The development and use of dairy effluent calculators

Abstract

Since deregulation, Queensland dairy production has intensified. resulting in increased effluent and manure loadings across many farms. Producers need to give adequate consideration to managing these increased loadings to make effective use of the valuable nutrient and water resources in the effluent and manure, while avoiding adverse impacts on the environment. Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F) officers recognise that producers most commonly require technical assistance with the design of effluent treatment and storage ponds, trafficable solids traps and yard flood washing systems and with the determination of sustainable effluent irrigation areas and the economic value of effluent as a fertiliser. The four spreadsheet calculators described in this paper were specifically developed to address these needs. The calculators have assisted DPI&F officers in providing producers with accurate, timely and consistent advice by automating the calculations involved in the design process. Following further refinement, the calculators were recently released for use by a wider range of users, including producers and consultants.