When farmers hear about Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy best practices, Lauren Lurkins, director of natural and environmental resources with Illinois Farm Bureau, says she usually hears two questions: Which practice will work on my farm and in my soils, and what is my return on investment?

Lurkins explains that answering those questions is the driving force behind 4R4U, a new statewide partnership among Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois county Farm Bureaus, Growmark and FS companies. The 4R4U program will study 4R nutrient stewardship practices that align with the nutrient loss reduction strategy at the local level.

JUST A START: The new 4R4U pilot program will focus on 14 counties. Lauren Lurkins with Illinois Farm Bureau says this is just a starting point for the partnership that will evaluate Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy best practices.

The 4R approach involves using the right source of nutrient, at the right time, at the right rate and in the right place.

When farmers are ready to incorporate the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy on their farm, Lurkins says they should have local, trusted resources available. Several farmers across the state approached Lurkins asking for more information on practices they could implement. That is when she approached Growmark, whose FS companies work closely with farmers on many agronomic decisions.

 “When the farmer decides to do what we ask him to do from a policy perspective, he needs to have some good expertise at the ready,” she explains.

And to become experts, retailers and farmers alike need firsthand experience. Local 4R4U test plots will compare common and advanced nutrient stewardship best practices. Some of the tests will include nitrogen-rate trials, use of multiple N applications, stabilizer utilization, no-till planting, cover crops and soil sampling.

Lurkins says an important component of the test plots includes a cost and benefit analysis.

“These are great practices, but if a farmer doesn’t understand how it will impact their bottom line, they will not go anywhere in the real world,” she says. “We don’t want anyone throwing darts; we want to investigate them [best practices] at the local level. We want farmers to know the ultimate cost and the ultimate benefit.”
Illinois Farm Bureau and Growmark are providing funds for the project, while FS companies and county Farm Bureaus will work together to carry out the 4R field demonstration strategy at the local level.

Field demonstration days will be held in the spring and summer of 2017. Information gathered from the plots will be compiled on an ongoing basis.

4R4U partnerships for the pilot program include:

• Gold Star FS Inc. and Mercer County Farm Bureau
• M&M Service Co. and Macoupin County Farm Bureau
• Prairieland FS Inc., Scott County Farm Bureau and Pike County Farm Bureau
• Heritage FS Inc., Kankakee County Farm Bureau and Ford-Iroquois Farm Bureau
• Evergreen FS Inc. and Macon County Farm Bureau
• Stephenson Service Co. and Stephenson County Farm Bureau
• Southern FS Inc. and Jackson County Farm Bureau
• Gateway FS Inc. and Randolph County Farm Bureau
• Christian County Farmers Supply Co. and Christian County Farm Bureau
• South Central FS Inc., Moultrie County Farm Bureau and Bond County Farm Bureau
• Piatt County Service Co. and Piatt County Farm Bureau