We all know by now about the lawsuit filed by the Des Moines Waterworks (who provides drinking water to City of Des Moines residents) against three counties and their drainage districts over nitrate pollution from tile drainage.  We all need to be aware of this issue and what it means for all of agriculture, and there is an excellent explanation of the legal ins and outs of this article, click here.  We encourage all of our members to work closely with your customers on nitrogen and phosphorus recommendations and practices that will reduce nutrient losses.  Illinois remains an island of calm in the middle of a regulatory and litigation storm around us; last week Ohio enacted a new law that prohibits all winter spreading of fertilizer in the western Lake Erie basin as well as restrictions on applying fertilizer if the weather forecast calls for a 50% chance of a one inch rain in the next 12 hours.  Ag retailers and crop advisers must continue to be very direct with our efforts to engage in nutrient stewardship and lead by example with the 4Rs:  Right Source, Right Rate, Right Time, Right Place.  Contact Dan Schaefer, IFCA Director of Nutrient Stewardship, for ideas on what you can do to promote the 4Rs with your customers.