Cleanest Gypsy Day ever

Farmers and transport operators deserve a big pat on the back for keeping stock effluent off the roads this Gypsy Day.

“Last Friday, or Gypsy Day as it is traditionally known, marked the start of the new dairying year, when thousands of farmers move their cows to winter grazing land. They do this to rest their own pasture in preparation for spring milking,” says Willy Leferink, Federated Farmers Dairy vice chairman.

“It is also when many sharemilkers settle their old milking contracts and embark upon new ones.

“While some cows are moved a short distance on foot, many more are moved in stock trucks. In Waikato alone, over 200 trucks transported cows to new farms.

“In Southland, the regional council praised both farmers and transport operators for taking measures to reduce the amount of effluent produced in transit.

“Federated Farmers has worked hard to build an accord between farmers, transport companies and regional councils. In the past, Gypsy Day was a time when road users and regional councils stepped up their complaints over effluent spillage on roads.

“That’s why the Federation has been advocating for more disposal sites to allow trucks to empty effluent tanks on a regular basis over this busy period.

“The Federation has also run a successful campaign, asking dairy farmers to stand their cows off green feed for a minimum of four to eight hours before transport.

“This has obviously worked and resulted in cleaner roads throughout Southland and the rest of New Zealand,” Mr Leferink concluded.