case study making the most of compost...making the most of compost m aking the m ost of c om p ost -...
TRANSCRIPT
sustainable agriculture community engagement biodiversity coastal environments
case study
This project is supported by the South West Catchments Council through funding from the Australian Governmentrsquos Program Caring for Our Country and the Government of Western Australia
sustainable agriculture coastal environments biodiversity community engagement
making the most of compostdairy farmers capture lost opportunity
Project title
A demonstration of the logistical and operational management of on-farm processing of dairy manure (and other) dairy farm resources
Project leader
Western Dairy
Project manager
Rob La Grange (Western Dairy)
Wendy Wilkins (SWCC)
Project area
5 Mile Creek Geographe Catchment
Project duration
December 2012 to May 2013
PartnershiPs
Western Dairy amp
Waste Management Association of Australia (WMAA)
beneficiaries
Landholders dairy industry Vasse Wonnerup Estuary and Geographe Bay
ABOVE Audience at the concurrent session of the Dairy Innovation Day
learning about the dairy composting project (photo Doug Hall)
InSET Setting up the compost piles (photo Doug Hall)
making the most of
comPost
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da
iry
fa
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s c
aP
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SWCC provided funding in 2012 to Western Dairy through its Community Groundworks Program to trial composting as a way to reduce dairy farm nutrients entering waterways
The project aim was to demonstrate the logistics of turning dairy resources into quality compost on farm
Two farmers Victor Rodwell and Steve Scott joined the project Their farms lie in the Five Mile Creek sub-catchment near Boyanup in the Geographe Coastal Hotspot
This is an area where significant environmental impacts of nutrient loads from dairy farms on the Vasse-Wonnerup Ramsar wetland and associated system are well documented (DOW 2010)
Loss of nutrients from dairy effluent also impacts on farm profitability as an expensive resource that farmers have already paid for is being lostThis project investigated a new and innovative way to address both of these issues
The thinking behind this was that the use of raw manure as a fertiliser is less efficient than applying stabilised nutrients (such as compost and low water soluble fertilisers)
This is especially so on sandy soils such as those found in the catchment where water soluble nutrients leach quickly into the groundwater and surface water and are lost whereas nutrients in compost and other organic materials are normally only released over a longer period of time
Under the current Code of Practice for dairy shed effluent in Western Australia (httpwwwgtpcomauwesterndairyinewsfilesDairy_Shed_Effluent_WA_Code_of_Practicepdf) effluents are captured stored and then applied at an appropriate time as part of a tailored fertiliseramendment program
This allows the farmer to capture and reuse some of the valuable nutrients that would otherwise be lost Composting however is a potential further refinement as it changes nutrient availability of the effluents from being highly plant available to a more stabilised form
TOP Western Dairy field day held at Steve Scottrsquos (photo Doug Hall)
ABOVE The map shows the sites of the compost piles (produced by
Wendy Wilkins)
LEFT Participants at the Field Day on Steve Scottrsquos property (photo
Wendy Wilkins)
The actual process is fairly complex as it requires that practitioners identify characterise pasteurise and stabilize their dairy effluents Adhering to these four principles will reduce nutrient loss and improve water quality and this requires specific skills
Victor Rodwell and Steve Scott therefore received training in composting and the methods were then adapted to local conditions under the guidance of a compost specialist
All project activities were designed to adhere to the best practice standards outlined in Australian Standard 4454-2012 Composts soil conditioners and mulches (httpwwwstandardsorgau)
This trial has generated keen interest from dairy farmers throughout the Region Western Dairy holds an annual Dairy Innovation Day (DID) and this year chose to showcase the compost trial at its May event in Warner Glen
It brought a dairy farmer from Victoria who has been composting for 5 years to speak at the event and a trailer of the compost from the trial was on show In total 320 people attended
In early June 2013 when mature compost was available a field day was held at Steve Scottrsquos property to showcase the trial
An interstate dairy farmer who has been using compost on his farm for four years and the participant farmers all presented at the field day More than 50 people most dairy farmers attended
The trial has proved highly successful and represents a great opportunity for all partners to engage the farming community
As SWCCrsquos Community Engagement Facilitator Wendy Wilkins said ldquoThis is a really exciting project and it has been great to work with Western Dairy and others working in the dairy innovation space
ldquoIt is already generating great momentum and presenting many future possibilities for other farmers and organisations to get involved We are really hoping this will leave a lasting and positive legacy for the industryrdquo
The project is a great example of the partnership approach to innovative sustainable farming practice
It was coordinated by Western Dairy the Waste Management Association of Australia assisted in development and management and Balanced Organics provided technical support while SWCC provided funding
RIGHT Project partners in front of an almost
complete compost windrow
L-R Rob La Grange (Western Dairy)
Doug Hall (WMAA) Steve Scott (dairy farmer) Matt
Evans (Balanced Organics)
and Victor Rodwell (dairy farmer)
(photo Wendy Wilkins)
For one of the participant farmers Victor Rodwell the project couldnrsquot come soon enough ldquoIrsquod been looking at composting for a long time and the research Irsquod done made it look hard Over time I have gained confidence and the understanding (on how) to do it properlyrdquo
This project is supported by the South West Catchments Council through funding from the Australian Governmentrsquos Program Caring for Our Country and the Government of Western Australia
Printed on recycled carbon neutral paper
V01-JUnE2013
major accomplishments
The project was funded through the Australian Governmentrsquos Caring for Our Countryrsquos Coastal Hotspot target which supports on-ground management actions particularly best management practices that address the threats contributing to poor or declining water quality identified in the Vasse-Wonnerup and Geographe Bay Water Quality Improvement Plans
The Five Mile Creek sub-catchment where this project was conducted is identified within the WQIP as a Recovery Catchment Dairying is identified as the highest contributor of phosphate in the Geographe Catchment and some of the priority management activities for rural areas of the catchment are management of dairy effluent and fertiliser management
Steve Scott was motivated to become involved as he wanted to utilize his farm effluents in a better wayldquoIrsquove been very impressed by the product Irsquove been able to generate and expect it will become part of the farm processrdquo said Steve ldquoI anticipate it will increase productivity and reduce my artificial fertilizer costsrdquo
ABOVE Setting up the compost pile at Victor Rodwellrsquos Source material is effluent and
bedding hay (photo Doug Hall)
references
DOW 2010 Vasse Wonnerup Wetlands and Geograph Bay water quality improvement plan Department of Water Western Australia Perth
ma
kin
g t
he
mo
st
of
co
mP
os
t -
da
iry
fa
rm
er
s c
aP
tu
re
lo
st
oP
Po
rt
un
ity
SWCC provided funding in 2012 to Western Dairy through its Community Groundworks Program to trial composting as a way to reduce dairy farm nutrients entering waterways
The project aim was to demonstrate the logistics of turning dairy resources into quality compost on farm
Two farmers Victor Rodwell and Steve Scott joined the project Their farms lie in the Five Mile Creek sub-catchment near Boyanup in the Geographe Coastal Hotspot
This is an area where significant environmental impacts of nutrient loads from dairy farms on the Vasse-Wonnerup Ramsar wetland and associated system are well documented (DOW 2010)
Loss of nutrients from dairy effluent also impacts on farm profitability as an expensive resource that farmers have already paid for is being lostThis project investigated a new and innovative way to address both of these issues
The thinking behind this was that the use of raw manure as a fertiliser is less efficient than applying stabilised nutrients (such as compost and low water soluble fertilisers)
This is especially so on sandy soils such as those found in the catchment where water soluble nutrients leach quickly into the groundwater and surface water and are lost whereas nutrients in compost and other organic materials are normally only released over a longer period of time
Under the current Code of Practice for dairy shed effluent in Western Australia (httpwwwgtpcomauwesterndairyinewsfilesDairy_Shed_Effluent_WA_Code_of_Practicepdf) effluents are captured stored and then applied at an appropriate time as part of a tailored fertiliseramendment program
This allows the farmer to capture and reuse some of the valuable nutrients that would otherwise be lost Composting however is a potential further refinement as it changes nutrient availability of the effluents from being highly plant available to a more stabilised form
TOP Western Dairy field day held at Steve Scottrsquos (photo Doug Hall)
ABOVE The map shows the sites of the compost piles (produced by
Wendy Wilkins)
LEFT Participants at the Field Day on Steve Scottrsquos property (photo
Wendy Wilkins)
The actual process is fairly complex as it requires that practitioners identify characterise pasteurise and stabilize their dairy effluents Adhering to these four principles will reduce nutrient loss and improve water quality and this requires specific skills
Victor Rodwell and Steve Scott therefore received training in composting and the methods were then adapted to local conditions under the guidance of a compost specialist
All project activities were designed to adhere to the best practice standards outlined in Australian Standard 4454-2012 Composts soil conditioners and mulches (httpwwwstandardsorgau)
This trial has generated keen interest from dairy farmers throughout the Region Western Dairy holds an annual Dairy Innovation Day (DID) and this year chose to showcase the compost trial at its May event in Warner Glen
It brought a dairy farmer from Victoria who has been composting for 5 years to speak at the event and a trailer of the compost from the trial was on show In total 320 people attended
In early June 2013 when mature compost was available a field day was held at Steve Scottrsquos property to showcase the trial
An interstate dairy farmer who has been using compost on his farm for four years and the participant farmers all presented at the field day More than 50 people most dairy farmers attended
The trial has proved highly successful and represents a great opportunity for all partners to engage the farming community
As SWCCrsquos Community Engagement Facilitator Wendy Wilkins said ldquoThis is a really exciting project and it has been great to work with Western Dairy and others working in the dairy innovation space
ldquoIt is already generating great momentum and presenting many future possibilities for other farmers and organisations to get involved We are really hoping this will leave a lasting and positive legacy for the industryrdquo
The project is a great example of the partnership approach to innovative sustainable farming practice
It was coordinated by Western Dairy the Waste Management Association of Australia assisted in development and management and Balanced Organics provided technical support while SWCC provided funding
RIGHT Project partners in front of an almost
complete compost windrow
L-R Rob La Grange (Western Dairy)
Doug Hall (WMAA) Steve Scott (dairy farmer) Matt
Evans (Balanced Organics)
and Victor Rodwell (dairy farmer)
(photo Wendy Wilkins)
For one of the participant farmers Victor Rodwell the project couldnrsquot come soon enough ldquoIrsquod been looking at composting for a long time and the research Irsquod done made it look hard Over time I have gained confidence and the understanding (on how) to do it properlyrdquo
This project is supported by the South West Catchments Council through funding from the Australian Governmentrsquos Program Caring for Our Country and the Government of Western Australia
Printed on recycled carbon neutral paper
V01-JUnE2013
major accomplishments
The project was funded through the Australian Governmentrsquos Caring for Our Countryrsquos Coastal Hotspot target which supports on-ground management actions particularly best management practices that address the threats contributing to poor or declining water quality identified in the Vasse-Wonnerup and Geographe Bay Water Quality Improvement Plans
The Five Mile Creek sub-catchment where this project was conducted is identified within the WQIP as a Recovery Catchment Dairying is identified as the highest contributor of phosphate in the Geographe Catchment and some of the priority management activities for rural areas of the catchment are management of dairy effluent and fertiliser management
Steve Scott was motivated to become involved as he wanted to utilize his farm effluents in a better wayldquoIrsquove been very impressed by the product Irsquove been able to generate and expect it will become part of the farm processrdquo said Steve ldquoI anticipate it will increase productivity and reduce my artificial fertilizer costsrdquo
ABOVE Setting up the compost pile at Victor Rodwellrsquos Source material is effluent and
bedding hay (photo Doug Hall)
references
DOW 2010 Vasse Wonnerup Wetlands and Geograph Bay water quality improvement plan Department of Water Western Australia Perth
The actual process is fairly complex as it requires that practitioners identify characterise pasteurise and stabilize their dairy effluents Adhering to these four principles will reduce nutrient loss and improve water quality and this requires specific skills
Victor Rodwell and Steve Scott therefore received training in composting and the methods were then adapted to local conditions under the guidance of a compost specialist
All project activities were designed to adhere to the best practice standards outlined in Australian Standard 4454-2012 Composts soil conditioners and mulches (httpwwwstandardsorgau)
This trial has generated keen interest from dairy farmers throughout the Region Western Dairy holds an annual Dairy Innovation Day (DID) and this year chose to showcase the compost trial at its May event in Warner Glen
It brought a dairy farmer from Victoria who has been composting for 5 years to speak at the event and a trailer of the compost from the trial was on show In total 320 people attended
In early June 2013 when mature compost was available a field day was held at Steve Scottrsquos property to showcase the trial
An interstate dairy farmer who has been using compost on his farm for four years and the participant farmers all presented at the field day More than 50 people most dairy farmers attended
The trial has proved highly successful and represents a great opportunity for all partners to engage the farming community
As SWCCrsquos Community Engagement Facilitator Wendy Wilkins said ldquoThis is a really exciting project and it has been great to work with Western Dairy and others working in the dairy innovation space
ldquoIt is already generating great momentum and presenting many future possibilities for other farmers and organisations to get involved We are really hoping this will leave a lasting and positive legacy for the industryrdquo
The project is a great example of the partnership approach to innovative sustainable farming practice
It was coordinated by Western Dairy the Waste Management Association of Australia assisted in development and management and Balanced Organics provided technical support while SWCC provided funding
RIGHT Project partners in front of an almost
complete compost windrow
L-R Rob La Grange (Western Dairy)
Doug Hall (WMAA) Steve Scott (dairy farmer) Matt
Evans (Balanced Organics)
and Victor Rodwell (dairy farmer)
(photo Wendy Wilkins)
For one of the participant farmers Victor Rodwell the project couldnrsquot come soon enough ldquoIrsquod been looking at composting for a long time and the research Irsquod done made it look hard Over time I have gained confidence and the understanding (on how) to do it properlyrdquo
This project is supported by the South West Catchments Council through funding from the Australian Governmentrsquos Program Caring for Our Country and the Government of Western Australia
Printed on recycled carbon neutral paper
V01-JUnE2013
major accomplishments
The project was funded through the Australian Governmentrsquos Caring for Our Countryrsquos Coastal Hotspot target which supports on-ground management actions particularly best management practices that address the threats contributing to poor or declining water quality identified in the Vasse-Wonnerup and Geographe Bay Water Quality Improvement Plans
The Five Mile Creek sub-catchment where this project was conducted is identified within the WQIP as a Recovery Catchment Dairying is identified as the highest contributor of phosphate in the Geographe Catchment and some of the priority management activities for rural areas of the catchment are management of dairy effluent and fertiliser management
Steve Scott was motivated to become involved as he wanted to utilize his farm effluents in a better wayldquoIrsquove been very impressed by the product Irsquove been able to generate and expect it will become part of the farm processrdquo said Steve ldquoI anticipate it will increase productivity and reduce my artificial fertilizer costsrdquo
ABOVE Setting up the compost pile at Victor Rodwellrsquos Source material is effluent and
bedding hay (photo Doug Hall)
references
DOW 2010 Vasse Wonnerup Wetlands and Geograph Bay water quality improvement plan Department of Water Western Australia Perth
This project is supported by the South West Catchments Council through funding from the Australian Governmentrsquos Program Caring for Our Country and the Government of Western Australia
Printed on recycled carbon neutral paper
V01-JUnE2013
major accomplishments
The project was funded through the Australian Governmentrsquos Caring for Our Countryrsquos Coastal Hotspot target which supports on-ground management actions particularly best management practices that address the threats contributing to poor or declining water quality identified in the Vasse-Wonnerup and Geographe Bay Water Quality Improvement Plans
The Five Mile Creek sub-catchment where this project was conducted is identified within the WQIP as a Recovery Catchment Dairying is identified as the highest contributor of phosphate in the Geographe Catchment and some of the priority management activities for rural areas of the catchment are management of dairy effluent and fertiliser management
Steve Scott was motivated to become involved as he wanted to utilize his farm effluents in a better wayldquoIrsquove been very impressed by the product Irsquove been able to generate and expect it will become part of the farm processrdquo said Steve ldquoI anticipate it will increase productivity and reduce my artificial fertilizer costsrdquo
ABOVE Setting up the compost pile at Victor Rodwellrsquos Source material is effluent and
bedding hay (photo Doug Hall)
references
DOW 2010 Vasse Wonnerup Wetlands and Geograph Bay water quality improvement plan Department of Water Western Australia Perth