Promoting ‘4Rs’ and pushing new ideas
Drag line manure hoses are something you don’t see much of in Pennsylvania. But Jeff Zimmerman, owner of Agri-Applicators in Lebanon, which specializes in custom manure application, is sold on them, especially when used with a manure injector.
With farmers under pressure to reduce the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus getting into waterways, things such as manure injectors are being looked at to help address environmental regulations while helping keep farmers profitable.
“It’s got to start with keeping farms profitable, keeping them in business,” says Eric Rosenbaum, executive director of the Pennsylvania 4R Alliance, speaking at a recent nutrient stewardship field day in Hershey, Pa. The alliance has partnered with Growmark FS, Bazooka Farmstar and The Nature Conservancy on projects highlighting new technology and better ways to track voluntary best management practices on farms.
4R alliances are partnerships between agribusinesses, farmers, researchers, and local, state and federal agencies that encourage the concept of the “4Rs”: applying the right fertilizer at the right time, the right rate and in the right place.