Inspection Services Blog

Research Update: Nitrogen management of organic leafy green vegetables on the Central Coast

Project Title: “Evaluation and demonstration of nitrogen management of organic vegetable production in leafy green vegetables on the Central Coast” Project Leaders: Richard Smith, Michael Cahn, and Tim Hartz Location: California Central Coast Overview: This project aims to evaluate the proportion of crop nitrogen (N) that is provided by soil organic matter mineralization in organic leafy vegetable production under coastal climate conditions. This research …


Biochar Field Day Recap

On June 6, 2018, FREP teamed up with the Department of Land, Air and Water Resources and the Agricultural Sustainability Institute of the University of California, Davis, to host a Biochar Field Day. The event brought together over 100 stakeholders from industry, academia and government to discuss and learn about past and ongoing research with biochar applications in agriculture. Presentations …


Vacancies on FREP’s Technical Advisory Subcommittee

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is announcing three vacancies on the Fertilizer Research and Education Program’s (FREP) Technical Advisory Subcommittee (TASC). TASC reviews and recommends research and education proposals for funding and implementation to the department’s Fertilizer Inspection Advisory Board. Funded through a mill assessment on the sale of fertilizing materials, FREP sponsors and facilitates research to …


Research Update: A Decision Support Tool for Processing Tomato Irrigation and Fertilization

Project Title: “Developing a decision support tool for processing tomato irrigation and fertilization in the Central Valley based on CropManage” Project Leader: Daniel Geisseler Location: Statewide Overview: This project aims to develop web-based decision support for improved N and irrigation management of processing tomatoes on the CropManage web tool. Issue: California growers are facing increasing pressure to improve nitrogen (N) use efficiency in crop production. …


Event: Walnut Nitrogen and Irrigation Management Field Day

This field day will demonstrate the results of a FREP-funded study on evaluating the benefits of nitrogen management practices in walnuts. The objective of the study was to understand how split fertilizer applications affect nitrate movement below the root zone. This study also sought to quantify the benefits of efficient nitrogen management practices, including potential cost savings and groundwater protection. …


Event: Biochar Field Day

What: The use of biochar in agriculture is a topic that has been generating interest across California. New products are being developed for agricultural applications, and new research on the effects of biochar in cropping systems is underway at many universities. The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP) is teaming up with Department …