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Agriculture Best Management Practices Overview

Agriculture Best Management Practices Overview. LEAD Workshop October 19, 2011 Darrell Smith. Florida Agriculture. Occupies over 18 million acres approximately 52% of the state’s total land use most land is unimproved, only 8.2% irrigated

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Agriculture Best Management Practices Overview

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  1. Agriculture Best Management Practices Overview LEAD WorkshopOctober 19, 2011Darrell Smith

  2. Florida Agriculture • Occupies over 18 million acres • approximately 52% of the state’s total land use • most land is unimproved, only 8.2% irrigated • Provides for biological diversity, aquifer recharge, flood control, wetland preservation, wildlife habitat • Consists of 40,000 private farms • generates $100 billion in farm-related economic activity • 750,000 associated jobs • Farmland provides net economic benefit to the public • For every $1.00 paid in property tax agriculture only requires $0.29 in public services

  3. Commissioner Adam Putnam • Water policy is the most important long‐range issue facing Florida • “Growing” the amount of water available for all user groups is preferable to future allocations disputes • Agriculture is a key water stakeholder; both as a user and as a source of water recharge, water banking, and flowage easements • Responsible water policy will utilize technology, sound science, public awareness and collaboration to achieve its objectives • Every Floridian has an obligation to future generations to protect our precious water resources

  4. Watershed Restoration ActSection 403.067, F. S. • Passed by 1999 Legislature and amended several times since • Establishes Florida’s process for TMDLs • Assessment of waters • Listing of impaired waters • Calculation of TMDL • Implementation of selected TMDLs  Basin Management Action Plans (BMAPs) • Agriculture’s responsibility in an area with an adopted BMAP is to implement BMPs, or monitor water quality to demonstrate compliance

  5. Best Management Practice “Best management practice” means a practice or combination of practices determined by the coordinating agencies, based on research, field-testing, and expert review, to be the most effective and practicable on-location means, including economic and technological considerations, for improving water quality in agricultural discharges.

  6. BMP Development and Implementation • Developed by FDACS in collaboration with growers, IFAS, state agencies, and others • Science-based, verified by FDEP • Adopted by FDACS rule • Incentive-based, non-regulatory program • Presumption of Compliance with state water quality standards • Eligibility for state-funded cost share • Technical assistance provided through OAWP field staff, UF-IFAS, and others

  7. BMP Manuals

  8. Major FDACS-OAWP BMP Programs • Citrus • Indian River Citrus • Central Florida Ridge Citrus • Peace River Citrus • Gulf Citrus • Vegetable & Agronomic Crops • Container Nursery • Sod • Cow/Calf • Specialty Fruit & Nut • Commercial Equine (Pending Adoption)

  9. Statewide Equine (pending) • Manual and Rule targeted for adoption in fall of 2011 • Designed for use by commercial equine operations • Focus on pasture management and manure management

  10. Equine BMPs by Chapter • Nutrient Management • Manure Management • Sediment and Erosion Control • Pasture Management • Stormwater Management • Water Resources Protection • Equine Watering Requirements/ Sources • Pesticide/Pharmaceutical Use • Animal Mortality Management

  11. BMP Tools & Equipment

  12. Drip and Micro Irrigation Micro-Irrigation Drip Irrigation

  13. Agriculture Progress

  14. Statewide BMP Enrollment • Approximately 8.2 million acres enrolled in state BMP programs • 5.28 million acres of Silviculture(Division of Forestry) • 885,340 acres of Vegetables/Row Crops • 970,372 acres of Cow/Calf • 500,298 acres of Citrus • 583,528 acres other (Sod, Nursery, LOPP)

  15. Enrollment Map

  16. SWFWMD FARMS Program 71 Projects saving ~14 mgd

  17. Water Conservation ProgramMobile Irrigation Labs

  18. Agriculture Challenges

  19. Ag Challenges • Rainfall Distribution/Risk • Science • Cost • Technology • Lack of Funding • Public Awareness

  20. Moving Forward

  21. Opportunities • Best Management Practices • Technology • Management Tools • Private Lands Environmental Services • Water Storage, recharge, wetlands, wildlife

  22. Darrell Smith Assistant Director 850-617-1700 Darrell.Smith@freshfromflorida.com

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