COLUMBUS, Ohio — The 4R Nutrient Stewardship Certification Program has announced that Heritage Cooperative’s Kenton facility has been added to its growing list of nutrient service providers to achieve certified status.
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 and other waterways across Ohio.
“We believe we owe it to our member-owners to help them do the right thing on every acre they farm,” said Jeffrey Osentoski, president/CEO of Heritage Cooperative. “I’m very proud of our Kenton agronomy team’s commitment to environmental stewardship and grower success through the achievement of their 4R certification.”
The Heritage Cooperative facility in Kenton is a full-service agronomy location. The facility offers a wide range of products and services, including seed, crop protection, custom application, and precision technology.
Heritage Cooperative is a leader in agriculture, nutrient management, and sustainability, including addressing water quality issues throughout Ohio. While continuing to grow and innovate, Heritage upholds its core values of providing superior customer service, consistently displaying the highest standards of integrity and trust, striving for continuous improvement, and being a good partner. Adding the 4R certification to its business portfolio allows Heritage to help its members cultivate new opportunities and emerge at the forefront of the industry.
“It’s important that our customers trust our team to ensure their nutrient management recommendations are accurate,” said Osentoski. “The 4R certification will continue to help us provide growers with confidence to make informed nutrient management decisions and sustainability improvements for years to come.”
The 4R Program certifies nutrient service providers 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 54 facilities in Ohio and Michigan that have earned 4R Nutrient Stewardship Certification.
“The certification program is an ongoing effort for participants, and we are proud of the continued commitment shown by Legacy Cooperative as leaders in the industry,” said Aaron Heilers, executive director of the Nutrient Stewardship Council.
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, its contributing watersheds and all of Ohio’s waterways. The program is administered by the Ohio AgriBusiness Association. For more information, visit 4Rcertified.org, email info@oaba.net or call 614-326-7520.
— Ohio AgriBusiness Association