Farming the 4R way

The Urich family of Trenton, Mo., and their MFA precision agronomy specialist, Anthony Furlin, have been recognized nationally with the 4R Advocate Award, presented annually by The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) to champions of nutrient management. They were honored Aug. 5 at TFI’s Agronomy Conference and Expo in Indianapolis.

“Our 2025 4R Advocates lead the charge when it comes to sustainability and stewardship in agriculture,” said TFI President and CEO Corey Rosenbusch. “Their dedication to the 4Rs supports healthy soils, strong yields and a more resilient food system. We’re honored to recognize these grower-retailer teams for advancing science-based practices that benefit both the environment and the bottom line.”

The 4R principles of “right fertilizer, right rate, right time and right placement” are integrated throughout the operations at Urich farm, where three generations work together: Mark and Kristi Urich; their children, Robert and Rebecca; and Mark’s parents, John and Linda. They raise beef cattle and grow corn and soybeans in rotation on 3,000 acres, working closely with Furlin and MFA Agri Services in Trenton to take full advantage of the MFA Nutri-Track program’s precision capabilities, including variable-rate applications, prescription planting and advanced yield mapping.

Now in its 13th year, TFI’s 4R Advocate program showcases the tangible benefits of nutrient stewardship through real-world application and field-level results. The 4R framework is designed to provide farmers with research-based, practical tools to improve crop productivity, enhance environmental outcomes and promote sustainable farming.

Also recognized as this year’s 4R Advocates were Sal Parra, Jr., of Burford Ranch and Coyula Farms of Helm, Calif., and Elizabeth Malek of Lipman Family Farms in Naples, Fla. The Urichs and the other advocates will engage in TFI-led outreach and education efforts throughout the year to help share their stories and encourage broader adoption of 4R practices.

The 4R Advocate program is a key element of TFI’s efforts to raise awareness of 4R Nutrient Stewardship practices, which are now estimated to be used on 65 million acres of U.S. cropland—including more than 1 million acres managed by MFA members and customers.

To learn more about 4R practices, visit the TFI website at www.tfi.org.

View more articles from this October/November 2025 Today's Farmer magazine.