Category: 4Rs on the Farm

4Rs and Fertility

Posted on by Jenell McHenry | Posted in 4Rs on the Farm, EventsTagged , , Leave a Comment on 4Rs and Fertility

Wednesday, March 5, 2025 (Chester, Maryland) – Over 130 attendees across the region joined the Mid-Atlantic 4R Nutrient Stewardship Association’s “Testing Efficiency February Webinar” on Monday the 24th. Key takeaways from the audience included: global use of fertilizer and manufacturing, benefits and challenges of crop residue, as well as 4R cost-share findings. The morning webinar was available to attendees for free with funding being provided by the 2020 National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Grant as well as The Campbell Foundation. The full webinar can be viewed on your YouTube page here.

Jarrod Miller, University of Delaware, kicked off the webinar on how to manage residuals after harvest. Residuals act as a mulch layer which helps conserve ground moisture and protect the soil from erosion during rain events. Different types of residuals provide several key source nutrients to the next crop cycle. But the residuals process to cycle nutrients depends upon the Carbon to Nitrogen ratio, which is dependent upon the type of residual. It is important to understand immobilization as well as nitrogen tie up and breakdown when planning your next crop. Listen to Jarrod’s presentation to hear his recommendations on managing these residuals.

Following Jarrod’s presentation, Jenell McHenry, Executive Director of the 4R Association, presented a summary of efforts by the 4R partners. A survey, completed in 2022, to understand current use and interest in 4R practices as well as preferred communication methods of random farmers in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia found that on-farm trials were most helpful to learn about 4R practices. It also discovered that the most influential sources of information for a farmer were trusted advisors. Therefore, the 4R’s updated their mission to serve Trusted Advisors and show how 4R best management practices can help them, help their customers.

Between 2020 and 2024, the PA and DE-MD 4R Alliances supported implementation of new 4R practices on 21,930 acres. Practices included Split Nitrogen and biological products combined with nitrogen rate reduction. Farmers splitting their nitrogen over the growing season had an increase of revenue by feeding the corn crop when it needed the nitrogen the most. Lastly, through implementing split nitrogen applications, farmers in the region are reducing 60,190 pounds of nitrogen and 1,909 pounds of phosphorus per year. To learn more about these benefits, be sure to tune into the recorded webinar.

To wrap up, the morning webinar, Veronica Nigh with The Fertilizer Institute started with an update on Tariffs and the impact they may have on agriculture fertilizers. Monthly fertilizer prices were shown starting in January 2019. Veronica covered supply and demand for each key nutrient and planting projections for each crop. The presentation concluded with an overview of countries where fertilizers are imported to the United States. For an outstanding and informative presentation, be sure to watch the full recorded webinar.

The Mid-Atlantic team is thankful for the great line-up of presentations and those who were able to join. To share feedback on future events, please complete this short survey. Future events will be shared on the Mid-Atlantic 4R website, www.4RMidAtlantic.com.

Advanced Nutrient Management Vouchers Available

Posted on by Jenell McHenry | Posted in 4Rs on the Farm, Funding, In the NewsTagged , , , , ,

“Are you ready to take your farm to the next level for yield and efficiency?”

(Chester, Maryland, February 10, 2025) – For the 2025 growing season, farmers and trusted advisers in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed have the opportunity to work together and plan advanced nutrient management practices. A $1,000 planning voucher from the Mid-Atlantic Stewardship Association is available to support an advisor and farmer’s time to work together and develop next steps to meet their specific farm goals.

Vouchers are paid directly to the trusted advisor to assist a farmer with planning including data management and compilation, analysis of existing data, collecting new data/soil tests, etc. to plan next steps. Enrolled fields must have a current nutrient management plan or meet NRCS Core Nutrient Management requirements in Pennsylvania.

Example practices include nitrogen modeling, precision fertilizer recommendations, generating field zones, and data management to name a few. No implementation is required, only proof of your plan and a follow-up interview to share how the funds supported your goals.

There are 10 of 30 vouchers still available on a first-come, first-served basis and an additional two vouchers for historically underserved farmers valued at $1,250. Enrollment forms are due no later than March 14th for the 2025 growing season.

In 2024, we provided 30 vouchers with great success and funding from the Keith Campbell Foundation. You can hear from the 4R team and participating agribusiness about the vouchers here. 

Learn more about this year’s programs online here.

PA Farmer Selected as 2020 4R Advocate

Posted on by Jenell Eck | Posted in 4Rs on the Farm, In the News

Photo Credit: Gates Rhodes for The Nature Conservancy

Delta, PA. (January 8, 2020) – Farmer Mike Kurek of Susquehanna Orchards in Delta, Pennsylvania and his agronomist, Tim Hushon of The Mill, were selected to be part of an elite group representing 4R Nutrient Stewardship as part of The Fertilizer Institute’s 4R Advocate Program. This program was established nine years ago to recognize farmers and retailers who go above and beyond to implement enhanced nutrient management practices. Kurek and Hushon join 44 other grower/advisor pairs that have been recognized since the program’s inception, and they are the first to receive the award from Pennsylvania.

The 4R Advocate program showcases growers that champion 4R Nutrient Stewardship—applying the Right nutrient source, at the Right rate, Right time, and Right place to maximize nutrient use efficiency for high-yielding crops and to protect water quality from nutrient losses. “We’re extremely proud to have Mike and Tim representing 4Rs and Pennsylvania with national recognition,” says Eric Rosenbaum, Executive Director for the Pennsylvania 4R Alliance.

Photo Credit: Gates Rhodes for The Nature Conservancy

Kurek, along with his wife, Trish, recognizes the value of 4R Nutrient Stewardship. As the parents of three children under the age of six, the Kureks want to preserve their land for future generations while ensuring sustainable business practices that provide for their family. The Kureks own and manage 315 acres in Delta, Pennsylvania where they produce corn, soybeans, peaches, apples, and pumpkins. The family also operates a popular on-farm store and pick-your-own operation. The farm is located just four miles north of the Conowingo Dam which signifies the head of the Chesapeake Bay.

Kurek originally started down the 4R path in his orchards. He saw improvements in yields as he implemented a spoon-feeding foliar fertilizer application system and minimized disturbance of soil within the orchard. He utilizes regular tissue sampling in the orchards to assess nutrient needs and, in many years, applies 100% of his nutrients through foliar application. “There aren’t many 4R programs available for orchards specifically, so I was forced to develop my own,” says Kurek.

Photo Credit: Gates Rhodes for The Nature Conservancy

In 2012-2013, Kurek began applying the 4R practices he had learned in the orchard to his row crops and turned to the Bel Air, Maryland-based agricultural retailer, The Mill, for the latest in agricultural technologies. Tim Hushon began advising Kurek and has been the gateway to 4Rs for Susquehanna Orchards. “Mike is very open-minded when it comes to trying new technologies,” says Tim. “When I learn about a new product or tool that The Mill can offer growers, I turn to Mike to help me test it out. We both love the challenge of maximizing yield through 4R Nutrient Stewardship.”

Active in the local and online communities, Kurek cares about sharing the message of the importance of agriculture and the good work being done by farmers. With his public-facing orchard, and now as a 4R Advocate, he has a great platform for sharing how nutrient management benefits water quality to school groups and parents that regularly visit the orchards.

Both Kurek and Hushon recognize the importance of sharing the message of Nutrient Stewardship and have actively engaged with the PA4R Alliance to provide education and outreach to farmers across the state. “I find it very important to get the 4R message out to more people,” Kurek said, “Compared to many of the older practices I’ve seen, there is really a better way of doing things now. It’s scary to take that leap, but through my partnership with Tim at The Mill, I’ve felt confident in moving our operation forward with 4Rs.” As part of this award, both Kurek and Hushon will be traveling to the Commodity Classic in San Antonio, TX in February to receive recognition on the national stage. They will also be engaged in field days, publications, and media events throughout 2020.

Congratulations on this achievement!

The PA 4R Alliance, a member of the Mid-Atlantic 4R Nutrient Stewardship Association, is a non-profit organization comprised of agribusiness, government agencies and environmental groups whose mission is to promote 4R Nutrient Stewardship—applying the RIGHT nutrient sources for the crop, at the RIGHT rate to maximize crop yield, at the RIGHT time and the RIGHT place to maximize uptake and minimize nutrient loss. For more details on the Mid-Atlantic 4R Nutrient Stewardship Association, and to learn more about other 4R events in Pennsylvania and throughout the region, click here or follow us on Facebook. For the full article on the 2020 4R Advocates, click here.

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MD Farmer Jonathan Quinn selected as 2019 4R Advocate

Posted on by 4RMidAtlantic | Posted in 4Rs on the Farm, In the News

It’s no surprise that one who leads a fifth-generation farm might also be an early adopter. Jonathan Quinn was one of the first in the Delmarva region to invest in a yield monitor. He also incorporated the 4Rs before they were so named. It comes naturally. His father was conducting annual soil tests in the 1960s. They still do. Little Bohemia Creek Farms now covers 2,350 acres in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed and includes corn, soybeans, wheat, barley, and spinach, as well as a custom farming business.

Though Maryland law requires nutrient management plans be filed for every acre on the farm, they’re not new to Quinn. He and his crop advisor, Kenny Glenn with Southern States Cooperative in Middletown, Delaware, have used 4R strategies in the plans since the beginning. In fact, they’ve worked together for 20 years to continually improve the farm and community.

“Even when we voluntarily compiled nutrient management plans, we found we didn’t need all the nutrients we were applying,” Quinn says. “We’ve gotten better since.”

In addition to 4R practices, technology helps. GPS, autosteer, the yield monitor, a 16-row, variable-rate planter, 30’ air seeder, and variable-rate sprayer are supplemented by satellite field imagery and soil maps.

Pre-sidedress nitrate tests, tissue samples, and fall nitrate tests help guide in-season nitrogen applications. UAN is variable-rate injected, even in sidedress applications, and Avail phosphorous enhancer and NutrisphereN help ensure they’re available to the crop when needed. Cover crops help retain nutrients through winter.

It pays off. Corn and soybean yields are up five to 10 percent, while nutrient application remains optimal for soil and crop health. If these 4R practices work for the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, they’ll work anywhere.

Best Practice Management
  • Annual grid and soil sampling guide nutrient management plan to focus only on what nutrients are needed.
  • Nutrient management plan determines how much N, P, and K are needed.
  • Pre-sidedress and fall nitrate tests help determine in-season nitrogen applications.
  • Injected UAN reduces volatilization.
  • Variable-rate nutrient application ensures crops get the right amount of nutrients.
  • GPS-precision nutrient applications helps soils that need additional nutrients get the right ones.
  • Variable-rate sprayer delivers the exact amount of product needed.
  • Cover crops retain nutrients.
  • Conservation practices include cover crops, no-till, grassed waterways, riparian buffers, wildlife habitat, an agricultural chemical handling facility, and a manure storage building.

Jonathan was also featured on the Chesapeake Bay Program’s website for his advanced nutrient management practices:

You can read about all of the 2019 4R Advocates at nutrientstewardship.org