4Rs part of Ohio basin nutrient reduction plan

Columbus, Ohio — Officials from the Ohio Department of Agriculture, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) have finalized a plan to reduce excess agriculture nutrients from affecting or entering the western basin of Lake Erie by adopting the fertilizer industry’s 4R Nutrient Stewardship program (the right fertilizer source at the right rate, the right time, and in the right place). The program was first announced in October 2011 (GM Oct. 24, 2011). OEPA Director Scott Nally said Ohio’s agricultural community is “not being singled out,” but stressed that “fertilizer is a contributing source to the problem” and action was needed on the part of the agriculture community as a result. “Our agencies worked with Ohio’s agricultural community to identify the best ways to decrease this nutrient loading into Ohio’s water bodies,” said Ohio Department of Agriculture Director David Daniels. “The farmers, private companies, agricultural organizations, agri-businesses, environmental organizations, and academic institutions were all asked to provide their best input, ideas, advice and guidance. That was the foundation for developing these initial recommendations.” In addition to endorsing the 4Rs developed and promoted by The Fertilizer Institute, the agencies are calling for a voluntary statewide “Certified Nutrient Stewardship Program” for farmers, giving the Department of Agriculture authority to better train Ohio farmers about applying commercial fertilizer, expanding the regulatory authority of the department to collect more specific geographical data on where fertilizer sales are currently made, clarifying the authority of Natural Resources to aggressively pursue habitual bad actors, and expanding the department’s authority to development nutrient management plans. In addition to continuing to stress the use of the 4R nutrient management methodology, the division of soil and water resources will be tasked with coordinating an extensive education and outreach effort, as well as developing a roadmap for implementing the other policy recommendations. The three agencies also agreed to utilize a three-tiered, statewide structure for prioritizing the implementation of any recommendations, based upon the condition of any given watershed in Ohio. “There is no question that there are a variety of factors that are contributing to the increased frequency of harmful algal blooms in Lake Erie, and many of Ohio’s other streams and water resources,” said OEPA Director Nally.