But the freeze was so severe and lasted so many days that sinkholes opened up and wells ran dry because the extended use of groundwater lowered the level of the Floridan aquifer.

What works to save the berries on one farm may not work for another. Some operations use crop cloths.

To reduce the chances of similar problems in the future, the Southwest Florida Water Management District created the Dover/Plant City Water Use Caution Area and developed a local  frost/freeze plan.  The goal was to reduce the amount of groundwater used for frost/freeze protection by 20 percent during the next 10 years. As part of the effort, the district provides funding for growers to try new ways to reduce water use when the temperature drops.

The water-use caution area is part of the Facilitating Agricultural Resource Management Systems (FARMS) program, and it’s off to a running start. Learn more about these and other FARMS-funded efforts  here.

“Since the 2010 events, we’ve funded 15 FARMS projects,” said Ed Craig, the water management district’s FARMS program manager. “They range from surface water and tailwater recovery to laying crop cloths. We’ve even funded a wind machine project.” Craig said those projects are expected to save 29.7 million gallons of water per freeze.

FARMS’ goal within the water use caution area is to offset 180 million gallons per event in frost/freeze protection quantities that have been permitted.

The new projects were put to the test Jan. 3 and 4 during a much shorter cold spell. “Preliminary numbers say we saved 26.53 million gallons,” Craig said. The estimate takes into account that not all the projects have been completed. Only some were used during that cold snap.

Frost/freeze protection projects vary

What works to save the berries on one farm may not work for another. Some operations are using crop cloths, blankets and hoops. Others use tailwater recovery. Automatic meter reading devices are also a part of the plan. FARMS projects provided by the water management district include:

Astin Farms
Astin Farms, Inc. will be reimbursed up to $263,240 for two surface-water irrigation and tailwater recovery systems at Astin’s 526-acre South Farm and 19-acre Karpee Road strawberry farms. These projects will reduce groundwater withdrawals normally used for bed preparation and crop plant establishment, as well as reduce the amount of groundwater pumped for frost/freeze protection. FARMS funding will help pay for pump stations and piping. The project’s total estimated cost is $484,307 and could reduce groundwater withdrawals by an average of 156,600 gallons per day and 9.4 million gallons per frost/freeze event.

San-Way Farms
San-Way Farms, Inc. will be reimbursed up to $165,868 for a surface water
irrigation reservoir and tailwater recovery system at its 70-acre strawberry farm. The project will reduce groundwater withdrawals normally used for bed preparation, crop plant establishment, daily irrigation and groundwater pumped for freeze protection. FARMS funding will help pay for a pump station, filters, an in-line chlorinator and piping. The project’s total estimated cost is $334,183 and could reduce groundwater withdrawals by an average of 96,740 gallons per day and 4.4 million gallons per frost/freeze event.

Sewell Farms
Sewell Farms, LLC will be reimbursed up to $92,480 for 25 acres of row covers and a surface water irrigation and tailwater recovery system at its 108-acre strawberry farm. The project will reduce groundwater withdrawals normally used for bed preparation, crop plant establishment and groundwater pumped for freeze protection. FARMS funding will help pay for a pump station, an intake screen and piping, as well as 25 acres of row covers. The project’s total estimated cost is $152,292 and could reduce groundwater withdrawals by an average of 88,400 gallons per day and 4.1 million gallons per frost/freeze event.

Sizemore Farms
Sizemore Farms, Inc. will be reimbursed up to $395,182 for a surface water irrigation and tailwater recovery system at its 242-acre English Creek strawberry farm. The project will reduce groundwater withdrawals normally used for bed preparation, crop plant establishment and daily irrigation. FARMS funding will help pay for pumps, pump sheds, piping, a weather station, a tailwater recovery tile system, culverts and filtration systems. The project’s total estimated cost is $540,000 and could reduce groundwater withdrawals by an average of 146,190 gallons per day.

Sydney Farms
Sydney Farms, Inc. will be reimbursed up to $110,500 for a surface water irrigation and tailwater recovery system at its 111-acre Donini Farm strawberry farm. The project will reduce groundwater withdrawals normally used for bed preparation, crop plant establishment and daily irrigation, as well as reduce the amount of groundwater pumped for frost/freeze protection. FARMS funding will help pay for pump stations and piping. The project’s total estimated cost is $390,360 and could reduce groundwater withdrawals by an average of 64,450 gallons per day and 374,000 gallons per frost/freeze event.

Well on the way but a long way to go

Craig said the district is pleased with the progress being made, but he admits there is still a long way to go to reach the goal of 180 million gallons of water being saved during a freeze event. “If our estimates are correct, once all 15 of the projects being funded right now are in place, we should save approximately 29.7 million gallons per event,” he said. More farms are expected to apply for FARMS funding for frost/freeze protection projects.

“Right now is a slow time for trying to get these projects in place because the fields are already planted and growing and producing strawberries,” Craig said. “After this growing season, especially over the summer, is when you’ll typically get the projects in because that’s when the growers are planning for the next season.
“We’ve still got a long way to go, but it’s on the move. We’re pleased with the results thus far,” said Craig.

More information and applications are available here.