4R Nutrient Stewardship Certification Benefits Grower Partners
Working with the Agribusiness Council of Indiana (ACI), Advanced Agrilytics is proud to announce it has achieved Year One certified status in Indiana’s 4R Nutrient Stewardship Certification Program.
“Agribusiness Council of Indiana is pleased to see that Advanced Agrilytics understands that 4R nutrient management brings value to their growers and their community,” said ACI President Bruce Kettler.
What is the 4R Nutrient Stewardship Certification Program?
The 4R Nutrient Stewardship Certification Program is a voluntary program for ACI members that encourages ag 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.
Advanced Agrilytics’ Methodology Embraces the 4Rs Philosophy
Helping growers understand their fields at the sub-acre level so they can optimize nutrient efficiency and produce consistently higher yields is at the heart of Advanced Agrilytics’s methodology. This process starts by dividing acres into small, hex-grid segments – approximately 70 per acre. Then, we use our patented spatial analysis technology to examine multiple mechanisms and other factors within the soil, all of which affect nutrient availability and uptake at that sub-acre level. Some of the environmental factors we analyze at the sub-acre level include:
- soil mineralogy
- physical properties of the soil
- landscape position (slope/topography)
- soil moisture availability and movement
- nutrient removal statistics
“We analyze those factors and many more – because all of the soil characteristics that we examine can limit your yield if not addressed,” said Travis Kimmel, Advanced Agrilytics’s Regional Lead Agronomist in Ohio. “Ultimately our goal is the betterment of the operation, holistically. That may be through improving yields and yield consistency. It may be through improving nutrient use efficiency. Our technology and methodology are built to identify what factors are limiting yields at the sub-acre level. Once we have identified those yield-limiting factors, we develop a holistic approach to address and overcome those.”
“The customers who work with Advanced Agrilytics see the value in our methodology year after year,” said Dan Emmert, Regional Lead Agronomist in Southern Indiana. “This certification provides independent, third-party validation that our unique approach works for growers. It helps them improve their farm operation, their soil and plant health, and ultimately, helps them produce higher yields more consistently and sustainably.
“Here’s one example. A recent analysis looking at nitrogen use among Advanced Agrilytics customers showed that they use at least 15% LESS nitrogen per bushel compared to their peers. That’s a 15% improvement in nitrogen use efficiency, created by using our methodology.”
“We appreciate the recognition that we are doing our part through responsible nutrient management,” said Kimmel. “We’re very proud of this achievement, and what it means for our company and for our partner growers. Guiding efficient, sustainable nutrient application helps our growers optimize crop and soil inputs, as well as mitigate risk and improve overall production.”
How It Works
The 4R Nutrient Stewardship Certification Program occurs on a 3-year certification cycle where an entity 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 via an in-person audit to earn or maintain certification.
"When a grower works with an organization such as Advanced Agrilytics that has their 4R Nutrient Stewardship Certification, they know they are working with a company that is looking out for their best interest."
“They want to work with their growers to ensure that nutrients are applied in the right place, at the right rate, at the right time, to get optimum nutrient performance and minimize negative environmental impacts such as runoff. They are committed to helping their growers get the maximum ROI for their nutrient investment, as sustainably as possible,” added Kettler.
“Advanced Agrilytics should be proud of their certification. It shows they understand the significance of the 4Rs Nutrient Stewardship Certification program and that they were willing to put in the hard work and to go through this rigorous process to get certified. The certification is good for growers in terms of productivity and sustainability. It’s good for the industry because it shows their commitment to sustainability. And it’s good for our communities in terms of preserving and improving water quality.”
Want to learn more?
Listen to the latest “Acres of Insights” podcast with Travis Kimmel and Bruce Kettler, hosted by Dan Emmert.
To learn more about Advanced Agrilytics visit advancedagrilytics.com.
To learn more about the Agribusiness Council of Indiana, visit inagribiz.org/.