Enhanced Efficiency Fertilizers Boost Sustainability and the Bottom Line
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Today’s yield demands and sustainability initiatives have required a shift in how growers use fertilizer products and technologies. Nutrient stewardship is the starting point for improving crop productivity while protecting the environment. 4R Nutrient Stewardship calls for applying the right fertilizer source, at the right rate, at the right time and in the right place.
The most critical part of this equation starts with using the right fertilizer source. Without the right source, the rates, timing and placement are not as effective. Utilizing fertilizer products that allow growers to implement advanced crop nutrition strategies for healthy soils and plant growth can help ensure sustainable crop production.
Enhanced Efficiency Fertilizers Bring Value to Growers
Backed by rigorous research and development, performance fertilizer products, such as MicroEssentials® and Sus-Terra™ fertilizer from The Mosaic Company, are proven to provide advanced crop nutrition. These two products are now labeled as Enhanced Efficiency Fertilizers (EEF) as defined by the Association of American Plant Food Control Officials (AAPFCO).
MicroEssentials and Sus-Terra fertilizer meet the definition of an EEF because they reduce nutrient losses to the environment while increasing nutrient availability for the plant or crop. In short, applying EEF products like these is simply better for the soil and the environment.
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MicroEssentials: Through its patented Fusion® Technology, MicroEssentials meets EEF standards as a slow-release fertilizer by offering 50% of the total sulfur as Elemental Sulfur.
- Sus-Terra fertilizer: This new product contains 30% slow-release nitrogen which qualifies it for the EEF designation.
“The Mosaic Company is committed to setting the stage for tomorrow with next-generation crop nutrition to meet today’s yield demands and help ensure the legacy of the land for generations to come,” said Curt Woolfolk, Manager of Crop Nutrition Technologies at The Mosaic Company. “By securing these EEF designations, we look forward to helping growers make sustainable growing practices attainable and affordable.”
Financial Incentives Through Conservation Programs
EEFs can help offset the costs of today’s fertilizer technologies. Both MicroEssentials and Sus-Terra fertilizer are eligible for the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) programs: the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), which provide financial and technical assistance to growers who are putting sustainable practices in place, while also improving and strengthening their operations.
To learn more about how to apply for the USDA conservation programs, growers can contact their local NRCS office about the Nutrient Management 590 Standard and CSP Enhancement 590A programs.
Contact your local Mosaic retailer for more information about MicroEssentials, Sus-Terra fertilizer and their EEF designations: cropnutrition.com/dealer-locator.
