Crop advisers earn 4R Nutrient Management Specialist Certification

May 02, 2016

Representatives from FS and GROWMARK are among the first

By Diego Flammini
Assistant Editor, North American Content
Farms.com

Certified Crop Advisers from FS and GROWMARK in Illinois were among the first to receive their 4R Nutrient Management Specialist Certification.

The 4R approach to nutrient stewardship is an international fertilizer best management practice of applying the right source at the right rate, at the right time and in the right place.

For the purposes of the Nutrient Management Specialist Certification (NMS), candidates were tested on nutrient management planning, nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium, macro and micronutrients, and manure management.

Certified

The training gives farmers access to better resources when trying to minimize nutrient runoff, improve water quality and improve profitability.

“We are incredibly proud of the individuals who earned 4R NMS certification,” said Lance Ruppert, GROWMARK Director of Agronomy Marketing in a press release. “Managing nitrogen and other nutrients in a sustainable fashion is a top priority throughout the FS and GROWMARK Systems. The completion of this voluntary and challenging training will give these certified crop advisers advanced skills and knowledge to share with their co-workers and farmer customers in order to maximize input utilization.”

The next round of 4R NMS exams will take place in August 2016.

Video: Dr. Emerson Nafziger: Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates for Corn

The Crop Science Podcast Show, Dr. Emerson Nafziger from the University of Illinois breaks down decades of nitrogen research. From the evolution of N rate guidelines to how soil health and hybrid genetics influence nitrogen use efficiency, this conversation unpacks the science behind smarter fertilization. Improving how we set nitrogen fertilizer rates for rainfed corn is a key focus. Discover why the MRTN model matters more than ever, and how shifting mindsets and better data can boost yields and environmental outcomes. Tune in now on all major platforms!

"The nitrogen that comes from soil mineralization is the first nitrogen the plant sees, and its role is underestimated."

Meet the guest:

Dr. Emerson Nafziger is Professor Emeritus of Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with degrees in agronomy from Ohio State, Purdue, and Illinois. His research has focused on nitrogen rate strategies and crop productivity. He co-developed the Maximum Return to Nitrogen (MRTN) model, which is widely used across the Midwest. His research spans N response trials, hybrid interactions, crop rotation effects, and yield stability.