The Nitrogen and Irrigation Initiative (NII) is a collaborative partnership between the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP), University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) farm advisors, and UC Davis social scientists to help growers and crop consultants improve N- and irrigation-use efficiencies through targeted outreach and education. NII farm advisors and their staff are helping San Joaquin Valley and Central Coast growers improve management practices and adopt system improvements that reduce fertilizer and irrigation costs and meet water quality requirements without compromising yield or quality.
NII activities include free, individualized, on-farm consultations by advisors and their staff, farm trials, and field days that demonstrate N and irrigation best management practices (BMPs), educational events and workshops, and resources such as fact sheets, videos, and articles.
NII farm advisors are hosting educational field days and talks, with most events held during the late fall, winter, and early spring. Topics vary by region and crop and may be sponsored by UCCE, local coalitions, commodity groups, or other collaborators. Farm advisors are also available to provide free, on-farm consultations to growers and their teams. During a consultation, NII advisors will provide individualized recommendations and assist with implementing efficient BMPs.
Click here to view a FREP blog post for more information and details on scheduling an on-farm consultation.