.2 million cows producing 6.1 billion litres of milk annually. (Dairy Australia 2007). Significant dairying activities operate throughout the Goulburn Broken, West Gippsland, North Central, North East, Corangamite and Glenelg Hopkins catchments.
Information collated by Government and industry sources estimate that more than 50% of dairy farmers still need to make improvements on either effluent system infrastructure or its management.
In 2003 the Environment Protection Authority introduced a targeted effluent auditing program primarily in the southern catchments. Since this date over 2000 dairy farms have been audited for effluent management with those non-compliant being issued either a minor works pollution abatement notice or a risk letter indicating a need for the farm to make improvements.
Those improvements tended to relate more specifically to the overall management and application of dairy effluent more so than inadequate effluent system design.
Over this period the Department of Primary Industries has assisted farmers with technical expertise by developing Effluent Management Plans tailored to suit the farms individual needs.
Commencing in July 2009 the Department of Primary Industries will engage the private sector in the southwest and northern regions of Victoria to undertake all the engineering and design aspects associated with constructing a dairy effluent system. DPI regional offices will be able to provide details of appropriately trained services providers.
Importance of effluent management
In the past, dairy effluent was viewed as a useless by-product of the milking process. Management techniques were centered on disposal on sacrifice paddocks or treating it in a two pond system to reduce its strength.
With continuing research and a far better understanding of effluent management the industry focus has shifted away from a waste mentality to a resource utilisation approach.
Today there is a far greater awareness of the importance of effluent management from both an environmental protection perspective and the industry’s marketability.
The dairy industry must continue to strive for a “clean and green” image by adopting current best management practices and adapting to change.
Responsibilities of farmers
Dairy farmers have a legal responsibility to contain all dairy effluent within their farm boundaries and ensure that the storage of effluent and land applications are carried out in a manner that precludes the pollution of both ground and surface waters. (State Environment Protection Policy – Waters of Victoria 2003)
