Inspection Services Blog

Research Update: Fertilizer Value of Nitrogen in Irrigation Water

Research Project: Determining the Fertilizer Value of Ambient Nitrogen in Irrigation Water – Cahn, M. et al. Status: Final year of study Issue: Irrigation water from many wells on the Central Coast contains a significant amount of nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N). The N content in irrigation water has not been accounted for in growers’ nitrogen fertilization plans because it is unclear how …


Research Update: N Fertilizer Requirements of Crops Following Alfalfa

Research Project: Characterizing N Fertilizer Requirements of Crops Following Alfalfa – Putnam, D. et al. Issue: Alfalfa is a leguminous crop that converts atmospheric nitrogen (N) into organic compounds. While it is well-known that crops following alfalfa benefit from the residual N produced by alfalfa, the amount of residual N has rarely been measured. Previous estimates of N carryover from …


Now Accepting Concept Proposals for 2017 Fertilizer Research and Education Grants

The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP) is currently accepting concept proposals for the 2017 grant cycle. FREP’s competitive grant program funds research that advances the agronomic and environmental performance of fertilizing materials. The 2017 Request for Proposals (RFP) includes several initiatives put forth by the department to help effectively manage nitrogen fertilizers in …


The FREP Grant Process

A FREP request for proposals (RFP) is released each year, and invites researchers and educators to propose nutrient management research and education projects. The proposals undergo a rigorous selection process by scientific and technical experts, and the approved proposals receive FREP grants. Here is how the grant process works: FREP grants are funded by mill assessments on the sales of …


Key Learnings from the FREP/WPHA Conference

The twenty fourth annual FREP/WPHA Conference took place on October 26-27, where speakers from industry, academia, and agricultural consulting provided cutting edge information on nutrient management in California agriculture. The conference presentations covered a wide range of nutrient management topics including education and outreach, soil microbiology, government regulations and irrigation, in addition to many applied plant nutrition and soil fertility …


Fertilizer Research Conference Will be Held in Modesto, October 26-27, 2016

The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP) and the Western Plant Health Association (WPHA) are hosting their 24th annual fertilizer research conference on October 26-27, 2016 at the DoubleTree Hotel in Modesto, California. This event brings together industry professionals and academic researchers to learn about the latest research and sound management of fertilizing materials. …