District announces new agricultural cost-share funding to protect Jackson Blue Spring

Posted on

The Northwest Florida Water Management District is launching a cost-share program designed to help agricultural producers improve water quality and reduce water use demands in and around Jackson Blue Spring.

The District’s 2016-2017 budget includes $316,000 to help agricultural producers implement a conservation crop rotation program that includes planting grass such as bahia or bermuda as part of the rotation.

This grass rotation, or sod-based rotation, has been implemented and studied by University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences at its research stations in Greenwood and Quincy for more than a decade. Research shows that land under the grass rotation produces higher yields while using less fertilizer and irrigation. Benefits of grass rotation are highest when cattle grazing is included as part of the program.

“The District appreciates the vision and leadership shown by Governor Scott, the Florida Legislature and the Department of Environmental Protection for allowing us to continue this program,” said John Alter, Governing Board member for the Northwest Florida Water Management District. “Grass rotation is a proven conservation measure and it provides another way of improving the health of Jackson Blue Spring.”

This new grant program will provide cost-share funding to four agricultural producers for: the cost of converting a portion of the enrolled property to grass; equipment and facilities required for inclusion of cattle, such as fencing, gates, handling pens, and troughs; machinery to maintain and work the property in grass; as well as other equipment and tools to reduce fertilizer and pesticide use and improve water use efficiency – protecting both water quantity and quality.

Under the program, the District will reimburse each producer to convert up to 160 acres to grass. The conversion can be done in up to four phases but the grass must be maintained in place for two years to obtain the benefits of the practice. The District will also reimburse for fencing and 75 percent of the cost of other qualifying equipment and tools.

“We look forward to working with producers to determine the best way to integrate this practice into their individual operation,” said District hydrogeologist Angela Chelette, who also serves as the District’s agriculture liaison. “We know many of them are eager to take part in this program, and our primary goal is to provide technical and financial support that will ensure their success.”

Contracts are expected to last for approximately four years so that grass is established for two years on each portion of the enrolled property. While including cattle is encouraged, it is not required and producers can chose among numerous options to implement grass rotation on their farm. Awarded grant amounts will vary depending on the measures selected by each producer.

The District is currently accepting applications from agricultural producers within the Jackson Blue Spring and Merritts Mill Pond groundwater contribution area. Applications are due March 3, 2017. Preference will be given to producers who include higher acreage, who enroll parcels closer to Jackson Blue Spring, and who include cattle grazing in the rotation.

To be eligible, producers must be:

  • Operating within the Jackson Blue Spring and Merritts Mill Pond Groundwater Contribution Area;
  • Enrolled in the appropriate Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Best Management Practice (BMP) program; and
  • In regulatory compliance with applicable District permits and rules.

Application forms can be found on the District website at nwfwp.sgssys.info. Producers can contact Angela Chelette (850-539-2650) with questions about the grant program.

Producers who are interested in obtaining funding can expedite their application by enrolling or updating their enrollment in the FDACS BMP program as soon as possible by contacting Tom Batey, FDACS Field Representative at (850-693-5430) or visiting the FDACS website at www.freshfromflorida.com.

The District recommends that producers who want to upgrade irrigation equipment contact Mark Miles of the Northwest Florida Mobile Irrigation Lab (MIL) at (850-482-0388) to schedule an irrigation system evaluation. Having these two items complete will allow an application to move forward more quickly.