Nutrient Management Conference in California opens registration

Registration is now open for the 29th annual Nutrient Management Conference, hosted by the California Department of Food and Agriculture Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP) and Western Plant Health (WPH).

This year’s FREP/WPH Nutrient Management Conference will be held at the Embassy Suites hotel in San Luis Obispo, California, Oct. 27-28 and includes a farm tour which will be held at Cal Poly the afternoon of Oct. 26.

The Nutrient Management Conference brings together industry professionals and academic researchers to learn about and share the latest research and innovative management practices for fertilizing materials. This year’s conference agenda includes information on barriers to adoption of irrigation and nutrient management practices, irrigation and nutrient management for annual and perennial crops, organic soil amendments and interactive irrigation workshops.

A “poster session” for attendees to present and discuss a poster showcasing research or outreach related to irrigation and nutrient management will be held the evening of Oct. 27. One presenter per poster will receive free conference registration. The call for poster abstracts is now open. If you would like to present a poster at the conference, submit your abstract to FREP@cdfa.ca.gov by Oct. 15, 2021. Awards will be available for participating graduate and undergraduate students. View the Call for Posters section of the conference webpage for more information.

Early registration (before October 15) for the conference is $200 and currently enrolled students pay $130. Late registration fees (after October 16) are $230 and $140 for students. Continuing education units (CEUs) for Certified Crop Advisers and Self-Certified Growers are being applied for the farm tour and conference.

Upon registration, conference attendees can sign-up to receive information for the farm tour on Oct. 26. Farm tour attendees will visit agricultural research plots at the Cal Poly farm that demonstrate efficient irrigation and nutrient management practices across multiple cropping systems.

To view the agenda, register online and view the call for posters, visit the conference website: www.cdfa.ca.gov/go/FREPConference. Conference protocols will adhere to state and local health guidelines. For more information, please contact program staff at frep@cdfa.ca.gov or (916) 900-5022.

For over 25 years, the California Department of Food and Agriculture Fertilizer Research and Education Program has funded more than 250 research projects focusing on nutrient and irrigation management in California cropping systems. For more information, visit the FREP project database of completed and ongoing projects at: www.cdfa.ca.gov/is/ffldrs/frep/Research.html.