March 4, 2014
Gainesville, Fla. – The Florida Farm Bureau Federation (FFBF) will launch a newly designed website, thisfarmcares.org, to recognize farmers throughout Florida who practice environmental stewardship. The website will also educate the public on agriculture’s role in protecting Florida’s natural resources.
The This Farm Cares website recognizes more than 600 farmers who have taken voluntary steps to protect the land and water quality by implementing Best Management Practices (BMPs) on their farms. A photo gallery along with a calendar of statewide County Alliance for Responsible Environmental Stewardship (CARES) recognition events will also be featured. Profiles and events will be updated weekly.
The website will boast a modern, sleek, easy-to-navigate design. Other features include a News Blog, eligibility requirements for the CARES program, frequently asked questions and direct links to This Farm Cares social media pages on Facebook and Twitter.
“We are extremely excited to launch the CARES website,” said Scot Eubanks, CARES coordinator for FFBF. “Through this website we are able to give farmers and ranchers public recognition and bring awareness to their advanced farming practices nationwide.”
The CARES program was established by Florida Farm Bureau and the Suwannee River Partnership in 2001 to recognize superior natural resource conservation by agricultural producers. Since its inception, more than 600 agriculturists statewide have received the CARES award. The program relies on the voluntary action by farmers and ranchers to implement state-of-the-art natural resource management systems, or Best Management Practices, on their properties. CARES award winners have received certification from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services that their farming operations have successfully met state BMP standards.
The CARES program involves partnerships with more than 60 organizations, including The Mosaic Company, the world’s leading producer of phosphate and potash crop nutrients.
Florida Farm Bureau is the Sunshine State’s largest general agricultural organization with more than 147,000 member-families statewide. Membership provides a multitude of benefits. You don’t have to be a farmer to be a member of Florida Farm Bureau.