Busdeker Receives Distinguished Service Award at Fort Wayne ‘4R Farming 4 Sustainability’ Event

Doug Busdeker, recently retired senior manager of Northern Farm Centers at The Andersons, Inc., received the Nutrient Stewardship Council’s Distinguished Service Award during its “4R Farming 4 Sustainability” event in Fort Wayne, Indiana Feb. 12.

More than 150 growers, nutrient service providers, NGO employees, government-related representatives and others gathered in Fort Wayne to learn the latest about nutrient management practices and the 4R Nutrient Stewardship Certification Program during the event.

More than 150 growers, nutrient service providers, NGO employees, government-related representatives and others gathered in Fort Wayne to learn the latest about nutrient management practices and the 4R Nutrient Stewardship Certification Program during the Nutrient Stewardship Council’s 4R Farming 4 Sustainability event on Feb. 12.

The voluntary certification program is a concentrated effort by the agriculture industry to significantly reduce and prevent applied nutrients from running off fields, which has contributed to algal blooms in Lake Erie, such as the one responsible for the shutdown of Toledo’s water supply in August 2014.

“Doug has been instrumental in the early success of and a strong advocate for the 4R Nutrient Stewardship Certification Program,” said Nutrient Stewardship Council Chairwoman Carrie Vollmer-Sanders.

Busdeker has served on multiple committees and boards focused on nutrient management, water quality and the 4Rs, including the 4R Program Advisory Committee. He is past chair of the Ohio Grain and Feed Association, Ohio Fertilizer and Pesticide Association, International Joint Commission Water Quality Board and the National Center for Water Quality Research Advisory board. In September 2015, he gave a presentation about the certification program and other water quality efforts in the Western Lake Erie Basin to the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.

Presentations at the Fort Wayne event focused on the research and use of the 4Rs in everyday practices and operations in the Western Lake Erie Basin, an overview of details and impacts of the 4R Nutrient Stewardship Certification Program, and the next steps for the agriculture community and the certification program.

(From left to right) 4R Nutrient Stewardship Certification Program Consultant Jim Lake, Clint Nester of Nester Ag, LLC, Brandon McClure of Morral Companies, LLC and Don Steinbauer of Crop Production Services share their views as participants and certified facilities in the 4R Nutrient Stewardship Certification Program during the Nutrient Stewardship Council’s 4R Farming 4 Sustainability event in Fort Wayne, Indiana on Feb. 12.

The program certifies nutrient service providers in the Western Lake Erie Basin that apply nutrients or make nutrient recommendations in accordance with 4R Nutrient Stewardship principles – which refers to using the Right Source of Nutrients at the Right Rate and Right Time in the Right Place. Program participants must go through an independent, third-party audit and demonstrate they not only understand 4R principles, but also follow them.

Presenters included members of the Nutrient Stewardship Council; certification program participants and consultants; researchers; agricultural associations; and keynote speaker Rick McLellan, senior vice president, commercial for The Mosaic Company. McClellan highlighted the fact that the agricultural industry needs to be forward-thinking and agricultural company management needs to align practices with the 4R principles.

The 4R Nutrient Stewardship Certification Program is governed and guided by the Nutrient Stewardship Council, a diverse set of stakeholders from business, government, university and non-governmental sectors with a common goal of maintaining agricultural productivity while also improving the quality of Lake Erie and its contributing watersheds. The program is administered by the Ohio AgriBusiness Association. For more information, visit 4Rcertified.org, email info@oaba.net or call 614-326-7520.

MEDIA: Download a high-resolution photo of Busdeker receiving his award.

PHOTO CUTLINE: Doug Busdeker, retired senior manager of Northern Farm Centers at The Andersons, Inc., (right) received the Nutrient Stewardship Council’s Distinguished Service Award from Nutrient Stewardship Council Chairwoman Carrie-Vollmer Sanders during the 4R Farming 4 Sustainability event in Fort Wayne, Indiana on Feb. 12.