STOP WORRYING ABOUT EFFLUENT - SIMPLIFY YOUR SYSTEM

Above: A new weeping wall has simplified the management of effluent for Waikato dairy farmer John Climo.

HAVING A SIMPLE EFFLUENT system is the best thing since sliced bread says John Climo who farms 530 cows at Wharepapa South, Waikato.

John’s previous set up might sound familiar- a manikin tank, sump, and pumped straight to pasture which had to go every day, even if it’s wet.

It was a constant worry. It was a nightmare if the pump broke down, the power was off, or if it blocked and didn’t pump, John says.

“We had to shift the irrigator and manage it every milking, it was so labour intensive, especially when it blocked.”

Now with his Archway Weeping Wall system he doesn’t have to worry.

“We went to the weeping wall because the pumps couldn’t handle the sand, stones and plastic, but the weeping wall separates everything that goes down the drain and leaves the pond clean.

“I couldn’t believe how long the weeping wall bunkers took to fill and how quick it was to empty them out.

We looked around at a few different systems and we were lucky here with the gravity from the cow shed, so this new system worked out perfectly.” John says.

Archway Group’s Amanda Hodgson says effluent can be one of the most unfavourable jobs on-farm so it’s important to make your system as low maintenance and simple for yourself and your staff as possible.

“We believe that simple systems attract great people. Having a well-designed system which makes these unattractive tasks easier ultimately takes the pressure off and makes the people on the ground happier.”

The wellbeing of people needs to be part of the design process for a sustainable operation. The effect it can have on people with a good system versus those with an inadequate system is huge.” Amanda says.