Water Management District Agricultural Cost Share Programs

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
ContactStacey 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.