A comprehensive two-year independent scientific evaluation of OverseerFM has confirmed its effectiveness as New Zealand’s most comprehensive farm management tool.

Over the past two years, scientists from AgResearch, Plant and Food Research, NIWA and Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research have comprehensively evaluated OverseerFM’s performance for New Zealand farming systems as part of a science programme carried out in conjunction with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and Overseer Ltd.

This process has shown that Overseer is performing well against measured losses of nitrate, with the tool rated as “very good” for grazed pastures, and “satisfactory” and “good” for crop systems.

It demonstrates that farmers, growers and regional councils can have confidence in the nitrogen leaching estimates from OverseerFM, New Zealand’s most comprehensive farm management tool.

It has re-affirmed OverseerFM’s role as a useful decision support tool that allows farmers and growers to make more informed decisions about their farm management practices, boost their productivity and profitability, and improve their environmental impact.

Importantly, the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) set up to establish and review OverseerFM has also noted the research and validation has improved confidence in the use of the Overseer model, for MPI, owners and the Overseer Board.

As a result of the science programme, Overseer has also undertaken a series of improvements to the farm management tool to further enhance its value for farmers and growers including the release of new software versions in December 2022 and April 2023.

Farmers and growers have welcomed these enhancements which are supporting them to gain valuable insights and information, track progress and communicate efforts.

As government and industry groups invest more in important research and share insights, confidence in critical tools like OverseerFM will only improve.

You can read the full report here.