{"id":663,"date":"2018-05-08T08:20:13","date_gmt":"2018-05-08T15:20:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/FREP\/?p=663"},"modified":"2019-03-13T12:58:44","modified_gmt":"2019-03-13T19:58:44","slug":"research-update-understanding-grower-decisions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/FREP\/index.php\/research-update-understanding-grower-decisions\/","title":{"rendered":"Research Update: Understanding Grower Decisions"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Project Title: <\/strong>\u201cUnderstanding Influences on Grower Decision-Making and Adoption of Improved Nitrogen Management Practices\u201d<br \/>\n<strong>Project Leaders:<\/strong> Mark Lubell, Department of Environmental Science and Policy, and Patrick Brown, Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis.<br \/>\n<strong>Location: <\/strong>Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys<!--more--><\/p>\n<p><strong>Issue: <\/strong>Nitrogen best management practices (BMPs), such as applying fertilizers at the right time, right rate, right place and in the right form, \u201cthe 4 R\u2019s\u201d, and soil and leaf sampling, are key to managing crop productivity. Practices such as these and many other promising BMPs have been coming out of\u00a0 research-based projects for more than a decade. Many of these practices have benefits that are both economic and environmental, so what is preventing their implementation?<\/p>\n<p>With a grant from the Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP),\u00a0a team of researchers from the University of California, Davis has been collaborating with Water Quality Coalitions in the Central Valley to explore the key barriers to implement practices that increase nutrient use efficiency. This project also aims to establish a baseline of current practices that can be used to measure progress with practice adoption.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Methods: <\/strong>The first phase of the project is aimed at gathering information on current management practice adoptions levels, perceived risks, knowledge gaps and decision-making processes. Researchers assessed the use of improved nitrogen management practices by surveying growers in two Central Valley Water Quality Coalitions. The survey questions focused on the use of the following practices and their barriers to adoption.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Fertilizer practices<\/strong>: Use a nitrogen budget to determine fertilizer rates; split fertilizer applications; verify plant nutrient status with in-season leaf sampling<\/li>\n<li><strong>Soil practices<\/strong>: Take soil samples to measure residual nitrate; apply organic matter (compost or manure); plant cover crops<\/li>\n<li><strong>Irrigation practices<\/strong>: Schedule irrigation by measuring plant-water status or using evapotranspiration (ET) measurements; use soil moisture sensors; test irrigation systems for distribution uniformity<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0Preliminary Results: <\/strong>The following data were collected from 565 growers over the course of seven grower education meetings. The two Central Valley Water Quality Coalitions, represent approximately 8,000 growers and 1.6 million acres of irrigated farmland in the Central Valley.<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"664\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/FREP\/index.php\/research-update-understanding-grower-decisions\/adoption-graphs\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/FREP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/adoption-graphs.png\" data-orig-size=\"713,802\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"adoption graphs\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/FREP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/adoption-graphs.png\" class=\"wp-image-664 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/FREP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/adoption-graphs.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"670\" height=\"753\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/FREP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/adoption-graphs.png 713w, https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/FREP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/adoption-graphs-133x150.png 133w, https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/FREP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/adoption-graphs-267x300.png 267w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 670px) 100vw, 670px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Discussion: <\/strong>Preliminary results indicate that growers operating on large parcels, and in perennial crop systems reported higher adoption rates for nearly all practices and named fewer challenges to adoption. Uncertainty was the most common barrier identified for seven out of ten practices. This illustrates the importance and demand for outreach and education around nitrogen management practices. Messaging to farmers should address the risks and benefits associated with BMPs and technical workshops are essential in aiding on-farm implementation. The potential for improving yield and crop quality are the largest recognized benefits and should be emphasized in outreach materials.<\/p>\n<p>This information and more was also gleaned through a series of interviews with twenty growers who participated in the initial survey. Growers emphasized the importance of outreach and extension and cited issues with lack of clarity around nitrogen regulations and policy.<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"665\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/FREP\/index.php\/research-update-understanding-grower-decisions\/quotes\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/FREP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/quotes.png\" data-orig-size=\"694,194\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"quotes\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/FREP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/quotes.png\" class=\"wp-image-665 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/FREP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/quotes.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"678\" height=\"189\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/FREP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/quotes.png 694w, https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/FREP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/quotes-150x42.png 150w, https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/FREP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/quotes-300x84.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 678px) 100vw, 678px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Next Steps: The second phase of the project will be an expanded survey designed to assess social, political, and economic factors influencing decision-making and adoption of improved N management practices. Surveys were mailed out to the Colusa-Glenn Sub watershed of the Sacramento Valley Water Quality Coalition, in February 2018 and will be distributed to growers in the San Joaquin County and Delta Water Quality Coalition and East San Joaquin Water Quality Coalition regions in June 2018. If you receive a survey in the mail, please take the opportunity to respond.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_701\" style=\"width: 269px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-701\" data-attachment-id=\"701\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/FREP\/index.php\/research-update-understanding-grower-decisions\/grower-survey\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/FREP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Grower-Survey.png\" data-orig-size=\"259,325\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Grower Survey\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;Grower Survey Cover&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/FREP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Grower-Survey.png\" class=\"wp-image-701 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/FREP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Grower-Survey.png\" alt=\"Grower Survey Cover\" width=\"259\" height=\"325\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/FREP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Grower-Survey.png 259w, https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/FREP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Grower-Survey-120x150.png 120w, https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/FREP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Grower-Survey-239x300.png 239w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 259px) 100vw, 259px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-701\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Figure 3. Survey mailer<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Project Title: \u201cUnderstanding Influences on Grower Decision-Making and Adoption of Improved Nitrogen Management Practices\u201d Project Leaders: Mark Lubell, Department of Environmental Science and Policy, and Patrick Brown, Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis. Location: Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[86],"tags":[8,91],"class_list":["post-663","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-all","tag-california-fertilizer-research","tag-central-valley-agriculture"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9r16A-aH","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":920,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/FREP\/index.php\/frep-awards-projects\/","url_meta":{"origin":663,"position":0},"title":"FREP Awards Projects to Improve Agricultural Fertilizer Management and Water Quality","author":"Brooke Elliot","date":"November 6, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"The California Department of Food and Agriculture's (CDFA) Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP) is pleased to announce the award of over $1.1 million in grant funds to agricultural organizations and universities. These grants will fund six projects that will improve the efficiency and reduce the environmental impact of fertilizer\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;FREP Grant Program&quot;","block_context":{"text":"FREP Grant Program","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/FREP\/index.php\/category\/frep-grant-program\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":334,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/FREP\/index.php\/grants-to-begin-funding-january-2018\/","url_meta":{"origin":663,"position":1},"title":"Grants to Begin Funding January 2018","author":"Brooke Elliot","date":"January 2, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"The Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP) of the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is pleased to announce the award of almost $800,000 in grant funds to agricultural organizations and universities this year. These grants will fund four projects that will improve the efficiency and reduce the environmental\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;FREP Grant Program&quot;","block_context":{"text":"FREP Grant Program","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/FREP\/index.php\/category\/frep-grant-program\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":114,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/FREP\/index.php\/nitrogen-management-training\/","url_meta":{"origin":663,"position":2},"title":"Nitrogen Management Training","author":"Brooke Elliot","date":"April 28, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"The Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP) supports education on nutrient management in agriculture and encourages the adoption of beneficial management practices. Currently, FREP is supporting two major projects in nitrogen management: Certified Crop Adviser training and grower training. The infographic below shows the up-to-date outcomes of these projects. For\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Nutrient Management Events&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Nutrient Management Events","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/FREP\/index.php\/category\/nutrient-management-events\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"NMTP-Infographic","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/FREP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/NMTP-Infographic.png?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/FREP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/NMTP-Infographic.png?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/FREP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/NMTP-Infographic.png?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":849,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/FREP\/index.php\/registration-now-open-for-the-frepwpha-conference-on-october-22-24-2018\/","url_meta":{"origin":663,"position":3},"title":"Registration Now Open for the FREP\/WPHA Conference on October 22-24, 2018","author":"Brooke Elliot","date":"August 23, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"The California Department of Food and Agriculture\u2019s (CDFA) Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP) and the Western Plant Health Association (WPHA) will host the 26th annual nutrient management conference at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Seaside, California, on October 23-24. The event also includes a pre-conference farm tour on October\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Nutrient Management Events&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Nutrient Management Events","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/FREP\/index.php\/category\/nutrient-management-events\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/FREP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Conf-Page-Banner-2018-1024x330.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/FREP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Conf-Page-Banner-2018-1024x330.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/FREP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Conf-Page-Banner-2018-1024x330.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":212,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/FREP\/index.php\/events-for-march-2017\/","url_meta":{"origin":663,"position":4},"title":"Events for March 2017","author":"Brooke Elliot","date":"February 27, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Efficient Irrigation and Nitrogen Use Workshop What: Hosted by the California Almond Sustainability Program, this workshop gives almond growers an opportunity to learn about tools and techniques to increase irrigation efficiency through Almond Board of California\u2019s (ABC\u2019s) Irrigation Continuum, and to improve the accuracy of nitrogen applications through the use\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Nutrient Management Events&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Nutrient Management Events","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/FREP\/index.php\/category\/nutrient-management-events\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":392,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/FREP\/index.php\/nitrogen-management-training-for-certified-crop-advisers\/","url_meta":{"origin":663,"position":5},"title":"Nitrogen Management Training for Certified Crop Advisers","author":"Brooke Elliot","date":"February 16, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"What: The University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UCANR) and the Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP) of CDFA are offering a one-and-a-half day Nitrogen Management Training to California Certified Crop Advisers (CCAs). Why: CCAs play an essential role in helping farmers comply with California\u2019s developing environmental regulations through\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Nutrient Management Events&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Nutrient Management Events","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/FREP\/index.php\/category\/nutrient-management-events\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/FREP\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/663","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/FREP\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/FREP\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/FREP\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/FREP\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=663"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/FREP\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/663\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":703,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/FREP\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/663\/revisions\/703"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/FREP\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=663"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/FREP\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=663"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/FREP\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=663"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}