The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Office of Ag Water Policy released updated Best Management Practices manuals for nine crops and has added a tenth manual for Small Farms and Specialty Livestock. These updates, all completed since Commissioner Wilton Simpson took office in January 2023, mark the first comprehensive revisions in nearly 20 years for some manuals, reflecting advancements in agricultural science, water quality research, and on-the-ground practices.
BMPs help agricultural producers improve water quality while maintaining productivity and economic viability. Categories of BMPs include:
- Nutrient Management – Assessing nutrient needs and sources to optimize fertilizer use and reduce runoff impacts on water resources.
- Irrigation Management – Enhancing irrigation methods and scheduling to conserve water and minimize nutrient losses to the environment.
- Water Resource Protection – Implementing buffers, setbacks, and swales to reduce sediment and nutrient transport from agricultural lands to Florida’s waterways.
The manuals include operations for Citrus, Cattle, Dairy, Equine, Nursery, Poultry, Sod, Specialty Fruit and Nut Crops, Vegetable and Agronomic Crops and Small Farms and Specialty Livestock.
Return to the April 18 issue of Wire to Wire
