Fertilizer Canada recently announced that another two sites that have successfully become 4R Certified in Ontario: FS PARTNERS Ayr and Sylvite Blenheim. Since the program’s launch, there have been eight Ontario agricultural-retail facilities that have completed the 4R Certification audit and passed to become 4R certified.
The 4R Nutrient Stewardship Certification Program is a voluntary program that certifies nutrient service providers across Ontario that apply or make recommendations on fertilizers in accordance with 4R nutrient stewardship principles. Program participants must go through an independent, third-party audit of 37 standards to demonstrate they not only understand 4R principles, but also follow them.
Certified agri-retailers maintain 4R best management practice advice to both maximize their customer’s financial resources and create long-term positive impacts on water bodies associated with agricultural production areas.
“Fertilizer Canada congratulates all of our newly-certified 4R sites and their continued commitment to the growing number of service providers in Ontario becoming 4R Certified, providing the highest standard of nutrient management advice to their grower customers,” said Garth Whyte, president and CEO of Fertilizer Canada. “The Certification process offers us the opportunity to capture acres managed under 4R Nutrient Stewardship, thus quantifying the industry’s commitment to sustainable agriculture solutions.”
FS PARTNERS Ayr and Sylvite Blenheim join FS PARTNERS Delhi and Drayton, AGRIS Co-operative Cottam and Stoney Point, Thompsons Kent Bridge, and Setterington’s Cottam.
Farmland managed by 4R Certified retailers is counted towards Fertilizer Canada’s goal of verifying acres under 4R Nutrient Stewardship, which quantifies the advancement of sustainable agriculture in Ontario and Canada as a whole.
To this date, there are currently 30 Ontario agri- retail locations that have completed a pre-audit and eight that have successfully become 4R certified. With these eight locations, the program is influencing approximately 264,206 acres and 1,283 growers in Southwestern Ontario. This accounts for approximately seven per cent of the targeted cropland acres in the Lake Erie watershed and eight per cent of the grower customers in the region. These acres are located in the following sub-watersheds of Lake Erie; Lake Erie – Lake St. Clair, Lake Erie – Western Basin, and Lake Erie – Eastern Basin. The pro-active efforts of the Ontario agriculture industry will continue to support the long-term improvement of the Great Lakes water quality.
Fertilizer Canada represents manufacturers, wholesale and retail distributors of nitrogen, phosphate, potash and sulphur fertilizers. The association is committed to supporting the fertilizer industry with innovative research and programming while advocating sustainability, stewardship, safety and security through standards and codes of practice.
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Featured image from Fertilizer Canada.
