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How to input data for a Year end analysis

Helpdesk
  • Updated

This article describes the sequence by which you build a representation of the current farm system as a year end analysis.

Detailed guidance on each data input tab can be found in the "creating a farm analysis" section.

 

1. Collect information needed for an Analysis

2. Create a new Analysis

3. Blocks Tab:

  • Think about how you can divide the farm into blocks of land which are used for a common purpose and managed in a similar way (i.e., grow the same pasture/ crop, support similar animals, have similar topography etc.). Larger blocks provide the model with more flexibilty, because of this try to combine paddocks and only separate on soils and irrigation where it is significant to the area being modeled. The "illusion" of more precision with smaller blocks can be counter productive and should be avoided. 
  • Then either use the '+ Create first block' or '+ 'Import a map of this farm' buttons to create all necessary blocks​.

  • Draw blocks to get climate for that location

  • As you create a new block, you will need to define the block type

4. Climate Tab:

  • Climate data is automatically pulled through from a NIWA 30-year climate dataset based on the location of the farm and where you have drawn your blocks.
  • Note that you cannot override the default climate data with your own climate data

5. Soils Tab:

  • In terms of where soil information should be derived from - there is a preferential hierachy

    1. Farm specific soil mapping by a qualified professional is best

    2. Where available, use S-map in association with a physical understanding of the farm to assign soils

    3. Using soil order (fundamental soil layer) provides a very general set of properties and so will impact quality of the results

  • OverseerFM now auto assigns soils to a block using the S-map information, if available. These auto-assigned soils can be edited by selecting the block name, which will bring up the Edit Block Soils screen. 
  • Where S-Map soils are not available, you can automatically select soil order based on the farms Fundamental Soil Layer, to do this click 'Select this link to assign soils'
  • Soil profile/properties should only be changed based on expert observation
  • Add soil test results if you have them - Soil tests at depth 0-7.5 cm should be used.

  • Soil tests should be entered by block, and so need to be representative of that management block, if you have multiple tests from a single year for a block, you may need to combine them to represent the result for the block. 

6. Drainage tab:

  • Under the drainage tab, if relevant to your farm, you can add unfenced natural wetlands, mole/tile drainage and other drainage. 

  • If there is no artificial drainage on a block do not specify any drainage for the block.  
  • If you created a fenced wetland block under the blocks tab, here is where you will need to '+ add catchment details' for your fenced wetland.
  • Accurately describing a wetland and catchment areas may require a professional to assess the wetland. 
  • If you created a riparian block under the blocks tab, here you can '+ specify riparian model inputs'
  • Once you have added you pasture details and animals you can then come back to the drainage tab to and any grass filter strips 

7. Pasture/Crops tab:

  • For pasture blocks, click '+ enter pasture details' then from the drop-down menus select the the pasture type, primary land use (grazing or cut and carry only) and if applicable the run off characteristics (hydrophobic conditions and susceptibility to pugging).
  • If you have a rotating fodder crop which rotates through one or more pasture blocks you can '+add a fodder crop rotation' 

  • For crop blocks, click '+enter crop details'. You will then need to specify the percentage of land use area, 'crop rotation final month' and block history then you can click the '+' on the month when a crop is sown. A box will appear for you to specify crop types, crop yields, cultivation practices, and residue management and associated events over a two-year period​.
  • Note: if you have animals which graze your crops, you will need to add your animals in the animal tab first before you enter your crop details. 

  • If you have blocks with the same crop rotations, you can copy them from one block to another to avoid having to manually re-enter the information.

8. Animals tab:

  • Enter animal enterprises - click '+ add enterprise'
  • Enter enterprise details if applicable this may include weaning dates, replacement rates, production levels.
  • '+add livestock', specify livestock name, breeds, stock classes. For each group of livestock specify age, weight and their movements. Groups should contain similar animals, they can have different removal weights but must have a similar start weight. Enter weights if significantly different to defaults shown. 

  • A detailed stock reconciliation is not required. For farm systems which have multiple smaller movement events (those with few animals) these can be rolled up into a single event with a date that allocates the average for the month. As a maximum we advise only ever entering one movement per week which might reconcile a number of small movements over the seven days. 
  • Once your animal enterprises have been added, you can define how they are distributed on to pasture blocks. You will now also be able to finalise your crop block details, if any.
  • If enterprises graze different blocks, use “Based on animals present”. Only use “User defined” if there is a specific need to model animal grazing that is not based the animal’s feed requirements.
  • For relative yield, if you have no measurement of pasture yields, use no difference or yield based on soil and fertiliser, otherwise if you have measured averages for a period of time then can enter these to adjust pasture allocation.

9. Structures/Effluent tab:

  • If you have a dairy enterprise, you will need to add an effluent system. This may include the type of system, how liquids and solids are management, which blocks effluent is applied to, and application depths.
  • If you have a dairy enterprise, you can define feeding for the milking shed if animals are fed supplements in the shed.
  • Add any other structures relevant to the farm (e.g., feed pads, wintering pads, standoff pad) and define the the effluent management systems associated with each structure​

10. Supplements tab:

  • Add harvested supplements that have been grown on the farm's pasture blocks (hay, baleage, silage), and enter details about them including weight, month harvested, which blocks they were harvested from and, if applicable, whether they are wrapped in plastic and stored in a stack.
  • Add imported supplements which can be either from storage or purchased. Only import supplements that to be eaten in the year in question. Supplements important from storage can be hay, silage, maize silage or baleage. Imported from purchased supplements can be any or the predefined supplements or you can add a custom supplement.
  • Distribute your supplements to certain animals, blocks, structures, storage or off farm. Here you will also need to specify the supplement storage and utilisation. You can let the model distribute the feed automatically based on animals requirements or you can specify the feeding percentage by month.
  • Use average storage and utilisation unless you have good reason to change it.

11. Fertiliser tab:

  • Add fertiliser applications by clicking '+Add product', '+Add lime', '+Add organic', '+Add soluble', '+Add DCD'.
  • If adding a product, you can select from a range of commercially available NZ fertiliser products from different manufacturers or add a customer fertiliser.
  • Adding organic gives options for Compost/mulches, Dairy Factory, Piggery Effluent, Imported dairy effluent, or Other organic material.
  • When entering soluble, the nutrient component and units of nutrients being applied is entered at the application stage.
  • Once you've added your fertiliser you will then need to '+Add applications' to the relevant blocks and enter details such as which month it is applied, the rate at which it is applied. You can group applications to apply the same fertilisers to a group of blocks.
  • Fertiliser applied must align with production, climate and irrigation i.e. fertiliser used to grow the pasture/crops to feed the animals on the farm with the typical climate (30 year average)

12. Irrigation tab:

  • '+Add irrigation systems' if applicable to your farm, these can be drawn on the farm map or not. No more than two irrigation systems can be used on one block
  • Once you have added your system you will need to enter an irrigation application activities by clicking '+ Add irrigation activity'.
  • Then specify application activity timing by selecting the months the irrigation was applied. At least one month must be selected for each activity.
  • Irrigation must align with what would be applied based on typical climate (30 year average). The model will then determine the amount of water applied based on the method used to monitor soil and any subsequent soil moisture strategies. Entering application depth is not recommended as it is unlikely to align with climate.
  • Physical irrigation systems with the same management characteristics can be set up as a single system to make it easier to change
  • Scheduling methods and timing can be entered on a block by block basis
  • Default nutrients should be used unless it is known to differ as the long term average.

13. GHG tab:

  • OverseerFM automatically generates GHG emission reports for the farm analysis based on the farm management information entered and using a series of default transport and fuel use settings based on national averages. This means that the GHG report can be estimated with no additional inputs i.e. you do not need to enter anything in the GHG tab.
  • The GHG input tab is available to override default values for information such as fuel and electricity use, transport distances, and fertiliser application methods. However unless preferred or required for carbon certification, the impact of emissions from these sources are typically small so unless accurate fuel or transport information is available we do not recommend overriding the default settings.

14. Reports tab - Check out your Results

  • If your results are not being displayed, check under the Reports tab as a red error message stating the issue should show here. For guidance on resolving error messages see here.

15. Add Comments and Finalize:

  • Add any necessary comments to the analysis for additional context or future reference​. These can include general comments, model work arounds used, or actions for a plan.

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