Mercer Landmark Glenmore Branch Certified In 4R Nutrient Stewardship
February 29, 2016 
Mercer Landmark’s Glenmore Branch in Ohio City, OH, is now 4R Nutrient Stewardship Certified. Employees pictured include (from L to R), Dan Eickholt, Gary Prill, Geoff Miller, Dave Merkle, Amos Stauffer, Thad Stauffer, and Matt Carroll.
The 4R Nutrient Stewardship Certification Program has announced that Mercer Landmark’s Glenmore Branch in Ohio City, OH, earned its year one certification in 2015.
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 algal blooms in Lake Erie, such as the one responsible for the shutdown of Toledo’s water supply in August 2014.
Mercer Landmark’s Glenmore Branch has served growers in Ohio City and surrounding areas since 1934. The facility provides full-service operations for its customers, including variable rate technology, custom application, crop nutrients, and protection. The branch has 12 full time employees.
“The 4R Nutrient Stewardship Certification process has been a positive learning experience,” said Branch Manager Clark Merkle. “Working through the process, we’ve realized we were already working toward the goal of meeting all the requirements the program involves. We look forward to maintaining our 4R certification.”
The program certifies nutrient service providers in the Western Lake Erie Basin that apply or make recommendations on how nutrients should be applied to crops 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 independent, third-party audit and demonstrate they not only understand 4R principles, but also follow them.
More than 1.8 million acres and approximately 4,350 grower customers are serviced by the 25 facilities in Ohio and Michigan that have earned 4R Nutrient Stewardship Certification, with approximately two-thirds of those acres being in the Western Lake Erie Basin.
“Mercer Landmark’s Glenmore Branch has worked very hard to ensure its operation is following the 4Rs, and we congratulate them on earning their certification,” said Andrew Allman, executive director of the Nutrient Stewardship Council.
“The Glenmore Branch has proven its dedication to the long-term improvement of Lake Erie’s water quality by making nutrient recommendations based on the 4Rs,” said Carrie-Vollmer Sanders, Nutrient Stewardship Council chairwoman.
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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