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July 1, 2025: Self-Certification for INMP Worksheets Expiration Date
July 31, 2025: Technical Advisory Subcommittee Applications Due
Participants who completed the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Irrigation and Nitrogen Management Program (CDFA INMP) self-certification training between the dates of January 1 - June 30, 2022, have an expiration date of July 1, 2025.
To renew your eligibility to self-certify INMP Worksheets, you must complete three hours of CDFA INMP Credits prior to your expiration date. Courses and events approved for CDFA INMP Credits focus on topics in irrigation and nitrogen management.
If you are unsure of your expiration date, you can request a copy of your letter of eligibility or check your eligibility status and continuing education hours by emailing frep@cdfa.ca.gov.
What is the Irrigation and Nitrogen Management Training Program?
The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Irrigation and Nitrogen Management Training Program (CDFA INMTP) was created to enable growers to self-certify Irrigation and Nitrogen Management Plan (INMP) Worksheets for their operation(s). Currently, the program is available in the Central Valley and Ventura County.
Why was the Training Program created?
The State Water Board requires growers to account for the nitrogen inputs and outputs in their fields by completing INMP Worksheets and submitting summary report data. For irrigated parcels within designated high vulnerability areas, INMP Worksheets must be certified by a qualified individual. INMP Worksheets can either be certified by a Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) with the California Nitrogen Specialty or by a grower who has completed CDFA’s Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP) Irrigation and Nitrogen Management Training for Grower Self-Certification.
How do I Maintain my Ability to Self-Certify?
FREP offers many avenues to complete continuing education credits including in-person training, self-study videos or podcasts, and on-farm consultations.
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Through the Nitrogen and Irrigation Initiative (NII), growers who self-certify their Irrigation and Nitrogen Management (INMP) worksheets in the San Joaquin Valley can receive one hour of continuing education units (CEUs) per calendar year through an on-farm consultation.
During the free consultation, NII farm advisors and their staff work with individual growers to identify management practices, monitoring techniques and infrastructural upgrades that can reduce nitrogen fertilizer and save water. The goal of the consultation is to provide recommendations and help implement best management practices tailored to the farmer’s operation.
To receive CE credits, contact a local farm advisor who is part of the NII program. The list of NII farm advisors is also listed under the On-Farm Consultation Contact Information section of our website.
Upon completion of an NII consultation, farm advisors and staff will submit information to FREP on behalf of the grower. FREP staff will send a Certificate of Course Completion once the information has been processed. Participants will receive credit based on the day of the consultation and can expect the certificate via email within a month.
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As part of its Crop Nutrient Minute video series, the Coalition for Urban Rural Environmental Stewardship (CURES) recently released a video in English and Spanish for Nitrogen Management in Citrus.
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