AMERICAN FARMERS: STEWARDS OF THE LAND.

Farmers understand that the soil is their most important investment, and operating a profitable farm starts with enhancing soil health so the land can readily absorb moisture and nutrients. As stewards of the land, farmers also recognize that water is the most precious natural resource, and they are committed to do all they can to improve water quality and reduce nutrient loss.

To assist farmers in achieving sustainability goals, nearly every U.S. corn-producing state has established a nutrient loss-reduction initiative to provide farmers additional resources and tools designed to reduce nutrient leaching and denitrification.

Nutrient-reduction strategies in Iowa and Illinois, for example, outline pragmatic, integrated approaches for reducing nutrient load discharges from wastewater treatment plants, in combination with targeted practices designed to reduce loads from nonpoint sources such as farm fields.

“The Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy (NLRS) is a framework for using science, technology and industry experience to assess and reduce nutrient loss to Illinois waters, and ultimately, the Gulf of Mexico,” says Jean Payne, president of the Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association (IFCA).

“Illinois NLRS builds upon existing programs to optimize nutrient utilization. The initiatives promote increased collaboration, research and innovation among the private sector, academia, nonprofits, wastewater agencies, municipal water works, and state and local government."

In addition to the many conservation practices farmers have long been putting to effective use on their lands, several in-field practices — including the use of nitrification inhibitors like N-Serve® and Instinct® nitrogen stabilizers — are among the recommendations that have proven effective.

“Nitrification inhibitors are an important component of in-field recommendations. N-Serve has a long, documented history of effectively reducing nitrogen loss through leaching and denitrification,” Payne says. “Part of our message to farmers is to use these products because they help keep the product in the ammonium form longer, which means it remains in a nonleachable state for a longer period after application.” BY DOW AGROSCIENCES.