4R NUTRIENT STEWARDSHIP CERTIFICATION PROGRAM – WESTERN LAKE ERIE BASIN

IT BECOMES “WHO IS AT FAULT?”

WHO IS WORKING ON 4R CERTIFICATION?

WHO IS WORKING ON 4R CERTIFICATION?

Voluntary

Private Third

Party AuditorNutrient

Service

Providers

NUTRIENT SERVICE PROVIDERS

1. Agricultural Retailers2. Agricultural Service

Providers3. Certified Professionals4. Does not include farmers

4 SECTIONS

1. Initial Training and Ongoing Education - 9

2. Monitoring of 4R Implementation - 43. Nutrient Recommendation - 324. Nutrient Application - 24

PROOF

TRAINING AND EDUCATION

1. Initial Training and on-going 2year 5 CEUs

2. Certified Professional 3. Provide 4R materials for all

growers/customers4. Sponsor training for

growers/customers

MONITORING AND IMPLEMENTATION

1. Number of growers/customers participating

2. Records of farms and acres following 4R’s

3. Records of implementation over time4. Records of written agreements signed

by growers/customers that attest to their support of 4R nutrient stewardship

Signature

NUTRIENT RECOMMENDATIONS

1. GIS Field mapping2. Cropping History 3. Soil Test – 3 year

minimum interval4. Nutrient

Recommendations – all sources

NUTRIENT APPLICATION

1. Variable rate technology 2. Supplies records to grower/customer3. Annual calibration of equipment

NUTRIENT APPLICATION

4. Does not surfaced apply within 24 hours of heavy rainfall

5. Does not apply to frozen soil6. Follows minimum setbacks from

sensitive areas

TIMELINE

July: 4 Pilot Audits (Certifications) August: 4R Advisory Committee Review Fall 2013/Winter 2014: Begin to

promote Summer of 2014: Certifications

SCS – PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS

Precision programs met most requirement. Non-precision programs didn’t fit the standard. Retailer’s had talked to customers on 4R’s. CCA’s on Staff Incorporation/tillage follow-up was hard to

track. Additional Recordkeeping needed. May need to shift 100% requirement to 85%. Anticipate a summary report from SCS soon.