FEBRUARY 20, 2006

ISSUE 1103

FDACS FINALIZES ROW CROP BMP MANUAL

 

After more than four years of effort by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), Office of Agricultural Water Policy; the Florida Department of Environmental Protection; and a variety of stakeholders including FFVA, the statewide BMP Manual for Vegetable and Agronomic Crops was adopted by Rule 5M-8 on February 8, 2006.

 

The rule is available online at http://fac.dos.state.fl.us/faconline/chapter05.pdf.

 

FFVA members are strongly encouraged to obtain a copy of the manual, implement appropriate BMPs, and submit a Notice of Intent (NOI) form that documents the landowner’s intent to implement selected practices.

 

Please keep in mind that Florida law now requires growers in impaired watersheds where Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) have been established and Basin Management Action Plans (BMAPs) have been developed, to implement BMPs or conduct water quality monitoring to demonstrate that the farming operation is not causing or contributing to the impairment of the receiving water body.

 

In accordance with the adoption rule and Chapter 403.067 of the Florida Statutes, growers who implement BMPs and submit the NOI will receive a presumption of compliance with state water quality standards.

 

For further information, please contact Alan Peirce at the FFVA Government Affairs Office at (850) 521-0455.