Rick Klevze is the location manager at the GROWMARK FS Bloomsbury, New Jersey location and was one of five crop specialists recently named as the first recipients of the new GROWMARK Endure 4R Advocate award.

Klevze, who has over 35 years of experience and has been a Certified Crop Adviser since 1994, believes the 4R approach is a sensible way to balance environmental concerns with the economic needs of the farmer. “The 4Rs for us means doing the agronomics right,” said Klevze. “We want to be as efficient as possible producing food.”

According to Klevze, the 4R approach – the right fertilizer source at the right rate, at the right time and in the right place – builds on centuries of farming. “It uses sustainable agronomic practices learned from 2,000 years of agricultural progress and utilize everything we’ve learned to maximize fertilizer efficiency and minimize nutrient losses,” he said.

Klevze says farmers in the Northeast face significant environmental pressures from the public. “We have a lot of people here, we have a lot of scrutiny,” said Klevze. “We have a little more accountability here in New Jersey.”

Listen to Klevze talk about how he helps farmers utilize 4R practices for the benefit of all. [wpaudio url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/zimmcomm/growmark-4r-rick.mp3″ text=”Interview with Rick Klevze, GROWMARK FS”]