The statement of strategic direction confirmed by the owners of Overseer – the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), AgResearch Limited and the New Zealand Phosphate Company – clarifies the purpose for the farm management tool.

“We welcome the confidence and backing from our owners and the Government’s continued support of Overseer through this newly agreed strategy,” says Dr Caroline Read, chief executive of Overseer Limited. “This strategy provides the certainty and confidence our farmers, rural professionals, regional councils and industry have been seeking. A funding package will assist Overseer Limited to continue its comprehensive programme of enhancements to OverseerFM. We can now focus on our role of informing and supporting farmers and growers to make better long-term decisions about their nutrient management approach on-farm.”

Overseer Limited is encouraged by the support for Overseer from the primary industry who value its use as a farm planning and management tool to improve farms’ environmental sustainability and productivity, says Dr Read.

“Farmers can have confidence in using OverseerFM – consistent with our guidance – to support more informed nutrient management decisions by assessing the impact of changes in farm practices on nutrient losses. We will continue to support regional councils in their efforts to ensure farmers manage their farm systems through the delivery of a robust and credible tool that allows them to protect our environment and maintains our global reputation as sustainable producers.”