Posted on: November 30, 2017[ARCHIVED] High Tech Farming Helps Improve Water Quality
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OAK, FLA., Nov. 30, 2017 – Innovative technologies are providing farmers and
producers in the Suwannee River Water Management District (District) the
opportunity to try new agricultural techniques and equipment aimed at improving
water quality through precision fertilizer and nutrient application.
Provided by the District in partnership with the Florida Department
of Environmental Protection, the Precision Agriculture Program offers $2 million
in new cost-share/grant funding for area farmers to implement cutting-edge
technologies that improve water quality. The program is estimated to reduce 1.3
million pounds of nitrogen across more than 50,000 acres within the District.
“Ensuring healthy water quality is paramount to the longevity of
our springs and natural resources,” said Hugh Thomas, Executive Director for the
District. “We are taking aggressive action to create opportunities for producers
to explore new methods and embrace cutting-edge technologies at reduced costs.”
The
program focuses primarily on row crop farming and includes a variety of
technologies for the applicant to choose from including: tissue sampling, soil
quality testing, soil nutrient mapping, variable rate nutrient and irrigation
application, aerial imagery and fertigation (a process which applies fertilizer
directly to each individual plant).
Due
to tight profit margins in most agricultural practices, many producers are often
limited in their ability to adopt new technologies due to cost. The program
allows farmers to experiment, and ultimately adopt, precision agricultural
practices without bearing the full financial risk. Therefore, helping to remove
barriers to entry.
District staff worked with producers, researchers and subject
matter experts across the country to identify technologies with the greatest
return on water quality while maintaining, if not improving, crop yields.
“Historically, agricultural interests have sometimes been perceived
to compete with environmental efforts, said Ben Glass, Program Project Manager
for the District. “This program allows our producers to move beyond conventional
agricultural practices to realize environment benefits to our resources, while
maintaining and even improving economic drivers.”
Since the program’s approval by the District’s Governing Board in
September, the District has already received fifty-eight applications for the
program totaling more than $2.5 million. Forty-six applications were selected
for the current available funding, and the District is considering other funding
opportunities to fulfill the remaining projects.
“We
were shocked at how quickly the applications started coming in,” said Glass.
“There is a tremendous interest in our area for water quality research and water
quality improvement practices in agriculture.”
To
receive funding, recipients are required to enter a contractual agreement that
includes water monitoring and data reporting. However, the proof is in the
production – these practices have been proven successful to reduce inputs and
improve yields amongst researchers and producers in other parts of the country.
“The Suwannee Valley region continues to be on the cutting edge for
agricultural advancements for water quality improvement and water conservation,”
said Thomas. “Our mission at the District is to provide programs and
opportunities for producers to continue the work they love for generations to
come, while improving the health of our natural resources.”
The
District offers a variety of grant and cost-share programs to aid local
governments, municipalities, farmers, producers and schools with water
conservation, water quality, habitat restoration and flood prevention projects.
For more information, visit www.mysuwanneeriver.com,
search “Cost Share.”
The
mission of the Suwannee River Water Management District is to protect and manage
water resources using science-based solutions to support natural systems and the
needs of the public. The District holds true to the belief of water for nature,
water for people. Headquartered in Live Oak, Florida, the District serves 15
surrounding north-central Florida counties.
For more information
about the District, visit www.mysuwanneeriver.com or follow us on Facebook and Twitter, search @SRWMD.
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