Environmental management of soils, fertiliser and effluent comes under voluntary and mandatory codes of practice. Both provide minimum standards for environmental management. The dairy and fertiliser industries have also developed technical information and decision support tools to assist dairy farmers and advisors with environmental management. There are many examples of dairy farmers quickly adopting new technologies and changing their farming systems to minimise environmental impacts. The Australian dairy industry continues to investigate more effective ways of managing farm resources to ensure long-term sustainability of the industry. See the following for more information:
Fertiliser Management
Labelling Regulations
In Australia the regulations governing the sale of fertilisers are State Government based resulting in seven different sets of regulations with varying requirements. A Code of Practice has been developed by Fertiliser Australia, working with State jurisdictions. It is expected that the Code will eventually be submitted for COAG approval. The main risk is from the heavy metal contaminants, cadmium, mercury and lead, present in some fertilisers.
Industry Practices
The dairy industry has developed voluntary industry standards for fertiliser management outlined in DairySAT. DairySAT is a voluntary self-assessment tool which describes unacceptable, acceptable, and innovative fertiliser management practices.
Fertiliser Australia has developed guidelines for developing a nutrient management code of practice for your industry, region or farm. A Nutrient Management Code of Practice can help farming industries to minimise environmental impact, and increase production efficiency.
Fertcare Courses
Fertcare trains industry staff in the competencies required to meet their responsibilities for food safety and environmental risk management. It includes the competency to warn, advise and refer customers to information about the risks and how to manage them.
Technical Information
The Dairy Soils and Fertiliser Manual includes technical information to assist with the environmental management of fertiliser use, including:
Risk Assessment Tools
The following tools have been developed to assess environmental risks associated with fertilisers and farm nutrients:
- Farm Nutrient Loss Index (FNLI)
- Cracking The Nutrient Code – A guide to developing your nutrient code of practice
Case Studies
There are many examples of dairy farmers using fertiliser with greater precision to reduce environmental impacts. See the following case studies for more information:
Research and Trials
There are many dairy research projects investigating more efficient ways of using fertiliser to minimise nutrient losses. This type of research helps to reduce farm fertiliser costs and improves long-term sustainability of the industry:
Effluent Management
Regulations
Dairy effluent is considered a potential point source for pollution of waterways. Mismanagement has the potential to impact water quality resulting in degradation of environmental assets. All Australian States and Territories have set minimum standards that all dairies, irrespective of size, must comply with.
Industry Practices
The dairy industry has developed voluntary industry standards for effluent management outlined in DairySAT. DairySAT is a voluntary self-assessment tool which describes unacceptable, acceptable, and innovative effluent management practices.
Technical Information
Australian dairy farmers, industry and government agencies can now access a wealth of technical information that has been collated from around Australia and overseas with respect to the design and management of dairy effluent systems – see the following:
Other sources of technical information include:
- Using dairy effluent
- Managing Dairy Farm Effluent – Gippsland Victoria
- Making the Most of Animal By-Products
Case Studies
Most dairy farmers are now realising the high value of dairy effluent and are using it strategically as a fertiliser and soil conditioner. The following video clip is an example of how a dairy farmer in the great barrier reef catchments is using dairy effluent.
Soil Management
Regulations
Soil conservation and land management is a state government responsibility. Relevant laws, guidelines and codes include the following:
- New South Wales – Soil Conservation Act
- Queensland – Soil Conservation Act
- South Australia – Natural Resources Management Act 2004
- Tasmania – Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act 1994
- Victoria – Soil Management: Legal Booklet
- Western Australia – Soil and land conservation
Industry Practices
The dairy industry has developed voluntary industry standards for soil management outlined in DairySAT. DairySAT is a voluntary self-assessment tool which describes unacceptable, acceptable, and innovative soil management practices.
Technical Information
The following technical information assists with understanding and managing dairy soils:
- Soil properties
- Soil types
- Managing limiting soil factors
- Soil biology on dairy farms
- Soil erosion (Queensland)
- Soil management for dairy and beef cattle grazing (NSW)
- Soil Management (TAS)
- Land condition and sustainable management (SA)
- Soil management (VIC)
Case Studies
Dairy farmers are always looking for new ways to improve both soil condition and farm productivity. See the following case studies for more information:
Research and Trials
Soils on established dairy farms are generally fertile and contain high levels of soil carbon. However, there are a number of trials investigating more effective ways of reusing dairy effluent and manure to improve soil condition – see the following examples: