COLUMBUS – The 4R Nutrient Stewardship Certification Program announced that Otte AG, LLC in Maria Stein has been added to its growing list of nutrient service providers to achieve certified status.
The voluntary certification program, now in its seventh year, is a concentrated effort by the agriculture industry to significantly reduce and prevent applied nutrients from running off fields, which has contributed to water quality issues in Lake Erie and other waterways across Ohio.
“The 4R Certification for our business, as independent consultants, will re-enforce our professionalism as trusted advisers who look out for the best interests of our clients,” said Kevin Otte, owner of Otte AG.
Otte AG, LLC provides sound, un-biased, innovative and independent consulting services. Services include soil and crop fertility management, nutrient management planning, manure management planning, biosolids management planning, regulatory permitting and compliance assistance, and a complete range of analytical services. The consultants with Otte AG are members of Amplify, the worldwide consultant network associated with Brookside Labs, located in New Bremen.
“The 4R’s have always been inherently promoted through our business in the way we deliver our services to our clients,” said Marc Otte, employee of Otte AG. “To be acknowledged through the 4R Nutrient Stewardship Certification Program for our efforts is a direct reflection of our commitment to our clients’ success and profitability. The certification will re-enforce our awareness and promotion of the 4R’s.”
“Working with Otte AG gives us the confidence we need in our fertility program. Whether we are applying livestock manure or commercial fertilizer, their recommendations allow us to do what is best for any given field’s fertility, the environment and our bottom line,” said Mark Houts, of Houts Partnership in Celina. “Otte AG gives us god workable options that best fit our operation and help us to participate in programs like H2Ohio.”
The 4R Program certifies nutrient service providers in the Western Lake Erie Basin and across the state of Ohio that apply or make recommendations are doing so in accordance with 4R Nutrient Stewardship principles – which refers to using the right source of nutrients at the right rate and right time in the right place. Program participants must go through an annual, independent, third-party audit and demonstrate they not only understand 4R principles but also follow them.
Approximately 2.9 million acres and more than 6,000 grower customers are serviced by the 60 facilities in Ohio, Michigan and Indiana that have earned 4R Nutrient Stewardship Certification.
“The Nutrient Stewardship Council is proud of Otte AG’s efforts in earning certification in this voluntary program, ” said Andrew Allman, executive director of the NSC.
The 4R Nutrient Stewardship Certification Program is governed and guided by the Nutrient Stewardship Council, a diverse set of stakeholders from business, government, university and non-governmental sectors with a common goal of maintaining agricultural productivity while also improving the quality of Lake Erie and its contributing watersheds. The program is administered by the Ohio AgriBusiness Association.
For more information, visit 4Rcertified.org, email [email protected] or call 614-326-7520.
