Nutrient Stewardship Council Announces New Chairman

The Nutrient Stewardship Council (NSC), governing body of the 4R Nutrient Stewardship Certification Program, has announced a new chairman, Mark Sunderman, CEO of Legacy Farmers Cooperative in Findlay, Ohio.

Sunderman succeeds Carrie Vollmer-Sanders of The Nature Conservancy, who served as the chairwoman of the NSC since its inception in 2014.

“It is a pleasure to serve as the chairman of the Nutrient Stewardship Council,” said Sunderman. “The Council continues to direct the 4R program to further our goal of helping nutrient service providers reduce runoff and improve water quality.”

The NSC is comprised of stakeholders from business, government, university and nongovernmental sectors with a common goal a common goal of governing the auditable nutrient stewardship certification program, which encourages responsible commitment by nutrient service providers and aimed at the long‐term improvement of water quality in Lake Erie and other surrounding waterways.

“Mark has shown great leadership and passion for the 4R program,” said Andrew Allman, executive director of the NSC. “His direction as chairman will help drive the program to greater heights in the coming years.”

The 4R Program encourages agricultural retailers, service providers and other certified professionals to adopt proven best practices through the 4Rs, using the Right Nutrient Source at the Right Rate and Right Time in the Right Place. The program currently has 45 certified retailers who have earned or maintained certification through annual third-party audits, servicing nearly 6,000 grower customers across 2.8 million farm acres in the tri-state Lake Erie Basin and waterways throughout Ohio.