Inspection Services Blog

Author Archives: Nicole Nunes

New Nitrogen Management Specialty Offered for California Certified Crop Advisors

In February 2021, there will be a new opportunity for California Certified Crop Advisors (CCAs) to add a Nitrogen Management Specialty to their certification. The California Nitrogen Management Specialty will be available from the American Society of Agronomy for CCAs looking to provide nitrogen management planning services to their clients, including certifying Irrigation and Nitrogen Management Plans (INMP) for California …


Save the Date: 2020 FREP / WPHA Online Nutrient Management Conference

Every fall, the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP) and the Western Plant Health Association (WPHA) host a nutrient management conference. The agenda focuses on the latest FREP-funded research projects and practical applications of fertilizing materials for agricultural production in California. This year’s conference will be held online October 28 & 29. The agenda for this year’s conference …


Research Update: Field assessments and workshops support irrigation and nutrient management training

Note: This is part of a Research Update series that highlights projects funded by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP) Grant Program. Project Title: Training on Crop Management that Integrates Climate, Soil and Irrigation System Data to Minimize Nutrient Loss and Optimize Irrigation Efficiency Project Leaders: Trina Walley, East Stanislaus Resource Conservation District (ESRCD), …


Online-Based Continuing Education for Growers

The California Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board requires growers to prepare Irrigation and Nitrogen Management Plans (INMP) for land enrolled in the Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program. For land in areas designated as a high-vulnerability groundwater area, INMPs must be certified by a specialist or by a grower who has attended a California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) …


Research Update: Assessing Nitrogen Content to Improve Crop Management

Note: This is part of a Research Update series that highlights projects funded by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP). Read the first update on this project. Project Title: Assessment of Harvested and Sequestered Nitrogen Content to Improve Nitrogen Management in Crops Project Leaders: Charlotte Gallock, Dr. John Dickey and Dr. Ken Cassman Project Status: Year 3 Overview: This project …


Certifying Irrigation and Nitrogen Management Plans

The Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board requires growers to prepare Irrigation and Nitrogen Management Plans (INMP) for land enrolled in the Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program. INMPs are designed to promote awareness of irrigation and nitrogen management practices among growers and reduce the likelihood of nitrate, from fertilizer, entering the groundwater and degrading water quality. For land in an …


Nitrogen Management Training for Certified Crop Advisers

The University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UCANR), in partnership with the California Department of Food & Agriculture (CDFA) Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP) and the California Association of Pest Control Advisers (CAPCA) are offering the last in-person Nitrogen Management Training for Certified Crop Advisers (CCA). CCAs who complete this training are eligible to certify Irrigation and Nitrogen …


CDFA Awards $1.5 Million for Nutrient Management Projects through FREP Grant Program

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP) announces more than $1.5 million in grant funds are awarded to agricultural organizations and universities as a result of the FREP Grant Program 2019 grant cycle. These grants will fund seven research projects to improve the efficiency of nitrogen (N) fertilization in California agriculture, reduce the …


New Technical Advisory Subcommittee Members Appointed

We are pleased to welcome Lisa Hunt and Ben Faber to the Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP) Technical Advisory Subcommittee (TASC). We are also happy to announce that Steve Petrie has been reappointed to TASC. TASC is a group of scientific and technical experts who review and recommend projects for FREP funding. Steve Petrie Dr. Petrie’s professional experience related …


Recap: The 2019 FREP/WPHA Nutrient Management Conference

The 27th annual Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP) and Western Plant Health Association (WPHA) Conference took place in Fresno, California, on October 28-30, 2019. Speakers from industry, academia and agricultural consulting provided pioneering information on nutrient and irrigation management in California agriculture. Below you will find highlights of some of the talks at this year’s conference. The PowerPoint presentations …