Working with the DIY Fertilizer industry through the Scotts MiracleGro Company

The PI’s for this project are Dr. Tom Simpson and Dr. Gary Felton. The sponsor is the Mid-Atlantic Water Program, with funding from USDA CSREES. This project is currently On-going.

Conversations with all the active parties in the Bay (MD-DNR, MDA, CBF, EPA-CBPO, Alliance, CBT, and CB Commission) and the Do It Yourself (DIY) fertilizer manufacturers have been held on an ongoing basis since 2005. Principal staff and industry representatives are currently addressing nitrogen in fertilizer.

Our role was to bring the various parties together, get them talking, keep them talking, and move toward agreements. As a result of our dialog, DIY rotary spreaders will have deflectors that reduce off-target (impervious surface) fertilizer loss by as much as 87% for an anticipated 700,000 lbs N that will not be spread on impervious surfaces in 2008.

Policy: The governors of the five Bay states and DC signed an MOU with DIY companies to reduce P in fertilizer by 50% nationwide. That has translated to 3.84 million pounds of P that is not imported into the Bay watershed. This is a case where organizations with diverse missions have collaborated to achieve a common goal. Drs. Felton and Simpson have become the people referenced by many in state government on questions concerning urban nutrients. As a result, upcoming legislation that will reduce phosphorus further was formulated in consultation with the University.

For more information, contact Dr. Tom Simpson

Last updated: 02/6/2008