4R for Farmers
Practical, farm-tested nutrient management that improves efficiency, profitability, and soil health.
Why 4R Nutrient Stewardship Matters
Fertilizer is an essential input but it is also one of the largest input costs on Canadian farms. Protecting your fertilizer investment also protects your bottom line. 4R Nutrient Stewardship helps ensure nutrients are used efficiently so more of what you apply is taken up by the crop. The result is stronger yields, better returns per acre, and fewer losses to the environment.
Using 4R best management practices also protects soil, water, and air by keeping nutrients where the crop needs them. Over time, this supports healthier soils, more resilient fields, and long-term productivity.
How it Works
Every farm requires a different nutrient strategy depending on soil conditions, crop rotation, and local climate. A 4R Designated or Certified nutrient specialist can help you build a practical fertilizer plan using the Right Source, Rate, Time, and Place for your operation.
A 4R plan supports accurate record-keeping, better equipment calibration, and improved decisions year over year. You can also work with your advisor to get your acres counted as 4R, demonstrating that your farm uses verified, science-based practices.
Learn More about 4Rs
4R Explainer
Understand how 4R Nutrient Stewardship – Right Source @ Right Rate, Right Time, and Right place – works and how it can help optimize nutrient uptake.
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4R Designation
The 4R Designation program educates agri-retailers and certified crop advisors on in-depth sustainable fertilizer principles, allowing them to provide tailored advice to farmer customers.
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4R Certification
Learn about the 4R Certification program for nutrient service providers that confirms adherence to 4R practices by their farmer customers.
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4R’s Across Canada
See how Fertilizer Canada has collaborated with agriculture stakeholders and provincial governments to promote and enhance the implementation and adoption of 4R practices across Canada.
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e-learning
Want to deepen your knowledge? Check out our e-learning platform for courses and resources on fertilizer use, safety, and sustainability.
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Plant Nutrition Canada
Plant Nutrition Canada provides science support for the fertilizer industry’s efforts to advance nutrient stewardship. We apply, interpret and extend science for sustainable plant nutrition.
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