Washington-The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) announced on Jan. 20 that it is providing $8,000 to partially fund an 18-month program to educate South Dakota agricultural producers on practices that minimize nutrient pollution. TFI said the funds would be used to implement a multi-faceted outreach program aimed at increasing farmer adoption of the 4R Nutrient Stewardship System (use of the right fertilizer source at the right rate, the right time, and in the right place). TFI’s money partially matches an EPA pass-through grant by the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources to the South Dakota Agri-Business Association (SDABA), the South Dakota Association of Conservation Districts, and the South Dakota Association of Cooperatives. Including TFI’s matching funds, the total value of the grant is $28,650. “We are pleased to be a part of this partnership to ensure fertilizers are used in a sustainable manner,” said TFI President Ford West. “Farmers are being challenged to stay profitable and increase crop yields to meet growing food demand while safeguarding water, air, and soil resources. 4R Nutrient Stewardship provides farmers with science based tools to achieve all of those goals.” The education initiative being funded through the grant will include member outreach and education, advertising, direct mail, point of sale materials, and displays at key trade shows. The program runs from January 2011 to August 2012 and is targeted to producers in three key South Dakota watersheds Big Sioux River, Vermillion River, and James River. “Our goal for this intensive outreach program is to jumpstart producers thinking of how they can adopt 4R nutrient stewardship on their operation,” said SDABA Executive Director Kathy Zander. “TFI commends the South Dakota Agribusiness Association and its partners for their leadership in spearheading this worthy effort,” said West.
Transparency Across the Fertilizer Value-Chain