Nutrien Ag Solutions Leipsic/Ottawa Achieves Year Four Certification in 4R Nutrient Stewardship
Continuing its commitment to improving water quality in the Western Lake Erie Basin, Nutrien Ag Solutions Leipsic/Ottawa has achieved certified status for year four through the 4R Nutrient Stewardship Certification 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. Facilities are required to meet certain program goals each year to retain certified status.
With the program in its eighth year, Nutrien Ag Solutions Leipsic/Ottawa joins a long list of retailers to achieve year four certification.
“With the 4R Certification along with higher fertilizer costs, the program has helped us take more tissue samples,” said Matthias Wenzinger, Certified Crop Adviser and crop consultant for Nutrien Ag Solutions. “This way we can add macronutrients and micronutrients later in the growing season when they are truly needed.”
Nutrien Ag Solutions is the retail division of Nutrien Ltd., the world’s largest crop inputs company. They provide full-acre solutions through a network of trusted crop consultants at more than 1,700 global locations. Nutrien Ag Solutions helps growers achieve the highest yields with the most sustainable solutions possible, offering a wide selection of products, including our proprietary brands: Loveland Products, Inc., Proven Seed and Dyna-Gro Seed.
“I have been using Nutrien Ag Solutions for my 2.5-acre grid soil samples,” said Darrel Ellinwood, a farmer who works with Nutrien Ag Solutions. “Over the last three years I have been able to apply fertilizer exactly where it is needed in the field, saving me time and money in the long run.”
The 4R program certifies nutrient service providers in the Western Lake Erie Basin and across the state of Ohio that apply or make recommendations are doing so 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.
Approximately 2.5 million acres and more than 5,000 grower customers are serviced by the 54 facilities in Ohio that have earned 4R Nutrient Stewardship Certification.
“The certification program is an ongoing effort for participants, and we are proud of the continued commitment shown by Nutrien Ag Solutions Leipsic/Ottawa,” said Chris Henney, interim director of the Nutrient Stewardship Council.
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 the Lake Erie Basin and other waterways throughout Ohio. The program is administered by the Ohio AgriBusiness Association. For more information, visit 4Rcertified.org, email info@oaba.net or call 614-326-7520.
CUTLINES: Nutrien Ag Solutions Leipsic/Ottawa is Year Four 4R Nutrient Stewardship Certified. Employees pictured, Front (Left to Right): Logan Kaufman, Matthias Wenzinger, Sue Steingass, Abby Niese, Siler Casillas, Dave Steffan. Back (Left to Right): Tom Knueven, Nick Morman, Don Lause, Logan Douglas, Alex Ellerbrock, Charles Newland, Steve Goedde, Jarid Goedde, Lyndsay Roberts, Brenda Maag.