Minnesota Crop Production Retailers

MCPR EXISTS TO PROMOTE THE PROPER USE, STORAGE AND APPLICATION OF CROP PRODUCTION INPUTS IN AN ENVIRONMENTALLY SAFE AND AGRONOMICALLY SOUND MANNER, AND TO SUPPORT REGULATORY AND LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES WHICH BENEFIT RETAILERS, MANUFACTURERS, DISTRIBUTORS AND CUSTOM APPLICATORS OF CROP PRODUCTION INPUTS.

THE MINNESOTA CROP PRODUCTION RETAILERS ASSOCIATION (MCPR) IS LAUNCHING A 4R NUTRIENT STEWARDSHIP CERTIFICATION PROGRAM FOR AGRICULTURAL RETAILERS. THIS VOLUNTARY, INDUSTRY-LED CERTIFICATION PROGRAM CONSISTS OF 32 SCIENCE-BASED BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND NUTRIENT STANDARDS THAT WILL BE AUDITED BY TRAINED THIRD-PARTY AUDITORS. THE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM WILL BE GOVERNED BY AN ELEVEN MEMBER BOARD CALLED THE MINNESOTA NUTRIENT STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL (MNSC) AND ADMINISTERED BY MCPR. WITHIN THE MNSC, THERE IS AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE COMPRISED OF TWENTY-SIX COMPANIES AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDES RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COUNCIL FOR IMPROVING THE PROGRAM. THIS APPROACH PROVIDES A SCIENCE-BASED FRAMEWORK FOR PLANT NUTRITION, SUSTAINED CROP PRODUCTION, AND REDUCED RISK TO THE ENVIRONMENT, WHILE CONSIDERING SPECIFIC INDIVIUAL FARMS' NEEDS. THE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE 4R INDUSTRY STANDARDS FOR AGRICUTURAL RETAILERS AND TRANSPARENCY WITH THE PUBLIC OF HOW AGRICULTURE IS PLAYING A ROLE IN IMPROVING WATER QUALITY AND PROTECTING WATER RESOURCES. THIS PROGRAM AND ADOPTION OF 4R SCIENCE-BASED BEST PRACTICES WILL: 1. INCREASE GROWER PROFITABILITY BY OPTIMIZING FERTILIZER EFFICIENCY. 2. STRENGTHEN THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN NUTRIENT SERVICE PROVIDERS AND GROWER CUSTOMERS. 3. ACHIEVE HIGHER CROP YIELDS. 4. PRESERVE NATURAL ECOSYSTEMS BY GROWING MORE ON LESS LAND. 5. SUPPORT STATE AND NATION-WIDE EFFORTS TO REDUCE NUTRIENT RUNOFF. 6. HELP SAFEGUARD DRINKING WATER SUPPLIES.

PROVIDED INFORMATION AND NEWS THROUGH ELECTRONIC MAIL, POSTAL MAIL, AND OUR WEB SITE ON MATTERS IMPORTANT TO THE AGRICULTURAL INPUTS INDUSTRY IN MINNESOTA INCLUDING COST EFFECT AND EFFICIENT HANDING, STORAGE, AND APPLICATION OF AG CROP INPUTS TO THE LANDSCAPE. PROVIDED TRAINING AND EVALUATION OF PRACTICES TO IMPROVE THE INDUSTRY ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AND REPRESENT MCPR MEMBERS IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND LEGISLATIVE BRANCHES OF STATE GOVERNMENT. PROMOTED MCPR MEMBERS THROUGH INTERVIEWS WITH THE MEDIA AND PRESS AND PUBLIC TESTIMONY OF GOVERNMENT POLICY BODIES.