Farmers, Retailers embracing changes for a cleaner Lake Erie

In areas where farm runoff travels to the waters of Lake Erie, farmers and agricultural retailers are working together to improve water quality.

The new 4R Nutrient Stewardship Certification Program, first implemented in mid-March, is designed to minimize nutrient loss from farm fields and create long-term positive impacts on water quality. The program outlines a plan to help participants in the Lake Erie Watershed implement the 4Rs of nutrient stewardship, which refer to using the Right Source of Nutrients at the Right Rate and Right Time in the Right Place.

Agricultural retailers have the opportunity to sign up for the voluntary program, the requirements of which must be followed by all of the retailers’ customers. For most, this means changing current practices to meet the program guidelines.

Farmer Support

Farmers Terry McClure, of Grover Hill, Ohio, and John Motter, of Jenera, Ohio, attended the program’s kickoff event in March. Both are members of the Ohio Soybean Council, which has provided support to help get the new program up and running, and each participated in piloting the program before it was unveiled earlier this year.

“I’m impressed with the way our retailers have embraced the 4R campaign, and I believe it will be integral to the success of our farmers as we work hard to better utilize our nutrients,” McClure said.

“We, in agriculture, do not need a new regulation or law to do the right thing,” Motter said, noting that farmers are committed to helping prevent runoff. “We need to understand the problem and the solution. I truly believe that every farmer wants to do the right thing.”

A three-year plan

The certification program outlines an initial three-year plan for retailers or Nutrient Service Providers. Each year addresses a new goal for providers, while also requiring the guidelines of the previous years.

Retailers will receive training to better help their customers implement the 4Rs. Other requirements for providers include accounting for all sources of nutrients applied, maintaining records of weather conditions before and during nutrient application, and including a field’s watershed information in their report. This information and more will be used to continue to decrease the fertilizer runoff rate and gauge how agriculture is affecting water in Lake Erie.

Impressive response

As of mid-June, more than 50 agricultural retailers in the Lake Erie Watershed have signed up to participate in the certification program.

Carrie Vollmer-Sanders, chair of the 4R Nutrient Stewardship Council, which guides and governs the program, said she has been impressed with the “overwhelming positive response” of retailers.

“It’s really a testament that the retailers in the area are ready for a program like this, that they like the program being put in place, and that they are willing to move ahead and make changes to not only help Lake Erie, but help their businesses as well.”