It’s time to get your sh!t together!

If you’ve received a letter from the EPA or want to get ahead of the game, call our office today and book in your first consult—FREE for Members.

The EPA has now signalled they’re cracking down on dairies. SADA is taking the time to get trained up on a comprehensive tool to evaluate your Effluent Management and mechanism for submitting your plan.

Dairy effluent is described as a potential point source of nutrient pollution for waterways and mismanagement of it risks impacting the environment. Environmental legislation in all Australian States and Territories has set a minimum standard that dairies must comply with to prevent nutrient pollution leaving the farm boundaries. Compliance with such legislation requires that all dairies produce up-to-date and validated technical information about options for effectively managing its effluent.

The Australian dairy industry has changed dramatically since deregulation in 2000, with increased average herd size and increased intensity of use in supporting areas around the dairy. The increased volumes of effluent and solids generated must be considered in effluent and manure management plans.

To make the best use of Australia's knowledge in sustainable dairy management to progress effective and nationally consistent approaches. Agriculture Victoria and Dairy Australia collaborated to release national guidelines for dairy feed pads inline with a national trend towards larger, more intensive farms.

In addition to the Code of Practice for Milking Shed Effluent, the EPA in South Australia has drafted an odour separation distance guideline as well as a new planning and development guideline for intensive dairies. Both are consistent with the new national guidelines.