Agriculture faces a challenge to increase production in an economically viable way while simultaneously reducing the environmental impacts on the environment. More than ever, crop production systems are incurring increased scrutiny. To alleviate this pressure, agriculture needs a unified voice to address the positive impacts it has on the environment. 4R nutrient stewardship is part of the answer; it offers a framework to achieve cropping system goals including increased production, increased farmer profitability, and enhanced environmental protection. Input and guidance from fertilizer producers, retailers and crop advisors can help us address barriers and challenges to more widespread implementation and promotion of nutrient stewardship as a viable alternative to regulation.

This session will provide an update on current policy challenges and pressures as well as provide an overview of 4R nutrient stewardship and associated practices that can be offered as application and precision agriculture services by a retailer or crop consultant. Additionally, in the session we will seek to engage the audience in discussions regarding aggregated data collection from retailers and consultants that could be utilized to promote the effectiveness of 4R nutrient stewardship as a path for the crop production industry. These efforts are extremely important to the industry as we develop a united and common voice to present to policy makers and the public to address the positive impacts agriculture can have on nutrients in the environment.