As Moving Day approaches this Saturday (SUBS June 1), it’s a busy and significant time of the year for the dairy farming community in the Bay of Plenty.

The first day of winter marks the traditional date when around 5,000 dairy farming families across the country relocate to new farms to begin new sharemilking contracts.

With people, livestock, and machinery on the move, Bay of Plenty Regional Council Biosecurity Officer Nicky Oliver-Smith is reminding farmers and contractors that strong biosecurity practices are essential to prevent the spread of pest weeds.

“Moving Day is a massive undertaking,” says Ms Oliver-Smith. “We know farmers put a huge amount of planning into the shift, and good biosecurity and effluent management are key parts of getting it right. Proper machinery hygiene is always important, but it’s especially critical during this high-movement period.”

“Unclean machinery can easily spread pests. Just one seed or weed fragment on contaminated equipment can lead to a new infestation.”

Ms Oliver-Smith highlights Alligator weed and Noogoora bur as two of the most concerning agricultural pest weeds in the region. These fast-growing weeds can reduce crop value and pose a risk to livestock if consumed.

Effluent management is another key focus. With a single dairy cow producing around 52 litres of effluent per day, and truck tanks typically holding only 200 litres, careful planning is needed to avoid spills on public roads.

Key tips for managing biosecurity and effluent risks this Moving Day:

• Inspect machinery: Check all equipment for soil, seeds, and plant material before moving.
• Thorough clean: Clean tyres, tracks, undersides, grills, and filters to remove organic matter.
• Wash down: Ideally, wash machinery on-site before relocating, to contain potential contaminants.
• Effluent management: Stand livestock off green feed for at least four hours before transport to reduce effluent output.
• Prepare for transport: Schedule stock pick-up times in advance, move animals near loading ramps the day before, and provide dry feed before travel.

“Farmers and contractors play a vital role in protecting our land and waterways,” says Ms Oliver-Smith. “By taking a few extra steps, we can all help reduce the spread of pests and keep our roads and farms clean and safe.”

Background

• There are approximately 297,887 dairy cows in the Bay of Plenty as at June 2024.
• In 2023, 78,300 dairy cattle, hundreds of dairy farming families and large amounts of equipment moved in the Bay of Plenty during the ‘Moving day’ period of May – July.
• Good on-farm biosecurity is critical to prevent the spread of pest plants such as Noogoora bur and Alligator weed, which pose a significant risk to the Bay of Plenty’s agricultural and arable cropping industries.
• With one cow producing around 52 litres of effluent daily and a truck tank holding only 200 litres, proper preparation is crucial to prevent road spills entering our waterways.

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