Board approves ranking of agricultural projects to share nearly $1 million for water conservation, nutrient reduction

An irrigation shut off valve, located in St. Johns County, is part of a sub-irrigation drain tile project installed in 2019.

PALATKA, Fla., Sept. 14, 2021 — Ten agricultural projects will share nearly $1 million from the St. Johns River Water Management District to improve water conservation and reduce nutrient loading to area waterways. Projects approved by the District’s Governing Board on Tuesday are estimated to collectively conserve over 67 million gallons per year and reduce total nitrogen by 6,163 pounds per year and total phosphorus by 1,158 pounds per year.

The Tri-County Agricultural Area (TCAA) Water Management Partnership (WMP) is a collaboration between multiple agencies with SJRWMD, Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) providing funding to producers in Putnam, Flagler and St. Johns counties and benefitting the Lower St. Johns River. Since the program began in 2012, the Partnership has funded 143 projects that support sustainable farming practices and protect the environment while also increasing farms’ production and quality.

Per the project ranking approved by the Governing Board at Tuesday’s meeting, the following projects will receive funds this cycle:

• Everde Growers Bunnell Farm (Flagler)
• Blanford Turf (St. Johns)
• William and Betty Jones/Signature Sod (Flagler)
• P. & Wesley Smith Inc. (St. Johns)
• John Sykes (St. Johns)
• Blue Sky Farms (St. Johns)
• Tater Farms (St. Johns)
• DeLee Produce LLC (St. Johns)
• Jeff Parker Farms (St. Johns)
• L&M Farms (Putnam)

The types of projects eligible for funding include irrigation system conversions and retrofits, soil moisture and climate sensor telemetry, precision fertilizer application equipment and more. The program is entirely voluntary and includes a requirement that funding recipients modify their consumptive use permits to memorialize the actual water reductions resulting from the District’s monetary contribution.

For information about district cost-share programs, visit www.sjrwmd.com/localgovernments/funding/.