New Zealand Celsias

The impact of dairy farming on the environment is never far from media headlines. But with the early adoption of the Emissions Trading Scheme and the introduction of a new environmental Code of Practice, West Coast-based dairy processor Westland Milk Products is showing industry it can tackle sustainable farming head on. 

Environmental sustainability is high on the priority for Hokitika-based dairy processor Westland Milk Products. “Our land is the lifeblood for our dairy shareholders. We are reliant on the land for income and recognise that farms must be sustainably run to protect the land for future generations,” Westland chief executive Rod Quin says. The West Coast economy is also heavily reliant on the tourism industry and it is imperative the West Coast’s natural resource is not compromised at any cost. 

Westland Milk Products, a dairy cooperative with more than 330 dairy shareholders has introduced a number of initiatives to promote sustainable farming practices. The most recent of these is a Code of Practice requiring all Westland dairy farmers to implement appropriate best management practices with regards to environmental, animal welfare and farm presentation standards. The Code of Practice is designed to ensure the impact of dairying on the environment is minimised and water quality in dairy catchment areas is protected, maintained and enhanced.
Westland is working closely with the West Coast Regional Council to manage the new code by establishing a system of collaborative information sharing, monitoring and reporting of dairy effluent practices on Westland farms. 

Westland conducts its own annual farm compliance checks to monitor effluent disposal, stock access to waterways, nutrient management plans and effluent paddock management. This ensures dairy effluent treatment disposal is managed in line with the strict requirements of the Resource Management Act 1991. Westland in collaboration with the Regional Council are working with to ensure 100% compliance is achieved and maintained.
In addition to the Code, Westland is also an early adopter of the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) having joined the Government-initiated ETS voluntary participation programme ahead. By January 2012 deadline all agricultural operators will be required by law to operate within an annual allocation of carbon credits.

Emissions in the dairy sector will be allocated according to the energy required to produce its products with dairy processors to be asked to record the energy required to produce total quantities of milk solids processed from cows.

“Voluntary participation allows us to record emission units within the scheme and review our current manufacturing processes against the requirements of the ETS, as well as adapt where necessary to reduce our carbon footprint,” Quin says. “This is a great opportunity for us to see how best we can improve our sustainable practices.”