More Resources

• The American Society of Agronomy - California Chapter
• Association of American Feed Control Officials
• Association of American Plant Food Control Officials
• CA Dept. of Health Services
• CA Dept. of Pesticide Regulation
• California Certified Crop Advisor Program
• California Fertilizer Association
• California Grain and Feed Association
• National Grain and Feed Association
• National Egg Regulatory Officials
• U. S. Department of Agriculture
• U. S. Food and Drug Administration
• Western Plant Health Association

Right Column Heading

• Link 1
• Link 2
• Link 3
• Link 4
• Link 5

FREP Competitive Grants Program

Each year FREP solicits suggestions for research, demonstration, and education projects related to the use and handling of fertilizer materials. FREP strives for excellence by supporting high quality research and education endeavors that have gone through a rigorous statewide competitive process, including independent peer review.

The Technical Advisory Subcommittee (TASC) of the Fertilizer Inspection Advisory Board (FIAB) directs FREP activities, and reviews, selects and (after peer review) recommends to the FIAB funding for FREP research and education projects. This committee includes growers, fertilizer industry professionals, and state government and university scientists.

Since 1990, FREP has distributed more than $7 million for more than 110 research and education projects related to improved nutrient management. In recent years, funding for research has shifted focus from nitrate management to minimize groundwater degradation to agronomic efficiency in the management of nutrients.

FREP’s Key Research Area Goals

FREP’s key research area goals include the following:

1. Crop nutrient requirements — determine or update nutrient requirements to improve crop yield or quality in an environmentally sound manner.


2. Fertilization practices — develop fertilization practices to improve crop production, fertilizer use efficiency or environmental impact.


3. Fertilizer and water interactions — develop and extend information on fertigation methodologies leading to maximum distribution uniformity while minimizing fertilizer losses.


4. Site-specific fertilizer technologies — demonstrate and quantify applications for site-specific crop management technologies and best management practices related to precision agriculture.


5. Diagnostic tools for improved fertility/fertilizer recommendations — develop field and laboratory tests for predicting crop nutrient response that can aid in making fertilizer recommendations.


6. Nutrient/pest interactions and nutrient/growth regulator interactions — demonstrate or provide practical information to growers and production consultants on nutrient/pest interactions.


7. Education and public information – includes:
• On-farm demonstrations of proven practices and technologies within FREP goals to encourage their adoption in California with priority areas given to impaired water bodies.
• Education and training of fertilizer management in areas with impaired water bodies.
• Programs to educate growers, fertilizer dealers, students, teachers, and the general public about the relationships between fertilizers, food, nutrition, and the environment.
• Preparation of publications, slide sets, videotapes, conferences, field days, and other outreach activities.
• Suggested educational activities must explain how proposed activities will result in change, for example, by demonstrating to growers improved profitability, reduced risk or increased ease of management.
8. Additional areas that support FREP’s mission, such as air quality, tillage, crop rotation, economics of fertilizer use, and cropping systems.