Fertilizer: reduction of use.

Existing law requires a person who manufactures or distributes fertilizing materials to obtain a license from the Secretary of Food and Agriculture. Under existing law, a licensee whose name appears on the label who sells or distributes bulk fertilizing materials is required to pay specified fees for each dollar of sales, including an amount not to exceed $0.001 per dollar of sales for all sales of fertilizing materials, to provide funding for research and education regarding the use and handling of fertilizing material, including, but not limited to, any environmental effects. This bill would specify that the $0.001 per dollar of sales fee may be used for the support of specified technical education and research programs that result in more agronomically sound uses of fertilizer materials and minimize the environmental impacts of fertilizer use, including, but not limited to, nitrates in groundwater and emissions of greenhouse gases resulting from fertilizer use, and for the support of education to increase awareness of more agronomically sound uses of fertilizer materials to reduce environmental impacts, as specified.