New Zealand's main dairying region, the Waikato has seen a dramatic drop in the number of farms breaching dairy effluent management rules, according to the latest results from the Waikato Regional Council annual aerial survey.

Mike Bramley, Environmental Extension Specialist for Dairy NZ, says the number of dairy farms significantly non-compliant with effluent rules was down from the previous season,and the number of farms surveyed meeting all the Council’s effluent requirements, was up on the previous year.

“In the Waikato there has been a positive improvement of compliance, so there has been a decrease in significant non-compliance from 27% to 12%, and full compliance has gone from 51% to 66%.”

Mike Bramley says that these results reflect the huge investment farmers have been making to ensure their effluent systems are up to date and up to code.

“Farmers have spent a lot of time working out their operations in terms of both getting their systems right, from an infrastructure perspective, but also from a management perspective.

“So they've been putting in a lot of effort into that area which is excellent for us to see.”

Rates of dairy farm effluent compliance have also improved in New Zealand's second largest dairying region, Canterbury.

Preliminary figures from the regional council show 65% of Canterbury's 900 dairy farms were fully compliant with the requirements, compared to the previous seasons records of 59%, and there has been no change in the rate of significant non-compliance, which still remains at 9%.

Dairy NZ says that even though the 9% hasn't decreased, it is still a big improvement on two years ago, when 19% of dairy farms were found to be in serious breach of discharge conditions.

“In Canterbury there has been a shift towards full compliance.

“In terms of the significant non compliance, it's a key focus for us, and on regions going forward, and there is a variety of initiatives in place to address getting compliance right."