4R Certification Workshop Geared Toward Retailers, Farmers In Western Lake Erie Basin

Farmers and nutrient service providers in the Western Lake Erie Basin interested in learning how to put the 4Rs into practice will have the opportunity to do so at a workshop put on by the 4R Nutrient Stewardship Certification Program. “4R Certification 4U” will take place on Friday, December 12 at the Holiday Inn – French Quarter in Perrysburg, OH.

Industry professionals and agricultural retailers already certified through the program will share their insights as to why the 4R practices are important and how they contribute to the goal of long-term improved profits and quality in the Lake Erie Basin.

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“We’re really starting to see the 4R Nutrient Stewardship Certification Program come full circle,” said Chris Henney, president and CEO of the Ohio AgriBusiness Association, which serves as the administrator of the program. “Retailers that have already achieved the certified status are now sharing what they’ve learned through the program with other potential participants.”

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The workshop will feature sessions and panels for both farmers and retailers led by speakers covering different aspects of the 4R principles, including: Lara Moody, director of stewardship and sustainability for The Fertilizer Institute; John Fritz with The
Andersons, Inc., a certified retailer; Greg LaBarge with OSU Extension, who plays a role in auditing the criteria for the 4R Certification Program; and George and David Brand of Brand Dairy Farm, which was named a 4R Advocate this year.

Specific topics that will be covered include “4R Conservation Program Cost Share Opportunities,” “What Are Edge Field Studies Telling Us?” and an update on Lake Erie’s water quality in 2014.

“The 4R Certification Program is excited to share information with farmers, crop advisers and ag businesses about crop and water quality research and cost share opportunities for farmers across the Western Lake Erie Basin watershed,” said Carrie Vollmer-Sanders, Western Lake Erie Basin project director for The Nature Conservancy, who will be recognizing the certified retailers at the workshop.

The 4R Nutrient Stewardship Certification program was launched in March 2014 by the Nutrient Stewardship Council and encourages agricultural retailers, service providers and other certified professionals to adopt proven best practices through the 4Rs. Outlining 43 criteria to be implemented, the voluntary program is staggered over a three-year period. To date, more than 50 retailers have signed up for the program and three have achieved certified status.

To register for the 4R Certification 4U workshop, visit www.oaba.net/events or call 614-326-7520 (option 1). Use the comp code “4RCertified.” A block of hotel rooms has been reserved at the Holiday Inn – French Quarter for workshop attendees. Call 1-888-874-2592 and mention the Ohio AgriBusiness Association by November 26 to receive the discounted room rate of $99 per night.

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 Lake Erie and its contributing watersheds. The program is administered by the Ohio AgriBusiness Association.

For more  information, visit 4Rcertified.org, email [email protected] or call 614-326-7520.

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