Farmers, agricultural retailers, crop advisers, conservation professionals, Extension personnel, and others involved in Ohio agriculture are invited to attend the 2026 Ohio 4R Technology Review Field Day on Tuesday, June 23, at Nutrien Ag Solutions, 18186 Five Points Pike, Mt. Sterling, Ohio 43143. The event begins with registration at 8:30 a.m. and concludes at 2:15 p.m.
The field day will provide conservation and agricultural professionals an opportunity to learn about current 4R nutrient stewardship practices, conservation systems, manure nutrient use, autonomous irrigation technology, sensor-based nitrogen management, and modern fertilizer handling systems. The program is designed for retailers, farmers, Certified Crop Advisers, conservation professionals, Extension personnel, and other interested agricultural partners. CCA credits will be offered.
The program will begin with welcome and introductions from Aaron Heilers, Director of Nutrient Management and Ag Policy with the Ohio AgriBusiness Association. Participants will then board buses and travel to Richards Farm, where they will tour conservation practices, including the use of liquid manure from a neighboring dairy operation through overhead irrigation. The farm has a long history of promoting soil health and nutrient management. Its founder, Bill Richards, served as Chief of the USDA Soil Conservation Service during the Bush Administration.
The next stop will be Mt. Sterling Dairy, operated by the Verhoeven family. Participants will learn about the Rain360 autonomous irrigation system, which gives farmers added flexibility in applying nutrients and water to crop fields. Speakers at this stop include Rick Verhoeven, owner of Mt. Sterling Dairy; Andrew Klopfenstein, agricultural engineer with Ohio State University; and Bill Lehmkuhl, owner of Precision Agri Services.
Following lunch at Nutrien Ag Solutions, Brian Arnall, Precision Nutrient Management Specialist at Oklahoma State University, will present on sensor-based nitrogen management. The day will conclude with a tour of the Nutrien Ag Solutions Five Points facility. The site was rebuilt and modernized after a fire destroyed structures on the property. The tour will highlight fertilizer mixing and loading systems designed to improve efficiency, accuracy, and customer service.
This field day offers SWCD, NRCS, and Extension personnel a practical look at how 4R principles, conservation practices, manure management, irrigation technology, and precision nutrient tools are being applied on Ohio farms and in ag retail facilities.