We caught up with The Fertilizer Institute’s 2024 4R Advocates—a group of two farmers and two retailers who are committed to implementing fertilizer management practices based on the principles of 4R Nutrient Stewardship. They reflect on 2024, share their sustainability wins and describe how 2025 could look different.
What Does Sustainability Mean To You?
Allen Spray
Chestertown, Maryland, Willard Agri Service
Sustainability means maintaining a profitable farming operation while doing what’s right for the environment and always looking for ways to improve yield with less inputs.
Bryant Lowe
Laurel, Delaware, Lakeside Farms
To me, sustainability means being able to farm the way we have been for years while trying new things along the way to be successful for future generations.
Daniel Mullenix
Auburn, Alabama, GreenPoint Ag
If we are more aware of nutrient stewardship and using the 4R methods of fertilizer applications along with new technology when applying crop protection, we can work toward enhancing environmental stewardship. Focusing on sustainability from a cover crop and soil health emphasis builds organic matter and allows the soil to hold onto nutrients longer. Both of these perspectives preserve our environment, provide an economic benefit to the grower and move toward a path of preserving the land and soil for the future generations to follow.
Mason Roberts
Sylvester, Georgia, MTR Farms
Sustainable agriculture is the No. 1 priority in our operation, and the reason for that is the assurance there is a tomorrow for our future generations to produce food and fiber for the world. That comes from knowing we are making practical and ethical on-farm decisions today to minimize our footprint.
What’s Been Your Biggest Success Story With 4R Management?
Spray: This year, while working with some technology, I was able to reduce phosphorus by 66% in a corn starter and maintain the same yield.
Lowe: Our biggest success story has to be successfully growing high-yielding crops on our sandy soils. Using the 4Rs allows us to manage the crop while minimizing nutrient leaching throughout the season.
Mullenix: When a grower sees the 4R plan as an investment and not an expense, we have been successful. Our greatest successes have come when growers and retailers understand that soil sampling and prescriptive fertility management really help everyone involved. It’s not just about cutting cost or using new technology. Everyone wins when we work together toward success.
Roberts: Practical and ethical decisions that we have made through following 4R have made our farm footprint smaller but also helped our neighbors and other farmers in the community grasp the concept today before we are legislated to make infeasible changes tomorrow.
Are You Trying Anything New Agronomically in the Field in 2025?
Lowe: We are going to try banding almost all of the nutrients next to the row instead of any broadcast in hopes this will raise our ROI even more for 2025.
Roberts: After meeting Bryant Lowe and hearing the successes of farming strictly with liquid fertilizers, I know we will have some agronomic changes take place in our operation. In southern Georgia, most at-plant fertilizer applications and sidedress applications are broadcast dry granules. For 2025, most of our operation will go to an organic at-planting fertilizer, such as chicken manure and compost, and sidedress applications will be done using liquid fertilizers through a Y-drop applicator to ensure an on-target application directly over the root zone of the crop.
As Retailers, What Are You Asking Farmers to Try for Next Year?
Spray: I’m asking my growers not to panic and try some new technologies to help reduce their risk and the amount of fertility.
Mullenix: The biggest thing we’re asking farmers to try for 2025 is to try to stay in business. We have several agronomic and technology tools to help farmers spend each dollar as wisely as possible. Working together is the only way we’ll make it through these economic times.
