10 Water-Friendly Ag Projects in Florida Chosen for Million-Dollar Share

Posted by Paul Rusnak|July 7, 2022

Resource conservation not only saves, but it can pay off, too. The St. Johns River Water Management District Governing Board recently approved the execution of 10 contracts for ag projects in North-Central Florida that will provide local growers with more than $1 million in cost-share funds. Together, these projects are anticipated to reduce water use by 102 million gallons per year and reduce nutrient loading in the region.

Applications were reviewed for eligibility and to ensure they satisfy the goals of the program. Eligibility criteria includes compliance history, cost-effectiveness, location, and enrollment in the best management practices program through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

The 10 projects that will receive funding include:

- Banack Family Limited Partnership, Indian River County
- Wild Goose Farms/Bartlett Berry, Lake County
- Cherrylake, Inc., Lake County
- Clonts Farms, Inc., Seminole County
- Hammond Groves, Indian River County
- Sanders Trinity, LLC, Volusia County
- Sun Ag, LLC, Indian River County
- Total Ag Care, LLC, Orange County
- Underhill Ferneries, Inc., Volusia County
- Hagstrom Floral, Volusia County

Projects include conversion from overhead irrigation to drip irrigation, pump automation, and precision fertilizer application equipment with GPS. In addition to conserving water, these projects are anticipated to reduce total nitrogen loading by 4,578 pounds per year and total phosphorus loading by 963 pounds per year, according to SJRWMD.

The Districtwide Cost Share program provides up to 75% of the project costs, not to exceed $250,00 for engineering, design, construction and implementation costs of the project. Applicants are expected to cover project maintenance costs for the life of the project. Since 2015 the District’s agricultural cost-share program has funded nearly 130 projects that help reduce water use and nutrient runoff.