CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ANNOUNCES REQUEST FOR PROJECT SUGGESTIONS ON FERTILIZER RESEARCH

SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), Fertilizer, Research and Education Program (FREP) is seeking project suggestions for the department’s competitive grant program on fertilizer research. Approximately $800,000 in funding is available to fund research projects that will help provide growers and industry with cost-effective practices to improve the efficient use of fertilizer and minimize environmental impacts.

A Request for Project Suggestions (RFPS) is available online at: www.cdfa.ca.gov/is/frep/. The deadline for submissions is Friday, April 7, 2006 at 4:00 p.m., Pacific Standard Time. The RFPS is the first step in the grant selection process and is designed to solicit ideas for full proposals. The FREP Technical Advisory Subcommittee will review all suggestions and select those for full proposals based on concept, potential, impact, methodology and feasibility.

FREP was created to advance the environmentally safe and agronomically sound use and handling of commercial fertilizing materials. FREP facilitates research and demonstration projects by providing funding and by developing and disseminating information. FREP serves growers, agricultural supply and service professionals, extension personnel, public agencies, consultants, and other interested parties.

For additional information, visit the program’s website or contact: Patricia “Kelsey” Olson, FREP Specialist, by phone (916) 445-0444, fax, (916) 445-2171, or e-mail kolson@cdfa.ca.gov.

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