[USCC] Fwd: An Improved Slow Release Fertilizer has been developed by the USDA Agricultural Research Service

[Jim McNelly]

>>
>>*   An Improved Slow Release Fertilizer has 
>>been developed by the USDA Agricultural 
>>Research Service, which is seeking a commercial 
>>partner to license and market the product, 
>>according to a December 12 ARS News Release, 
>>titled "ARS Seeks Partner for New 
>>Environmentally Friendly Fertilizer," which 
>>states in part that the Agency " ... is seeking 
>>a company to license a new, environmentally 
>>friendly, slow-release fertilizer for lawns, 
>>turf and other crops. This new fertilizer 
>>technology can significantly reduce the 
>>potential for leaching of nutrients into 
>>groundwater, streams and rivers by as much 97 
>>percent for phosphorus and 84 percent for 
>>nitrates in greenhouse studies. Slow-release 
>>fertilizers currently on the market typically 
>>work by applying a sulfur or polymer coating to 
>>fertilizer granules. The coating wears away 
>>slowly, delaying the release of fertilizer. But 
>>once the coat is gone, the remaining fertilizer 
>>becomes available in a fast cascade. In 
>>contrast, the ARS slow-release system is based 
>>on ion exchange mechanisms that more closely 
>>mimic natural soil processes, which gives the 
>>new technology a more consistent release over 
>>time. ARS is seeking a cooperative business 
>>partner to license the technology and develop 
>>it into commercial products­especially one for 
>>use on lawns and turf, which tend to be major 
>>contributors to nutrient runoff and leaching. 
>>The fertilizer system also can be used on 
>>almost any crop and could be customized to the 
>>specific needs of a crop throughout its life 
>>cycle, according to co-developers Robert E. 
>>Sojka, director of the ARS Northwest Irrigation 
>>and Soils Research Laboratory in Kimberly 
>>Idaho, and former ARS soil microbiologist James 
>>A. Entry ..." - The complete text of the news 
>>release is posted at 
>><http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2006/061213.htm?pf=1>http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2006/061213.htm?pf=1 
>>- Information about the new fertilizer 
>>technology is posted at 
>><http://ars.usda.gov/research/patents/patents.htm?serialnum=11504401>http://ars.usda.gov/research/patents/patents.htm?serialnum=11504401 
>>- Information about licensing of ARS Patents is 
>>posted at 
>><http://ars.usda.gov/business/docs.htm?docid=768>http://ars.usda.gov/business/docs.htm?docid=768 
>>- Questions may be directed to ARS Researcher, 
>>Robert E Sojka (Bob), who is the Laboratory 
>>Director and Research Leader at the NWISRL in 
>>Kimberly, Idaho at 208 423 6565; e-mail: 
>><mailto:Sojka at NWISRL.ARS.USDA.gov>Sojka at NWISRL.ARS.USDA.gov 
>>- Information about the NWISRL is posted at 
>><http://www.ars.usda.gov/main/site_main.htm?modecode=53-68-00-00>http://www.ars.usda.gov/main/site_main.htm?modecode=53-68-00-00 
>>
>>
>>http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2006/061213.htm?pf=1
>>
>>ARS Seeks Partner for New Environmentally Friendly Fertilizer
>>
>>By Kim Kaplan
>>
>>December 13, 2006
>>
>>The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is 
>>seeking a company to license a new, 
>>environmentally friendly, slow-release 
>>fertilizer for lawns, turf and other crops.
>>
>>This new fertilizer technology can 
>>significantly reduce the potential for leaching 
>>of nutrients into groundwater, streams and 
>>rivers by as much 97 percent for phosphorus and 
>>84 percent for nitrates in greenhouse studies.
>>
>>Slow-release fertilizers currently on the 
>>market typically work by applying a sulfur or 
>>polymer coating to fertilizer granules. The 
>>coating wears away slowly, delaying the release 
>>of fertilizer. But once the coat is gone, the 
>>remaining fertilizer becomes available in a fast cascade.
>>
>>In contrast, the ARS slow-release system is 
>>based on ion exchange mechanisms that more 
>>closely mimic natural soil processes, which 
>>gives the new technology a more consistent release over time.
>>
>>ARS is seeking a cooperative business partner 
>>to license the technology and develop it into 
>>commercial products—especially one for use on 
>>lawns and turf, which tend to be major 
>>contributors to nutrient runoff and leaching.
>>
>>The fertilizer system also can be used on 
>>almost any crop and could be customized to the 
>>specific needs of a crop throughout its life 
>>cycle, according to co-developers Robert E. 
>>Sojka, director of the ARS Northwest Irrigation 
>>and Soils Research Laboratory in Kimberly 
>>Idaho, and former ARS soil microbiologist James A. Entry.
>>
>>For further details about the new technology, 
>>please visit 
>>http://ars.usda.gov/research/patents/patents.htm?serialnum=11504401 .
>>
>>For ARS licensing information, visit 
>>http://ars.usda.gov/business/docs.htm?docid=768.
>>
>>ARS is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's chief scientific research agency.
>>
>>Last Modified: 12/12/2006
>>
>>
>>
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>>
>>Jack Cooper
>>
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>>
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>>and
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