Recent research from Trust In Food places ag retailers as a trusted source of conservation information for the average farmer because a majority of them (55%) have farm experience themselves.
It’s something Nutrien Ag Solutions sees play out in their business each day. With more than 1,900 retail locations globally, Nutrien Ag Solutions is a leading provider of both inputs and advice for farmers who are battling constant challenges, both from agronomic and external pressures.
“The trust in the relationships our crop consultants have with growers is key to implementing the best agronomic practices over time,” says Sally Flis, director, Sustainable Ag Programs, Nutrien Ag Solutions. “As the trusted adviser, they are working with our growers 365 days a year to find solutions, evaluate problems and look for new opportunities to drive their businesses.”
Nutrien Ag Solutions has been capitalizing on that trust by rolling out conservation programs that can net farmers added income in exchange for continued conservation agronomy practices and data-capture, specifically around nitrogen management. The retail leader is hoping the programs will leverage agronomic practices and data into bottom line incentives for farmers.
“Good agronomy is the base of all sustainability programs, making sure we have the best tools, practices and products selected at a field level to drive production efficiency and return to the grower is what drives the metrics we look at for sustainability programs,” Flis says. “Our programs are focused on nitrogen management, an agronomic fundamental that growers and our crop consultants are working on every season to optimize return.”
According to Flis, the programs are paying off at the farm gate in a variety of ways, including:
- Improved data collection
- Access to sustainable ag reports with compiled field-level and operational data
- Education about new tools, technologies and products to drive efficiency on the acre
Program enrollees begin the enrollment process with a registration into Nutrien Ag Solutions’ proprietary digital platform, Agrible. The company says the software uses predictive agronomic forecasts and sustainability metrics generated from in-field data. Through a variety of value chain connections, such as Ardent Mills and Bunge, Flis says the company is using that data to shape downstream sustainability goals within the industry.
But, Nutrien Ag Solutions is backing up this technology by doing what they do best, Flis says.
“We have the Sustainable Ag Field team, our crop consultants on the ground and Waypoint Analytical as resources to help growers select practices, collect data and analyze progress,” she says. “The level of support we provide means that the majority of growers that enroll in our programs make it to completion and receive payments.”
Payments vary and are based on outcomes, specifically a reduction in applied nitrogen by a minimum of 5%. The program has a minimum payment of $2 per acre but can rise as much as $4.89 per acre for long-term, no-till corn and $4.47 per acre for conventional tillage corn. Cotton producers, on average, receive $3.84 per acre for long-term, no-till practices. The program is applicable for winter wheat, barley and sorghum as well.
For Nutrien Ag Solutions, conservation programs sprang from enhanced market opportunities available through the carbon space and a desire to ensure those opportunities were optimized for the farm gate. Flis says Nutrien Ag Solutions, with their trusted grower relationship, was the natural fit to make that connection stronger, and they are consistently looking for more programs that align with that mission.
“The programs were designed after a few years of experimenting in the carbon space and getting feedback from growers and our crop consultants,” Flis says. “We blended those findings into the Sustainable Nitrogen Outcomes Program in the U.S. and Canada — shorter term agreements, carbon and other sustainable ag metrics calculated to meet grower and CPG needs, provide tools and products available to allow for continuous improvement, and pay growers for the outcomes from changes.”
America’s Conservation Ag Movement is a public/private collaborative that meets growers across the country where they are on their conservation journey and empowers their next step with technical assistance from USDA-NRCS and innovation solutions and resources from agriculture’s leading providers. Learn more at americasconservationagmovement.com.
