5/1/2020 - By William Buehn

As an industry leader, Harrell’s understands the importance of implementing proper growing practices to ensure the success of both our customers and our industry. We recognize the economic and environmental value of efficiency in nutrient uptake and how it can affect our customers. Our customers, like you, are Growing a Better World each and every day. We’re proud of all your hard work and humbled to be a part of your team. We support your efforts and we want you to be as successful as possible—both near and long term. 

That’s why we’ve partnered up with The Nature Conservancy and The Fertilizer Institute to endorse the 4R Nutrient Stewardship program. 4R Nutrient Stewardship is an innovative and science-based approach that offers enhanced environmental protection, increased crop production and quality, increased grower profitability, and improved soil productivity and sustainability. The concept is to use the right nutrient source, at the right rate, the right time, and in the right place to support nutrient needs of crops. The overall goal of the program is to promote the 4R framework as an industry-recognized method of achieving economic, social, and environmental sustainability. 

While the program is—at its core—an agricultural program, the concept can absolutely be applied to all of the Harrell’s markets. Whether it’s turf or tulips, sugar cane or strawberries, the same rules apply. The 4R’s are an effective tool for implementing Best Management Practices (BMPs), regardless of your market or region. That’s why we are now featuring the 4R concept on all of our fertilizer bags. Hopefully, this will create awareness, promote the initiative, and expand implementation of the program throughout the country. To learn more about the 4R Nutrient Stewardship program, you can visit the following websites:

• Nutrient Stewardship
• The Fertilizer Institute
• The Nature Conservancy
• GCSAA BMPs