Otago dairy farmers are being advised to empty their storage effluent ponds now, before winter begins.
Otago Regional Council land resources manager Susie McKeague says the dry conditions and soil moisture levels in the region mean now is the time to spread effluent on the land.
She says the summer has been very mild and there is plenty of space within the soil to absorb effluent if it is sprayed now, while the soil can hold it and grass can use it.
Ms McKeague says it's also important that sharemilkers empty effluent ponds before the end of the milking season, when they often shift to other farms.
She says finding full ponds increases the stress for farmers starting on new farms.
