TRADE ASSOCIATE MEMBER UPDATE

FFVA Trade Associate Member Jerry Joiner never dreamed he’d have such a fun, interesting retirement. After spending 36 years with USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service (formerly the Soil Conservation Service) he was just looking for something to do after retirement when he got an important call.

“The St. Johns River and the South Florida Water Management districts asked me if I would be interested in working with private landowners whom they wanted to help get into federal programs,” said Joiner. “I said, ‘Absolutely!’ ” And Jerry Joiner Consulting Inc. was born.

“I had been the assistant state conservationist, sort of like an assistant state director,” Joiner said. “There was a lot of responsibility, a lot of meetings, a lot of paperwork, and I don’t have that anymore. I get in my pickup truck and go see a farmer, and that’s pretty neat.”

A WHOLE NEW WAY OF LIFE

Joiner retired in January 2004, set up the consulting business and never looked back. The water management districts kept him busy on three fronts: looking for federal dollars for their own projects, training their staff about USDA programs, and working with private landowners to get them to participate in those programs.

“That’s the part I enjoyed the most – working with production agriculture and trying to keep agriculture on the landscape of Florida,” said Joiner.

These days, Joiner works with four of the five regional water districts in the state, often helping landowners whose property is either adjacent to water district land or is located in a sensitive area. He serves as a liaison between USDA, the districts and the landowners.

He spends time with cattle ranchers and farmers who would like to partner with USDA in conservation easement programs, helping them secure payment from the government in exchange for perpetual or 30-year easements. The programs help keep the land in agriculture and holds off sprawling development. “It all comes down to whether you want open space or you want houses. I want agriculture,” Joiner said, adding that he’s pleased whenever he can make a difference. “It’s nice to get a little footprint out there on the landscape,” he said.

Currently, Joiner is working with a group of ranchers with land adjacent to Myakka State Park in Manatee County who want to put some of that land into conservation easements. “The goal is to take 3,000 acres, all joined to the state park, and turn it into easements through partnering with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Southwest Florida Water Management District and the landowners themselves,” said Joiner.

In addition to procuring funds for conservation easements, Joiner also helps the water districts, landowners and local governments access grants and cost-share programs for cleanup projects, erosion control, water quality, sewage treatment plants, rural water supply and other projects.

STAYING CLOSE TO AGRICULTURE

Jerry Joiner, shown here driving his 1958-vintage tractor, thanks farmers and ranchers for showing him some of the most beautiful parts of Florida.

Joiner wasn’t quite sure what he wanted to do with his life when he was younger, but he knew one thing: he wanted to stay close to agriculture. He grew up on a beef cattle operation in Kentucky, attended Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green and went straight to work for the Soil Conservation Service.

“I’ve always respected the people in agriculture,” Joiner said. “There’s no one like a good agriculturalist. They just want to work hard and be left alone.” And he’s grateful to them on another level as well. “I never dreamed I would get to see parts of Florida that are still the real thing. Most people think of theme parks and Daytona Beach when they think of Florida. I feel very fortunate that I’ve been able to see some of the most beautiful places in the state and work with good people who are such an inspiration,” he said.

Joiner says agriculture has changed quite a bit over the years. “It used to be that you could stay out on the ranch or the farm and mind your own business and not have any problems. Nowadays, you’ve got to come off that ranch and go to Tallahassee or Washington, D.C., and let your voice be heard just to keep what you’ve got,” Joiner said, adding that many of the concerns he hears from the farmers and ranchers he works with relate to the regulatory aspects of agriculture, production needs and cash flow.

BORN TO BE WILD

No one can live on work alone, and Joiner is no exception. In spite of his extremely busy schedule, he takes time to pursue a great passion. When he’s not tracking down federal money for conservation efforts, he’s on the open road on his Harley Davidson motorcycle. “I’m heading out to Sturgis, South Dakota, the first week of August with five of my cousins. We’re all going to meet out there and ride across Montana and South Dakota for about two weeks and just have a ball,” he said.

After Joiner returns from his Western adventure, you can reach him at his Micanopy office at (352) 339-6493 or via e-mail at JerryRJoiner@aol.com. He’ll be happy to help you preserve your share of the Florida landscape.