Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) is advising farmers with dead stock in the wake of Victoria’s bushfires to dispose of them to landfill, as their first and best option.
The EPA understands it’s a difficult time for farming families affected by the fires, and is offering advice intended to minimise the burden and help to protect their farms from additional after effects of the fires.
Where stock can’t be moved to landfill, they should be buried at the site in accordance with EPA's Farm Waste Management publication.
When disposing of numbers of dead stock on the farm, there are important safeguards the land owner will need to consider, to protect your ground and surface water sources from contamination, and yourself and your neighbours from odour and possible health hazards.
The EPA also reminds farmers that there’s a variety of effective ways to dispose of spoilt milk on the farm, after power outages in bushfire affected areas.
While small volumes of milk can be discharged direct to effluent ponds, it is not the preferred disposal option as it can lead to future odour problems.
On-farm disposal via irrigation, trenching or disposal on non-productive areas of land are all possible, provided there are no off-site impacts. The best option needs to be considered for each site using the guidance available from EPA and Agriculture Victoria.
EPA understands that farmers are dealing with a very difficult time and will work with those affected in any way they can.
For more advice on the removal of dead stock visit www.epa.vic.gov.au and search on ‘Farm Waste Management’, or access Agriculture Victoria’s detailed advice at this address:
http://agriculture.vic.gov.au/agriculture/emergencies/recovery/livestock-after-an-emergency/disposing-of-carcasses-after-bushfire-flood-or-drought
For more advice on disposal of spoilt milk, land owners can visit. http://agriculture.vic.gov.au/agriculture/dairy/managing-effluent/emergency-disposal-of-milk
Land owners with any questions are encouraged to call EPA’s 24 hour contact line, on 1300 EPA VIC (1300 372 842).