4R Program Celebrates More Than Fifty Certified Facilities; Announces Year Four Certifications
The 4R Nutrient Stewardship Certification Program, now in its fifth year, is proud to announce more than 50 facilities are now certified in the program.
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 water quality issues in Lake Erie and other waterways across Ohio.
“In just a short time, the 4R Certification Program has been widely adopted in the Western Lake Erie Basin and across Ohio,” said Andrew Allman, Executive Director of the Nutrient Stewardship Council. “Our certified participants continue to meet and exceed program standards to achieve the goal of reducing nutrient runoff and improving water quality.”
Out of the 51 certified facilities, six locations, the early adopters of the program, have achieved retention of certification through four annual audits. The year four certified facilities are as follows:
- Legacy Farmers Cooperative – Custar, Ohio
- Sunrise Cooperative – Attica, Ohio
- Sunrise Cooperative – Ballville, Ohio
- Sunrise Cooperative – Crestline, Ohio
- Sunrise Cooperative – Norwalk, Ohio
- Tyler Grain & Fertilizer – Smithville, Ohio
“We’re proud of the continued commitment demonstrated by these facilities, who were among the first to adopt the program and its principles,” said Allman. “Their early efforts helped shape the program we have today.”
The 4R program certifies nutrient service providers – those who apply or make nutrient recommendations – are following business practices 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 annual, independent, third-party audit and demonstrate they not only understand 4R principles, but also follow them.