Ken Jahnke’s Fennimore, Wisconsin, office is located in a scenic part of the state, known for rolling hills and beautiful terrain. Those views are personal to Jahnke and his customers, so they work together to utilize the 4Rs — right source, right rate, right time and right place — to preserve this landscape.

Jahnke feels farmers and cooperatives have a responsibility to preserve their land for generations to come, so he takes the time to build solid relationships with his customers and encourages his staff to do the same with their growers.

“The 4Rs are important not only to the environment, but to the public,” Jahnke says. “As cooperatives and farmers, we need to practice good stewardship procedures and have policies that help preserve the existing landscape. We need to worry about erosion, nutrient management and crop protection products, because it is important to be leaders in the 4Rs to preserve our environment.”

At Premier Cooperative, they often distribute educational information, such as newsletters and pamphlets, to their customers. Grower meetings are also held for their customers to foster further conversations about stewardship.

“I believe that picking the right product is the first step,” Jahnke says. “After picking the right product, you decide when is the right time, the right rate and, finally, the right place to apply the product. When it comes to picking the right source for us, we like the innovation of Mosaic products because we have strong beliefs that the right source should have uniform application and the right nutrients all in one package.

“I would say that the general knowledge of the 4Rs in our area is developing,” Jahnke says. “We want to get the 4Rs into conversations with our growers, and we really act on that opportunity at our grower meetings.”

Even though there are many innovative tools and technologies to help growers achieve the 4Rs, there is still confusion. Jahnke’s growers are still unsure if they are getting the right rate on at the right time.

“When I see growers struggling to achieve the 4Rs, it is usually a result of not using the right technology to maximize profit,” he says. “If you follow the 4Rs, you are using the product economically and getting more out of your investments, and there should not be any big challenges.

“If you are having challenges achieving the 4Rs, work with your local agronomist, because they should lead you through the 4Rs to help you be more profitable and sustainable,” Jahnke says. “Everyone should be using strong stewardship practices to protect our environment, whether that be through the newest technologies or simple recommendations from your local agronomist to better your land.”

To achieve Jahnke’s most important R (the right source) — MicroEssentials® provides the plants with season-long sulfur, uniform nutrient distribution and helps increase nutrient uptake. The uniform balance of each MicroEssentials granule ensures that nutrients will be delivered evenly across the field, providing crops with an adequate supply of nutrients for season-long nutrition. The use of MicroEssentials can help growers maximize yield and increase profitability.

For more information about MicroEssentials, talk to your local retailer or visit MicroEssentials.com.

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