GROWMARK Recognizes an AGRIS Co-Operative Crop Specialist as One of Five Top Crop Specialists for Advocating Sustainable Best Management Farming Practices

KITCHENER, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - June 6, 2016) - Chris Snip of AGRIS Co-operative Ltd. in Cottam, Ontario is one of five crop specialists who have excelled in engaging farmers in sustainable best management practices, and a recipient of the GROWMARK Endure 4R Advocate Award. The crop specialists are recognized for their work with farmers in using the 4R (right source, right rate, right time, right place) approach to nutrient stewardship, assisting growers with fertilizer management, implementing a nitrogen monitoring program like N-WATCH, and more.

Chris Snip is a Certified Crop Advisor and has worked at AGRIS, based in south western Ontario, for 16 years. He is also an active member of Delta Waterfowl, The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters and a board member of the local Soils and Crop Association.

"I started really showing appreciation for the 4R approach after I witnessed a large algae bloom in the western basin of Lake Erie in the fall of 2011," said Snip. "I live on a tributary of Lake Erie. Across the road from the lake, my family and I spend a lot of time in and on the water and consuming fish from the lake. I hated to see the lake that way. I felt I could play an important role in reducing nutrient loss from agricultural lands in my trade area. I work with growers individually to help them come up with ways that can reduce nutrient losses on their farm operation that work with their cropping practices and equipment capabilities while maximizing nutrient utilization and profitability," he added.

Four other FS crop specialists achieving the Endure 4R Advocate Award are: Logan Haake (Legacy Farmers Cooperative, Ohio), Rick Klevze (GROWMARK FS, New Jersey) Malcolm Stambaugh (Ag View FS, Illinois) and Jason Wesslund (Heritage FS, Illinois).

"We are excited to recognize these crop specialists for their dedication to working with farmers on sustainable best management practices," said Lance Ruppert, GROWMARK director of agronomy marketing. "We had a very deep pool of candidates who work diligently to improve water quality, manage nutrients sustainably and engage in soil conservation practices. These initiatives are paramount to all of us throughout the GROWMARK and FS Systems," he added.

The five crop specialists were nominated by their member companies. A selection committee comprised of individuals from the agriculture industry outside of the GROWMARK System served as judges. Winners will receive recognition for their achievement and an all-expense-paid trip with their spouse to attend the 2016 GROWMARK Annual Meeting and Agribusiness Symposium. This is the first year for the Endure 4R Advocate award and is part of the GROWMARK System sustainability initiative Endure.

GROWMARK is an agricultural co-operative with annual sales of $8.8US billion (FY 2015 data) providing agronomy, energy, facility planning, and logistics products and services, as well as grain marketing and risk management services in Ontario and more than 40 states in the U.S. GROWMARK owns the FS trademark and offers the nitrogen inventory tracking program N-WATCH, which is used by affiliated member co-operatives. More information is available at www.growmark.com and www.fssystem.com.

AGRIS Co-operative Ltd. is a 100 per-cent farmer-owned grain marketing and farm-input supply company that serves more than 1,000 farmer owners in 14 locations in Essex, Kent, Elgin, Middlesex and Lambton Counties. It is a leader in precision farming technology, seed, agronomy and petroleum services. The co-operative is a partner of Great Lakes Grain, a grain merchandising company. AGRIS Co-operative is a member-owner of GROWMARK, Inc. and markets products and services under the FS banner. Visit www.agris.coop

Photos available upon request