Legacy Farmers Cooperative – Custar Agronomy Achieves Year Eight Certification in 4R Nutrient Stewardship
Continuing its commitment to improving water quality in the Western Lake Erie Basin, Legacy Farmers Cooperative in Custar, Ohio, has achieved certified status for year eight 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 ninth year, Custar Agronomy joins a long list of retailers to achieve multi-year certification.
Custar Agronomy, located in southern Wood County. It employs 11 full-time staff and has been in operation as a Legacy Farmers Cooperative location since 2014 via the merge of Blanchard Valley Farmers and Deshler Farmers. Legacy Farmers Cooperative has a full-service lineup that includes dry application of fertilizer, liquid applications of crop protection and nutrient products, cover crop applications, and dry fertilizer applications. Legacy Farmers Cooperative also has a full-service precision agriculture program which includes soil sampling, VRT fertilizer recommendations, VRT application, and nutrient management planning services.
“The 4R’s are something we really hang our hat on here in Custar,” said Travis Cordes, Custar Agronomy operations manager. “We were one of the first in Ohio to get certified. It is something we take very seriously and feel it is important to follow for the sake of our future generations.”
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 55 facilities in Ohio that have earned 4R Nutrient Stewardship Certification.
“4R certification means I can trust Legacy to VRT soil sample, VRT apply fertilizer, and supply nutrient management plan to soil water conservation district,” said Gary Herringshaw, Custar Agronomy customer and Legacy Farmers Cooperative board member. “Having someone who knows the regulations and the proper way they need forms filed is like me having an extra hired hand for a reasonable fee.”
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: Custar Agronomy is a Legacy Farmers Cooperative year eight 4R Nutrient Stewardship Certified location. Employees pictured include: (back row, L to R) Kenneth Thomas, Karl Crist, Ryan Wilhelm, Justin Haake, Ed Bratt, Maddie Heuerman, Keith Palmer, Kyle Hogrefe, (front row, L to R) Madison Newcomer, Travis Cordes, Nicole Bisher.