Media  Release
14 May 2007 - For immediate release Dairy SA

South Australian dairy farmers are encouraged to apply for a limited number of new grants, aimed at implementing best management practices for dairy effluent systems on their properties.

The DairySA supported Statewide Dairy Effluent program “Resource-not-Waste” has been allocated funding from the National Landcare Program.
As part of the “on-ground works program”, the best management practices are considered to be practices that exceed the minimum legal requirements of dairy shed effluent management systems. 

Management practices which reduce the amount of effluent, treat effluent in innovative ways, enhance sustainable re-use, minimise environmental impacts, or monitor the re-use of nutrients in effluent are all eligible practices. On-ground works for the management of effluent from dairy milking shed yards and intensive feeding areas such as feed pads or feedlots are eligible. Payments will be offered to up to 20 properties in 2007, subject to meeting the selection criteria, and successful completion of the on-ground works.

Applications must be made on the “On-Ground Works Program” application form, and are open to all dairy farmers who have an effluent management plan for their property. Dairies which have had a plan developed as part of the Statewide Dairy Effluent program will receive an application form in the mail.

Applications close on 30 June 2007, and application forms and a fact sheet with more details of the types of eligible works can be accessed at the SA Dairy Industry web site http://www.dairyindustrysa.com.au/technical_info_for_farmers/effluent_management.
Farmers in the State’s central and northern dairying areas are also set to receive copies of the new dairy effluent guidelines.

The new guidelines apply to the SA Murray Darling Basin, Mount Lofty Ranges and Northern and Yorke Natural Resource Management board regions, and were developed under the State-wide Dairy Effluent program “Resource-not-Waste”.

They have been updated from the first guidelines of the 1990s by a committee which comprised dairy farmers, dairy companies, Department of Primary Industries and Resources, and the Environment Protection Authority.  They include updated information on changes to State legislation, as well as effluent management systems and technologies which improve the ease of management and reduce the environmental impact of dairy effluent. 

The new guidelines are specific to each region.  Farmers who supply milk to the major factories will personally receive their copies from their factory field officers in the next few weeks.
Copies of the guidelines have been mailed to dairies who process their own milk, or supply small or boutique manufacturers.

 
As part of the “Resource-not-Waste” program, technical assistance is available until the end of March 2008 (subject to ongoing funding) to help dairy farmers decide what changes, if any, are needed to their effluent management system.  The technical service being offered includes the design and specifications of the effluent management system which best suits the individual dairy farm. The technical service can be accessed by contacting Rural Solutions SA at Clare on 8842 6222.

For more information on the grants or new guidelines, please contact
Michael O’Keefe on 8842 6222, or Monique White on 0400 972 206.

ENDS

Issued By:  Verity Ingham, Telephone:  08 8766 0127, Fax:  08 8766 0005, E-mail:  dairysa@bordernet.com.au  More info on web: www.dairyindustrysa.com.au

Media Contacts:  Michael O’Keefe Rural Solutions SA, Telephone: 08 8842 6222