Dear IFCA Members:

 

Last year, in the many meetings we had with Illinois EPA, the water supply and water treatment officials and the environmental groups, Illinois agriculture pledged to do our utmost best to reduce nutrient losses.  We also strongly stated that we felt Illinois farmers and nutrient suppliers understood that we have to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus losses, and could accomplish this under a voluntary system of compliance with stewardship principles set out in the Illinois Agronomy Handbook and based upon our 4R programs.  The water supply and water treatment groups are required to spend millions of dollars to reduce their N and P losses through regulatory permits--costs that will be passed along to the taxpayers.  If agriculture wants to avoid a regulatory scenario where we are required to do the same then it's time to demonstrate that we are serious about voluntary BMPs.  At this point, the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy is a voluntary document for agriculture, but can easily shift to a regulatory framework if we cannot deliver results.  

 

NO ONE SHOULD BE APPLYING ANHYDROUS AMMONIA RIGHT NOW.  Soil temperatures throughout Illinois are still in the 60 degree plus range.  The Illinois Agronomy Handbook, based upon actual field research, recommends waiting until the daily maximum soil temperature falls to 50 degrees.  We know that some farmers are putting extreme pressure on the retailers to release ammonia tanks or start custom applying--in this case all you can do is give them the facts and ask them to do the right thing; if they insist upon using their tool bars to apply ammonia when soil temperatures are not appropriate, then you should make a note for your records of the day you tried your best to educate them on the 4R principles.  You may need that record to defend yourself someday.  That's a sad statement but is is true; just look at the regulations and litigation in Ohio and Iowa.  

 

When checking the soil temperatures on the State Water Survey website, people should be checking the daily MAXIMUM temperature at 4 inches in bare soil....not the minimum temperature.  Click here and take a look yourself at the daily maximum soil temperature as of October 19.  Yes it's true that the soils have been as low as 50 degrees if you look at the minimum temperature, but they rebound quickly in these warm days and with sunshine on bare soil.  But the daily maximum temperature has never been below 60 degrees in nearly the entire state.  The recommendation is to wait until maximum daily temps reach 50 degrees.  Bacteria that convert ammonium to nitrate are active until the soils freeze.  Let's be honest--you can wear shorts outside right now so it's not really the kind of weather conducive to ammonia application and everyone knows it.  Trust us, regulatory agencies know it and so do the water supply officials.    

 

So the question to ponder is this:  Yes it would be nice to "get going" out there---everyone feels that way.  But when nitrogen is lost to the environment it doesn't just disappear, it goes somewhere:  lakes, rivers and streams.  Even if your customer isn't in a priority watershed, they are somewhere near a stream that flows into a river that leaves Illinois and makes its way to the Gulf of Mexico.  If nitrogen is lost to the environment, especially in our tile drained landscape, that is where it will end up and this is well documented.
 

We cannot stress enough how closely people are watching us and hoping that we all do the right thing.  It is up to us to do the right thing, or do the wrong thing.  We've made so much progress on fall nitrogen stewardship in the past few years that to backslide now---especially after the call to action in the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy would be tragic.  Click here for a STOP poster to freely share with your customers--all the Illinois farm groups support this message, not just the IFCA.  

 

THANK YOU to all the retailers who have called the IFCA office seeking guidance, reporting activity and who are working diligently to ensure their customers do the right thing.  We know it is extremely difficult and this has to be a two-way street where retailers and farmers both acknowledge the need to adhere to BMPs.  In the end, we want to apply fertilizer in a way that we keep it for the crop--it's as simple as that.

 

And finally, please consider taking the 4R Pledge.  Go to www.Keepit4RCrop.org and take the pledge.  You can take the pledge as an individual, you are not required to give a company name.  What it means is that you will recommend the 4R principles to reduce nutrient losses; even if your customers won't buy in, don't let that stop you from being committed to doing the right thing.  People are taking note and to have a strong list of retailers who are committed to the 4Rs is all we ask; IFCA is a leader on stewardship and leadership means doing the things that others are hesitant to do.  So keep educating, keep advising and let's keep control of nutrients out of the hands of the regulators and the courts.  Thank you!