CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE AWARDS OVER $800,000 FOR FERTILIZER RESEARCH AND EDUCATION PROJECTS

Projects To Enhance Productivity And Environmental Protection

SACRAMENTO, January 11, 2001 - The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) announced today that $802,627 has been awarded to fourteen new fertilizer research and education projects to be conducted over the next three years.

The projects, designed to enhance agricultural productivity and environmental protection, were recently recommended for funding by CDFA Secretary William (Bill) J. Lyons, Jr. and the Fertilizer Inspection Advisory Board. “Using environmentally safe methods in growing California’s food supply will always be a priority,” said Secretary Lyons. “These projects have had good results in the past, maximizing agricultural productivity while doing everything possible to protect the environment.”

The fourteen projects will evaluate and determine fertilizer characteristics and needs in such produce as cool season vegetables, rice, sugar beets, alfalfa, and sweet potatoes. Growing a school garden, and garden based fertility and fertilizers will be among the education programs.

CDFA’s Fertilizer Research and Education Program, which will be administering the awards, was created to advance the environmentally safe and agronomically sound use of fertilizer materials. Most of the program’s work is to prevent nitrate contamination of groundwater. The program is financed through an assessment on fertilizer sales.

For further information about CDFA’s Fertilizer Research and Education Program and its activities, contact Casey Walsh Cady at (916) 654-5044 or by E-mail at ccady@cdfa.ca.gov, or visit the Fertilizer Research and Education Program’s Web site at www.cdfa.ca.gov/inspection/frep.

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