LOW CAPITAL OUTLAY FOR FLEXI TANK OPTION

Above: Glenn Taylor says the simplicity of his Flexi Tank was a big drawcard.

TARANAKI DAIRY FARMER GLENN Taylor is a happy man after Flexi Tank installed a French designed and made effluent storage bladder on his Ngaere farm in June, 2018.

“Basically it’s done what I wanted it to do. It’s somewhere to put effluent safely when I’m not on the farm,” he says.

Glenn is a part-owner and leases the balance of his family’s farm. He runs 340 dairy cows on 107ha (effective) plus a 30ha runoff where he grows maize and silage, and grazes young stock.

Glenn says his Flexi Tank is easy to use and simple to put together without a lot of capital outlay. There are no consents required, no extra pumps are needed. It just takes a few extra fittings and a flat surface. The effluent can be transported to and from the tank using an existing pump or gravity.

For Glenn, it only took five people 90 minutes to roll it out. He cleared a few trees before putting it in, and has plans to add a few plants so that it will be unseen by anyone passing nearby.

With the Flexi Tank being enclosed there is no risk of rainfall getting in or people falling in. For anybody who may have neighbouring properties nearby there is the added benefit that smells are almost non-existent.

Rather than gradually putting the effluent on to a paddock it can be applied all at once, so the entire paddock can have the same consistency before it’s time for the cows to go on.

Flexi Tanks are an increasingly popular option. The tanks have a depreciation rate of 25%/year, so can be written off in 4-5 years. The construction material is sturdy and comes with a 10 year manufacturer's guarantee.