Tag Archives: Hendry

FWC’s Florida Panther Payment for Ecosystem Services Pilot Program

October 4, 2024UncategorizedBroward, Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Florida Panther, FloridAgriculture eNewsletter, FWC, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Hillsborough, Jake Fojtik, Lee, Manatee, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okeechobee, Osceola, Polk, SarasotaShelby Martin

October 2024 FloridAgriculture eNewsletter

Landowners who maintain and improve Florida panther habitat of high conservation priority on their property may be eligible for rewards. Landowners within the following counties are eligible for participation: Broward, Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okeechobee, Osceola, Polk and Sarasota.

The FWC is providing annual payments to landowners who have Florida panther habitat of high conservation priority. Enrollment is voluntary and competitive based on the location, amount, and quality of panther habitat provided as well as available funding. Optional opportunities are available for landowners to coordinate with the FWC to monitor panthers on their property and receive additional payments for evidence of panther use. Information is also being offered on land management techniques to benefit wildlife, livestock depredation mitigation, and other topics.

The program benefits both private landowners and the panther population by providing per-acre payments for habitat conditions that support panther conservation and landscape connectivity. While Florida panthers are the primary focus of the program, it will provide benefits to varied species, such as white-tailed deer, Florida black bears, and others that depend on the mosaic of habitats used by panthers.

Click here for FWC’s Landowner Guide detailing program requirements, eligibility, payment rates, bonus payment opportunities, monitoring requirements, and more.

For additional information about the program, click here or contact Jake Fojtik for additional information.

Additional Resources:
Panther PES Brochure
Landowner Guide PES
Fillable Panther PES Application
FWC Panther PES FAQs

FFBF Provides Comment for the Lower East Coast Water Supply Plan

June 4, 2024UncategorizedBroward, Collier, FloridAgriculture eNewsletter, Hendry, Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual, LEC WSP, LOSOM, Lower East Coast Water Supply Plan, Miami-Dad, Monroe, Palm Beach, SFMWD, South Florida Water Management DistrictShelby Martin

June 2024 FloridAgriculture eNewsletter

The South Florida Water Management District (SFMWD) manages five different Water Supply Planning Regions throughout their 16-county geographic boundary. These water supply plans are updated every five years and were developed to assess and project water demands and potential sources of water through 20-year planning horizon. The plan updates are used by local governments, water users and utilities to update and modify local comprehensive plans, facility work plans and ordinances.

The Lower East Coast Water Supply Plan (LEC WSP) area includes Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade and parts of Monroe, Collier, and Hendry counties. The South Florida Water Management District is developing the 2023-2024 Lower East Coast Water Supply Plan Update (2023-2024 LEC Plan Update) to assess projected water demands and potential sources of water for the period from 2021 to 2045.

The Lower East Coast Planning Area has a growing population and limited freshwater resources. Because freshwater resources are limited, the 2023-2024 LEC Plan Update focuses on other water supply sources, such as reverse osmosis to treat brackish groundwater, reclaimed water, storage options, seasonal surface water and water conservation to address future demands.

Florida Farm Bureau Federation remains very involved in all statewide Water Supply Plans, commenting regularly to ensure agriculture’s right to adequate water supply to stay in business. Comments on the LECWSP arose due to concerns over inadequate incorporation of the new Lake Okeechobee regulation schedule and its effect on agricultural water supply.

Below are the comments that were submitted to the LEC plan manager.

“On behalf of the Florida Farm Bureau Federation and our 132,000 member families, many of which live and farm within the boundaries of the Lower East Coast Water Supply Plan (LEC WSP) area, I appreciate the opportunity to comment on the Lower East Coast Water Supply Plan Update.

We have remaining concerns regarding how the upcoming Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual (LOSOM) will be handled in the Water Supply Plan Update. Uncertainty remains on how to create and implement this plan without knowing what the lake schedule will be. The way that the schedule is described in the current LOSOM Water Control Plan does not provide the certainty and predictability needed for uniform and reliable operations. When we go back and review prior water supply plans, heavy reliance is placed on the lake regulation schedule, and with current LOSOM operations, and its inability to meet the lake’s MFL, we have no way of knowing how this will affect water supply.

Due to these concerns, we would like to request a delay in the plan process.

Florida Farm Bureau Federation greatly appreciates the District’s openness and willingness to listen to the concerns of our industry. We are thankful for the opportunity to provide these comments and look forward to continued collaboration.”

For more information, please contact the Florida Farm Bureau Federation Government and Community Affairs Division.

Central Florida Farmers Encouraged to Attend the Landowner Assistant Expo

May 8, 2024UncategorizedDeSoto, FloridAgriculture e-Newsletter, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Highlands County, Highlands Soil and Water Conservation District, Landowner Assistant Expo, Okeechobee, Osceola, PolkShelby Martin

June 2024 FloridAgriculture e-Newsletter

The Central Florida Regional Planning Council in conjunction with the Highlands Soil and Water Conservation District is hosting a Landowner Assistance Expo on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, from 8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. It will be held at the Bert J. Harris Agricultural Center Auditorium at 4509 George Boulevard, Sebring, FL 33875.

This is a great opportunity for farmers and ranchers in central Florida to network and learn about other potential sources of conservation or income outside of traditional farming practices.

Landowners, regardless of acreage size, in DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Okeechobee, Osceola, and Polk Counties are encouraged to attend and participate in conversations related to technical assistance, cost-share opportunities, conservation easements, and the financial implications of each program. Outreach representatives will be on hand to provide brief overviews of local, State, Federal, and non-governmental programs and receive feedback from the attendees.

Lunch will be provided and served by the Highlands Soil and Water Conservation District.