Agribusiness Council of Indiana today announced four of its members have achieved a significant milestone through certification in the 4R Nutrient Stewardship program. This program looks at the commitment of each business to achieving a rigorous set of standards for nutrient management practices, which benefit the environment and their customers’ crop production and business goals. The certified locations are:
- Crop Fertility Specialists in Rossville, Ind. – Year Three Certified
- Helena in Berne, Ind. - Year Three Certified
- The Andersons in Waterloo, Ind. - Year Three Certified
- Advanced Agrilytics – Year One Certified
“The 4R Nutrient Stewardship program leans on scientific and proven practices that benefit the farmer and our society,” said ACI President & CEO Bruce Kettler. “These Agribusiness Council of Indiana members are an integral part of helping their farmer customers set and obtain their production goals. These businesses bring value to their communities by making sharing the latest environmental stewardship practices such as 4R.”
The 4R Nutrient Stewardship Certification Program is a voluntary program for ACI members that encourages agricultural retailers and independent crop consultants to adopt proven best practices through the 4Rs, which refers to using the Right Source of Nutrients at the Right Rate and Right Time in the Right Place. This approach provides a science-based framework for plant nutrition management and sustained crop production, while considering specific individual farms' needs. It is a proactive, responsible commitment aimed at the long-term improvement of water quality.
“The 4R Certification program was identified in 2011 as a key strategy by members of Indiana Agriculture Nutrient Alliance, a membership that includes ACI, IN- NRCS, commodity organizations, Indiana Farm Bureau, Purdue University, and The Nature Conservancy (TNC), to encourage and highlight proactive efforts agribusiness partners utilize to optimize nutrient inputs,” said Mike Dunn, director of freshwater conservation programs for TNC and chair of the Indiana Nutrient Stewardship Council. “I am excited to see the program’s continued success and growth, congratulations to Crop Fertility Specialists in Rossville, Helena in Berne, The Andersons in Waterloo and Advanced Agrilytics for their commitment to the 4Rs and becoming 4R Certified.”
The 4R Nutrient Stewardship Certification Program occurs on a 3-year certification cycle where a retail location is audited on a set of standards developed by the Nutrient Stewardship Council. This set of standards outlines best practices to be implemented. Each requirement is evaluated each audit period by a private, third-party auditor via an in-person audit to earn or maintain certification.