To 4R or Not to 4R Is There an Option?

To 4R or Not to 4R Is There an Option?

August 3, 2014

Setting the Stage for 4R Nutrient Stewardship in Ontario Phosphorus in the Great Lakes with the focus on the western basin of Lake Erie. Multiple Point & Nonpoint Sources of Phosphorus: Point sources include sewage treatment plants and direct industrial sources. Nonpoint sources include agricultural and urban runoff, faulty septic tanks, etc. Recognition that agriculture needs to do its part in managing phosphorus loss 4R Nutrient Stewardship is a major step in this direction.

Taking 4R from Theory to the Field Some examples of the common sense aspects of 4R Nutrient Stewardship: Fertility recommendations based on soil tests. Crop nutrients containing phosphorus will not be applied on snow-covered or frozen soil. Utilizing different strategies for the application and/or incorporation of crop nutrients. Taking the necessary steps to minimize the non-growing season loss of nutrients.

Bringing 4R to Ontario Memorandum of Co-operation signed (2015) between the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs, Fertilizer Canada, and the Ontario Agri Business Association

4R Ontario What are the key messages? 1. Crop nutrients are essential for the growth of nutritious food to feed Ontarians, Canadians and people around the world. 2. The efficient use of nutrients from mineral fertilizers, manure or other sources, minimizes the risk of nutrient losses to ground and surface water sources. 3. 4R Nutrient Stewardship provides farmers with practical, evidence-based solutions that benefit both the environment and farm profitability.

Why 4R Nutrient Stewardship? The need to address algal blooms in Western Basin of Lake Erie Increased focus on environmental issues by current government 4Rs referenced in MOECC s Great Lakes Action Plan and the Canada U.S Great Lakes Agreement Farm sector needs to take a leadership role in developing a solution 4R is a good fit with the current move toward sustainability programs

4R Ontario Activities in 2016 Partnered with 6 producers for 4R Demonstration Farm project Fertilizer Canada sponsored development of 4R Specialty Designation for CCA s Two Pilot Projects: Voluntary designation of 4R acres Crop input retail certification

4R Retail Certification Pilot Program The 4R Ag Retail Certification pilot program involves voluntary certification of agri-retail facilities that focuses on a series of 41 auditable criteria established by the Ohio program and based on the principles of 4R Nutrient Stewardship. 4 Ontario agri-retail locations in the South Western Ontario volunteered to participate in the audit program for the pilot program: Thompsons Limited Setterington s Fertilizer Service Ltd. AGRIS Co-operative Ltd. South West Ag Partners Inc. Exploratory audits conducted by the lead auditor from the 4R Ohio indicated that Ontario ag-retailers were very close to meeting the audit standards with their current business as usual practices.

4R Retailer Certification Based on pilot project results 4R Ontario Steering Committee has approved the development of a voluntary agri-retailer 4R certification program 4R Ontario Science & Technical Committee working on Ontario specific certification/audit standards

Learning from the Ohio Experience

Ohio Retailer Certification Program Requirements 1. Training and Education 2. Nutrient Recommendation and Application 3. Monitoring of 4R Implementation

Ohio - Training & Education Certified Professionals must have Initial Training and 5 CEUs every 2 years Sales and application staff 2 hours training every 2 years Provide 4R materials for all customers Sponsor training for growers/customers

Ohio -Nutrient Recommendations Soil Test 4 year minimum interval Nutrient Recommendations: provided by certified professional science-based Utilize crop history and yield goals

Ohio - Nutrient Application Annual calibration of equipment Nutrient application consistent with recommendations No application to frozen or snow-covered soil By year 3 of audit cycle - no surface application without immediate incorporation if NOAA weather forecast exceeds a 50% chance of one inch or more of rain By year 3 - utilize GIS and VRT on 35% of custom application acres

Ohio - Monitoring & Implementation Number of farm customers and acres participating Records that document recommended rates, application and compliance with 4R audit standards. Records that growers support 4R nutrient stewardship

Ohio - Validation by Third Party Third party audits conducted by the Nutrient Stewardship Council Nutrient Stewardship Council (NSC) Agricultural Business Grower Organization Government Environmental NGO (Nature Conservancy) Universities / Researchers

4R Ontario is Moving Forward in 2017! Continue to promote increased adoption of 4R; provide general agri-retailer staff and farmer training; and develop affiliated resources 4R Retailer Certification focus on building capacity, industry accountability, relevant targets, program audit standards Identify research and science gaps Increased communication efforts with all stakeholders, including the grower organizations, government and environmental NGO s

January 21 2017 4 R Plan Implementation Dale Cowan Senior Agronomist/ Sales Manager AGRIS and Wanstead Farmers Cooperatives

4 R Plan implementation Focus on P Loss Reduction First step is to recognize the issue Steps to reduce losses Putting it all together

Understanding P Loss Reduction P is an essential nutrient in all ecosystems including the aquatic systems P supports normal plant growth Excess P in surface waters supports abnormal growth of algae It is the enrichment of surface water with excessive amounts of P that is the issue (from all sources) Agriculture is one of those sources

Understanding P Loss It only takes 0.03 ppm of P in water to support algal growth Most runoff water from agricultural fields contains P in a range from trace to 0.8 ppm or higher of P On a pounds per acre loss basis on average in the Thames River water shed is approximately 0.4 lbs of P or 0.94 lbs of P2O5 or 1.81 lbs of MAP at value of $0.54 / acre The 40% reduction in P loss being targeting is the 0.4 lbs / acres not your rate of fertilizer application

Understanding P Loss When is the loss the greatest? In the non growing season Early spring with snow melt and spring rain runoff Late fall post harvest

What practices increase potential Loss of P Tillage that leaves very little residue on the surface Fall application of phosphorus left unincorporated or shallow incorporation (no till, frozen ground) Not soil testing to determine rates of application and running the risk of over application

Sodium Bicarb P extraction by accredited soil test labs is an important feature of our soil test system in Ontario

Understanding P Loss To have P run off, two things need to be in play A source load An active transport mechanism Source load is the amount of P in a position and in a form to move The Transport mechanism(s) is most likely excessive rainfall that causes soil movement past the field edge And movement through tile

Management Factors that Influence the Source Load Types of Phosphorous Particulate P attached to soil particles PP Dissolve Reactive Phosphorous DRP Total P is then the sum of all sources The problem today is the DRP A small but highly biologically active form that supports algal growth

Management Factors that Influence the Source Load Application rates- Sources Timing Incorporation- stratification Placement Current Soil testing to determine application rates Yield goals Method and Timing of those applications Taking appropriate credits from other applications

Use Precision Ag technologies to be site specific in management strategies Average P soil test is 22.9 ppm range is 7 to 73 ppm 21 of 46 acres are in the 15 to 20 ppm range 9 acres over 30 ppm

Rate of application Site Specific 4 R Nutrient Stewardship Our Build, Maintenance and Drawdown recommendation system will support.. Right Product, Right Rate, Right Time and Right place nutrient management goals Principles of Build, Maintenance and Drawdown Recommendation Program Maintenance Build Target Range Drawdown Soil test Level

Factors that Influence the Transport Mechanisms Rainfall amounts and spring snow melt Intensity and duration of storm events Erodible surface No crop residue Complex slopes Soil texture Poor drainage Tile Soil compaction Poor soil health

What can and is being done? 4 R Nutrient Stewardship Initiatives in Ontario MOC signed by the crops input industry, OABA, Fertilizer Canada OMAFRA in 2015 Certified Crop Advisors have added a 4 R NMS certification A 4 R Dealer Certification pilot based on Ohio

What can and is being done? What can you do? Be aware of your own practices what you do on your land matters What everybody does in a watershed matters No one snowflake ever thinks its responsible for avalanche either Start looking at planning nutrient applications and overlapping BMPs

The Makings of a 4 R Plan Soil Test Crop Yield goals Sources Rates Nutrient balances Placement Timing

Field Soil test Results 2016 1001 ph BpH OM P ppm K ppm Mg Zn Mn 7.2 3.1 7 75 120 15 15 Nutrient Recommendations lbs / acre lime N P2O5 K2O 0 112 80 80 Crop : Corn Prev Crop: Wheat RC - Terminated in late fall but left untouched - Soil Texture M Sandy loam YG 185 bushels ONC recs 95 lbs of N after Clover One spring tillage pass Manure : liquid Finishing Hog enough for 3000 gallons per acre early fall applied injected Starter 6-24-6 pop up Additional Fertilizer resources Urea + Agrotain Plus, MAP, Potash broadcast incorporated in the spring

Crop Recommendations Corn Rec YG N P 2 O 5 K 2 O 185 bus 112 80 80 Sources N P2O5 K20 Manure 48 33/66 87 Balance 64 47 (7) Popup 6 gal 4 17 4 MAP 57 lbs 6 30 Urea 117 54 Total 174 lbs 112 80/33 91 Crop Removal CR Balance Soil Test chg 185 bus corn 166 78 50 (54) 35 41 ------ 1 ppm 2.0 ppm Soil test up to 8 ppm - rec drops to 60 lbs

Social Pillar What ecological goods and services did this farmer supply? Cover Crop Fixed atmospheric N Reduced N requirements - NO 2 emissions? Utilized organic nutrient source- not on frozen ground Used 4 R to balance nutrients and applications

Crop Plan 4 R s Rates Sources Placement Timing

Sustainability: The Triple Bottom Line Economic, Environmental and Social The economic driver for P loss is not very big $0.54 an acre Change is driven by Environmental and Social Pillars Environmental is sell explanatory algal blooms no body wants that Social Pillar is the opportunity if viewed through the lens of ecological goods and services and accrued benefits from good land stewardship practices to be recognized $$

Summary Industry is building knowledge capacity to implement 4 R practices We have an opportunity to demonstrate P loss reductions through overlapping BMP practices ( recorded) Can we move environmental policy from polluter pays to beneficiary pays for accrued benefits of good land stewardship practices? It will take documenting 4 R acres as a metric for sustainability