White House Author

Carrie Vollmer-Sanders is the Director of the Western Lake Erie Basin Project for The Nature Conservancy. Carrie leads the Conservancy’s efforts to promote a healthy Lake Erie by working with farmers, agribusinesses, researchers, government agencies, and conservation groups to improve nutrient management and drainage practices. With Mrs. Vollmer-Sanders’ leadership, this broad group has developed a voluntary, third-party certification program in which farmers’ fertilizer and crop advisers can be recognized for their efforts to improve water quality. The 4R Nutrient Stewardship Certification Program was created to be a consistent, recognized program for the agricultural retailers that ensures social, environmental and economic 4R nutrient sustainability goals (applying the Right source of fertilizer at the Right rate at the Right time, in the Right amount) are adopted which lead to long term positive impacts on water quality in Lake Erie. Prior to joining The Nature Conservancy Carrie served as the Agricultural Ecology Specialist for Michigan Farm Bureau. Carrie farms with her husband and two sons in northwest Ohio and lives in Angola, Indiana.