MONTPELIER, Ohio — Given the value of nutrients that end up off the farm and into nearby waterways, farmers should do all they can to manage them wisely, according to a certified crop adviser.

The total value of nutrients that went down the Maumee River in 2007, based on 2008 fertilizer prices, was $66.6 million, said Tim Barney, owner of Agronomy First Consulting. Nitrogen losses accounted for $57.5 million and phosphorus, for $9.1 million.

Those numbers work out to a loss of about $61.71 per fertilized acre, assuming application once in a three-year rotation, Barney explained.

“We don’t want to be floating your money down the river,” he noted. “The bottom line is, we have to deal with this. We’d rather deal with this through volunteerism and not through a government mandate.”

Producers who have informal nutrient management plans should formalize those, he said, adding farmers should also be their own advocates. “Can you trust someone else to tell the world what you’re doing?”

The 4R nutrient stewardship program – right source, right rate, right time, right place – is the best approach to keeping nutrients on the field, said Doug Busdeker, of The Andersons. Right source refers to ensuring a balanced supply of nutrients; right rate, to properly assessing soil nutrient supply and demand; right time, to application close to crop need; and right place, to making nutrients accessible to crops.

“The 4Rs are not new. You’ve been using them for years,” Busdeker stated. “So what’s all the noise about now? Just look at the algae bloom in Lake Erie. That’s what all the noise is about.”

Agriculture isn’t the only source of phosphorus in area lakes and streams, Busdeker noted. Municipal wastewater treatment facilities and wastewater from urban and rural residential sites, plus industry, are also sources, he said.

“Nutrient stewardship requires a balance of environmental, economic and social concerns,” he explained. “We’ve got to be sensitive to all the stakeholders.”

To help keep phosphorus in the field, Busdeker recommended producers not schedule applications prior to heavy rain. They should also not apply phosphorus when soil is frozen or when the ground is snow-covered. Regular soil tests should also be scheduled.

Producers should inject or incorporate phosphorus where possible and should avoid spreading it in low areas prone to flooding. They should also keep phosphorus out of ditches, streams and waterways while making an application. Cover crops should be used to reduce runoff, he added.

Farmers should decide if they prefer spring or fall testing and stick to it, noted Barney. They should also develop a tillage system, such as strip till, which works well with their management system. It’s also important to document and record what you’ve done, Barney said.

Working to keep phosphorus out of waterways will require many little changes rather than a big one, Busdeker noted.