Chester, Maryland (December 16, 2025) - The Mid-Atlantic 4R Nutrient Stewardship Association hosted a webinar "Funding, Findings, and Fertilizer" on December 5th, featuring four different topics. The webinar was recorded and can be viewed on their YouTube channel. Attendees were able to obtain continuing education credits. Below you can read a summary on each topic.
The Mid-Atlantic 4R Nutrient Stewardship Association is a non-profit organization who mission is to work with their Members - the Delaware Maryland 4R Alliance and the Pennsylvania 4R Alliance to empower trusted advisors to ensure that every nutrient application in the Mid-Atlantic Region is applied with the right source, at the right rate, in the right place, and at the right time to benefit farmers, the environment, and society. They are currently operating with a 2024 National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Innovative Nutrient and Sediment Reduction Grant.
This December Webinar and our 2026 Mid-Atlantic 4R Science Symposium, which is free to attendees with registration required, is sponsored by the 2024 National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Grant. Mid-Atlantic 4R is also thankful for those providing match for this grant, which include - The Campbell Foundation, Mosaic, Nutrien Ag Solutions, The Nature Conservancy, Growmark Foundation, and The Mill. Mid-Atlantic 4R hopes to see you at the 4R Science Symposium on January 26th in Lancaster, PA. You can learn more and register online here.
Presentation Summaries:
- Kristin Fisher, Interim Chesapeake Agriculture Program Director, opened the webinar by introducing the new Nutrient Use Efficiency (NUE) Voucher Program, which shifts conservation incentives from prescribed practices to measurable nitrogen-efficiency results. The USDA NRCS–funded, $2.2 million project supports 20,000 acres in parts of Maryland and Pennsylvania over three seasons. Participating farmers receive a $1,000 planning voucher and outcome payments of $15–$50 per acre for corn and wheat based on grain nitrogen testing. Fisher emphasized the program’s potential to reduce excess nitrogen, lower input costs, and support field-specific planning, with current retail partners including Willard Agri-Service, Growmark FS, Rosetree Consulting, and The Mill. Tyler Adams of Willard Agri-Service reinforced the value of outcome-based payments in improving grower flexibility and financial resilience.
- Next, Jenell McHenry of the Mid-Atlantic 4R Nutrient Stewardship Association and Tim Hushon of The Mill highlighted the success of the 4R Voucher Program, which helps farmers in the Chesapeake Bay watershed adopt data-driven nutrient management. Growers have used vouchers for tools such as soil EC mapping, zone-based sampling, and variable-rate nitrogen, reducing application rates by 30–50 pounds per acre and saving $28–$35 per acre. McHenry outlined current voucher opportunities for winter grain and summer crops, eligibility requirements, and added support for historically underserved farmers. Since its 2021 pilot, the program has expanded to support more than 9,500 acres of advanced nutrient management planning in 2024.
- Matt Houser of The Nature Conservancy shared social science findings from the 2024 4R Voucher Program, showing that trusted advisors are a key driver of participation. Interviews with participating farmers revealed that the $1,000 planning voucher helped overcome financial barriers and build confidence to adopt practices such as variable-rate fertilizer application and precision data management. Seventy-five percent of interviewed farmers plan to continue using the practices, underscoring the program’s potential for lasting impact.
- The webinar concluded with an economic outlook from Veronica Nigh, Senior Economist at The Fertilizer Institute. Nigh discussed how geopolitics, trade policy, and energy costs continue to influence fertilizer supply, pricing, and volatility. She noted that while domestic nitrogen production remains strong, tight farm margins and global uncertainty are shaping fertilizer demand, highlighting the need for strategic planning and risk management across the industry.
Thank you to those who were able to attend the December webinar and continue to support to work Mid-Atlantic 4R strives to further. If you have any questions for the non-profit, please contact Executive Director, Jenell McHenry at midatlantic4r@gmail.com.
*This press release was written by Jennifer Gannon with Thompson Ag Consulting.