Endure 4R Advocate award promotes stewardship, nutrient management

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (AgPR) June 14, 2018 - FS crop specialists are about more than just high yields. They're committed to stewardship and helping growers implement sustainable farming practices. Five are being recognized for their work with GROWMARK's Endure 4R Advocate award.

2018 Endure 4R Advocate award winners
• Tim Berkland - GROWMARK - Iowa
• Gary Brandt - Gateway FS - Illinois
• Courtney Mahr - West Central FS - Illinois
• Sal Pustizze - GROWMARK FS - New Jersey
• Todd Wibben - Evergreen FS - Illinois

These five System crop advisers encourage and assist farmers in managing nutrients. This preserves the soil and protects water quality. They implement nitrogen management as a system. They promote the use of nitrogen stabilizers. They embrace the 4Rs of nutrient stewardship by using the right source, place, time, and rate of plant nutrients.

"This year's winners help set a high standard for our System," said Ryan White, GROWMARK director of agronomy marketing and agronomy services. "They are recognized as leaders amongst their peer group. They work with farmers to show them how sustainability and profitability can work together."

Endure 4R Advocate award criteria

Knowledge and implementation of 4R nutrient stewardship principles as defined by The Fertilizer Institute
• Assisting growers with implementing nitrogen management as a system
• Promoting the use of nitrogen stabilizers
• Implementation of N-WATCH™ nitrogen tracking services
• Conducting MiField™ Applied Research on customers' farms
• Use of variable rate technology for fertilizer applications

This is the third year for the award. The five winners will be recognized at the GROWMARK Annual Meeting and Agribusiness Symposium in August. More information about the crop specialists and why they implement these practices can be found here: http://www.growmark.com/news/Pages/GROWMARK-System-crop-specialists-earn-sustainability-award.aspx

About endure:
Endure is the GROWMARK System's sustainability initiative. Launched in 2016, it's designed to highlight and reinforce practices and programs that help the environment and greater good.

About GROWMARK:
GROWMARK is an agricultural cooperative with annual sales of $7.3 billion (FY 2017 data) providing agronomy, energy, facility planning, and logistics products and services, as well as grain marketing and risk management services in more than 40 states and Ontario, Canada. GROWMARK owns the FS trademark, which is used by affiliated member cooperatives. More information is available at www.growmark.com.