Legacy Farmers Cooperative – McComb Agronomy Achieves Year Seven Certification in 4R Nutrient Stewardship
Continuing its commitment to improving water quality in the Western Lake Erie Basin, Legacy Farmers Cooperative in McComb, Ohio, has achieved certified status for year seven 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, McComb Agronomy joins a long list of retailers to achieve multi-year certification.
McComb Agronomy, located in western Hancock County. It employs eight 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.
“I am proud to say we are part of the 4R certification program,” said Neal Boes, McComb Agronomy operations manager. “Adapting the principles of the 4Rs has allowed us to help our growers improve their agricultural productivity while minimizing the environmental impact. Knowing we are doing what is right for the grower and the land gives me peace of mind.”
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.
“Working with Legacy as our 4R retailer allows us to confidently participate in the H2O program and receive program funding from 4R practices that we were already doing,” said Steve Ritter, McComb Agronomy customer. “The cost of fertilizer is expensive and 4R practices ensure we get the best return on that investment by placing crop nutrients in the correct areas and at the right time.”
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: McComb Agronomy is a Legacy Farmers Cooperative year seven 4R Nutrient Stewardship Certified location. Employees pictured include: (back row L to R) David Metzger, Ira Mansfield, Tony Brown, Neal Boes, (front row L to R) Kurt Thompson, Andy Heacock, Reed Hovest. (Not Pictured: Tracy Flick)