A North Canterbury farm is trialling new expertise to scale back methane, which is a primary for the New Zealand dairy business.

Craigmore Sustainables, in Gleneyre, is the primary business dairy farm in New Zealand to undertake EcoPond.

This is an effluent remedy system that removes just about all methane emitted from effluent ponds through the use of the additive iron sulphate.

usually used within the remedy of consuming water.

The expertise used on the 400-hectare farm, which milks 1100 cows, is the results of a collaboration between Ravensdown and Lincoln University.

Craigmore’s basic supervisor of farming, Stuart Taylor, mentioned agriculture performed an essential function in contributing to, and mitigating, local weather change.

He mentioned Craigmore was striving to be a pacesetter within the trial and adoption of latest expertise.

“EcoPond could play a key role in supporting farmers to reduce methane and help New Zealand meet its climate change targets.”

Taylor mentioned EcoPond was an essential trial for Craigmore, because it regarded for revolutionary methods to scale back emissions and minimise environmental impacts.

Iron sulphate remedy is extremely efficient in decreasing methane emissions as a consequence of elevated microbial competitors for natural matter substrate because of the addition of sulphate and ferric ions.

This restricts the expansion of the methane-producing microorganisms often called methanogens.

Initial exams undertaken in May examined the effluent from the effluent pond after it had been handled with iron sulphate via EcoPond.

The outcomes confirmed a 95 per cent discount in CH4 (methane), which Taylor mentioned was “highly significant”.

Earlier this 12 months, EcoPond grew to become a part of the newly established Ravensdown entity, Agnition.

Agnition’s chief government, Jasper van Halder, mentioned EcoPond was an important expertise that will assist ship sensible and sustainable on-farm options for New Zealand farmers and growers.

Van Halder mentioned partnerships and innovation had been required within the sector and it was nice to see Craigmore take a management function with EcoPond.

“It’s hard to beat practical on-farm use to really demonstrate the EcoPond advantage and partners like Craigmore show us the future of farming.”