MEDIA RELEASE

19 March 2015

Expo turnout shows growing effluent ‘commitment’

Another record turnout of between 650-700 farmers at the 2015 Waikato Effluent Expo demonstrated an ever increasing industry commitment to improving effluent management, says Waikato Regional Council.

Those attending the fifth annual event at Mystery Creek this week included farm owners, sharemilkers, farm managers and workers, as well as agri-industry professionals.

More than 55 exhibitors were on show indoors and outdoors, with the aim of supporting farmers who want to boost farm profits while minimising their environmental impacts.

"The continued excellent turnout really highlights farmers’ ongoing commitment to improving their environmental performance, despite the low payout this year," said expo organiser and council environmental farming systems adviser Electra Kalaugher.

"About half the expo's visitors were farm owners, who are the decision makers for major investments like upgrading their effluent systems."

There was also a good turnout from other regions, including council staff from Auckland, Bay of Plenty and Taranaki.

Besides the many exhibitors inside the events centre, this year’s expo also included outdoor irrigation seminars. These were designed to help farmers work out what kind of irrigation system would best suit their farm.

The event was organized by Waikato Regional Council and sponsored by DairyNZ.

“We’d like to thank DairyNZ for their ongoing support of this important event,” said Ms Kalaugher.

Our attached pictures include an overhead view of the expo with the regional council’s stand in the foreground and an exhibitor talking to farmers.

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