Programme

FarmSpread is a Dairy on-line training course developed to provide a working knowledge of the good practice requirements to apply dairy effluent onto land, whether it is liquid effluent from the storage pond or the more solid material from feedpads, separation systems, standoff pads or barn effluent. They all must be applied with due care to avoid nutrient runoff to waterways or excessive nutrient loading onto soils and an increase in nitrogen leaching through the soil profile. 

The on-line training material is divided into specific dairy subject modules and includes written material, videos, photos, exercises and quizzes to provide learning and test understanding.

The training is divided into two levels, Operator and Supervisor. It is recommended that at least one staff member per company has completed the Supervisor level and all staff have at least done the Operator level.

The operators  training course has been developed to help staff of contract effluent spreading companies to achieve good outcomes when spreading effluent to land.

The course covers:

• The day to day running of the spreading operation including maintaining good health and safety practices
• Meeting good environmental outcomes by applying effluent to land with minimal risk to water quality
• Utilising the nutrient value of the effluent for pasture or crop production for the farmer.

The key learning objectives of the Supervisor training course are to gain an essential understanding of:

1. Rules and regulations
2. Nutrient loadings of different effluent types
3. Catchments, soils and how they inform effluent application
4. Testing of spreading equipment
5. Health and Safety, trouble shooting and useful report suggestions