Water Management district budgets start October 1, 2017 so it’s a good time to decide if their agricultural cost-share programs are applicable and beneficial to your operation. These programs typically incentivize water conservation and quality enhancement projects and some have eligibility requirements.
South Florida Water Management District
Contact: Stacey Adams, 561-682-2577
Programs, Preliminary Budget, and Goals: Conservation and alternative supplies: $4.5M – stormwater; $3.5M – alternative supply (e.g. tailwater recovery); $1.0M – conservation projects.
Process: District-wide applications this winter; funding by summer.
St. Johns River Water Management District
Contact: Suzanne Archer, 407-215-1450
District-wide Ag Cost-Share: Conservation and quality improvement technologies – $1.5M
Tri-County Ag Area (Flagler, Putnam, and St. Johns Counties): Primarily quality projects – $1.5M
Agriculture Springs Initiative Program (Silver Springs Spring-shed): Water conservation and/or nutrient reduction – $1.4M
Process: Anticipate District-wide proposals due in May; TCAA proposals due in June.
Suwannee River Water Management District
Contacts: Ben Glass, 386-362-1001
Justin Garland, 800-226-1066
Programs, Preliminary Budget, and Goals: Irrigation efficiency and nutrient management – $2.5M
Process: SRWMD anticipates cost-sharing will start late fall / winter.
Southwest Florida Water Management District
Contacts: (FARMS) Program: Chris Zajac, 813-985-748, ext. 4413
Mini-FARMS: Jessica Stempien, 813-985-7481, ext. 2125
Patricia Hobson, 941-377-3722, ext. 6516
Programs, Preliminary Budget, and Goals: FARMS primarily funds water conservation, up to 75% of costs. Mini-FARMS assists farms less than 100 acres conserve water and install quality BMPs, up to 75% of costs, capped at $5,000.00. Preliminary budget: FARMS – $6 million; Mini-FARMS – $100k.
Process: Apply year-round.
Northwest Florida Water Management District
Contact: Angela Chelette, 850-539-2650
Program Goals: Jackson Blue Springs; efficiency and nutrient reduction – $1.0M
Contact Charles Shinn for additional information at 352-374-1522.