The Feed

Over the years of my career, I had attended the Tri-Societies Annual Meeting numerous times. But this month, it was my first time attending as the Director of Agronomy at The Fertilizer Institute, I was excited to promote the work we are doing in 4R Nutrient Stewardship with others. However, to my pleasant surprise, 4R themes were seen across multiple sessions during the conference.

In a new study released today by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, farmers in the Western Lake Erie Basin (WLEB) have implemented at least one conservation practice on 99 percent of cropland acres. This is a step in the right direction for the health of the WLEB, which has been challenged in recent years.

Nitrogen is the single most important plant nutrient in today’s commercial fertilizers. It’s essential for making sure plants are healthy as they grow and nutritious to eat after they’re harvested. But today in agriculture, we take for granted N’s ready availability.

WASHINGTON, D.C., (October 22, 2014) – Alan Jones and his crew run a farming operation that includes more than 3,600 acres of crops and even more where he runs cattle. Keeping the soil healthy ensures that high-quality potatoes, green beans and citrus continue to be part of our food supply.