With calving almost over across the majority of Otago’s 400-plus dairy farms, the Otago Regional Council is reminding farmers auditing and farm checks begin shortly.

Council Coastal Compliance Monitoring team leader Mike Cummings encourages any farmer uncertain about consents to contact them as soon as possible.

“With calving almost over for most dairy farmers, staff from ORC’s Compliance team will start heading out to farms as part of our annual dairy monitoring programme,” he says.

Otago has 462 dairy farms with the majority clustered around the Waitaki and Clutha districts. Most of the remainder are on the Taieri Plains, Maniototo, Manuherikia, Ida Valley and Hawea Flat areas. 

The farms are monitored annually on a risk-based approach, focusing on supporting the sector.

For the 2023-24 season, the Compliance team completed 400 dairy inspections, with some farms visited more than once, Mike says.

“Farmers have been doing some great work over the years, which our dairy monitoring programme shows, but it is important that we carry on with this great work together.”

This year the team will again be checking compliance with dairy effluent storage and application to land, and how silage, farm rubbish and offal are managed, he says.

“The team will also be looking at where water is sourced from and how it is used on-farm.”

While the programme is education-focused, appropriate compliance action is considered where needed, Mike says.

Staff will engage with farmers on farm-specific topics which range from clearing drains and putting crossings over streams, to how best to comply with the rules.

“The dairy programme gives us a great opportunity to continue to work with the dairy sector and have good conversations about their on-farm activities.”

By 4 December, all dairy farms with less than 40 days’ effluent storage will need resource consent for applying dairy effluent to land and many farmers will also require consent for effluent storage.

To contact ORC about consent issues, contact [email protected] or 0800 474 082.