Sep 3, 2019

California schedules fertilizer conference, farm tour

A fertilizer research conference is planned by the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP) and the Western Plant Health Association (WPHA) for late October, according to a press release.

The conference will be held October 28-30 at the DoubleTree Hilton Hotel in Fresno, California, with a farm tour on October 28.

This year’s conference agenda includes information on nitrogen and irrigation management, as well as organic amendments, soil and salinity management, annual and perennial nutrient management practices, useful tools and more, according to the press release. A poster session will showcase ongoing research projects across the Golden State.

Early registration for the conference is $190 for both days; currently enrolled students pay $120 for both days. Late registration begins on September 25, and fees are $220 for both days; students pay $130 for both days. Continuing education units (CEUs) for Certified Crop Advisers and Growers are being applied for the three days.

A farm tour highlighting efficient management practices will be held on October 28, from 1-4 p.m. Registration is an additional $25. The tour will depart from DoubleTree Hilton Hotel in Fresno, and attendees will visit a diversified Southeast Asian vegetable farm and one of Fowler Packing’s table grape vineyards. The tour will focus on the farms’ efforts to implement best practices for nutrient and irrigation management.

To view the agenda, register online and view the call for posters, visit the conference website: www.cdfa.ca.gov/go/FREPConference. For more information, please contact program staff at [email protected] or (916) 900-5022.

Over the past 27 years, FREP has funded more than 240 research projects focusing on nutrient and irrigation management in California cropping systems. For more information, visit the database of completed and ongoing research projects at: www.cdfa.ca.gov/is/ffldrs/frep/Research.html.