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Charles H. Bronson, Commissioner    -    Richard J. Budell, Director

Agricultural BMPs At a Glance

Description of Agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs)

  • Agricultural BMPs are practical, cost-effective actions that agricultural producers can take to reduce the amount of pesticides, fertilizers, animal waste, and other pollutants entering our water resources.

  • BMPs are designed to benefit water quality while maintaining or even enhancing agricultural production.

  • The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) develops and adopts BMPs by rule for different types of agricultural operations. Most of the BMPs are outlined in specific manuals, which can be found on this website.

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Purpose of Agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs)

  • Florida law provides for farmers to reduce their impacts to water quality through the voluntary implementation of BMPs adopted by FDACS. In some cases, agricultural BMPs are required.

  • The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) is developing Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs; target levels for specific pollutants in impaired waterbodies), and will develop Basin Management Action Plans (BMAPs) for many of these TMDLs. Agricultural BMPs are required by law in areas of the state where FDEP develops a BMAP that includes agriculture.

  • Agricultural BMPs are also required by law in the Lake Okeechobee Watershed.

  • Implementing BMPs benefits both the farmer and the environment, and demonstrates Agriculture’s commitment to water resource protection.

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Geography of Agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs)
  • Region-based agricultural BMPs have been adopted for:
    • Forage grass within the Suwannee River WMD
    • Leatherleaf ferns in and around Volusia County
    • The Lake Wales Citrus Ridge Area
    • The Indian River Citrus Area
    • Peace River – Manasota Citrus Groves (Manatee, Sarasota, Hardee, DeSoto, Charlotte counties)
    • Gulf Citrus (Hendry, Glades, Lee, Collier, Charlotte counties)
    • Container Nurseries within the South Florida WMD
    • The Tri-county Agricultural Area in the St. Johns River WMD
    • Cow/calf operations in the Lake Okeechobee watershed
  • Statewide-based agricultural BMPs have been adopted/are being developed for:
    • Vegetable and Agronomic Crops (adopted)
    • Container Nurseries
    • Cow/calf Operations
    • Equine Operations
    • Sod Farms
    • Water Conservation
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Implementation of Agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs)

  • Farmers submit a Notice of Intent (NOI) to implement specific BMPs contained in an FDACS BMP Manual or rule.

  • In some areas of the state, farmers develop site-specific conservation plans that contain the appropriate BMPs.

  • Any farmer operating in an area covered by applicable FDACS BMPs is eligible to submit a Notice of Intent (NOI) under the appropriate manual or rule.

  • In areas with FDEP BMAPs that include agriculture, farmers must implement BMPs or conduct water quality monitoring.

  • Enrollment in FDACS BMP Programs is continuous. FDACS has a long-term commitment to enlisting and providing assistance to farmers to implement BMPs.

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Involvement in Agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs)

  • OAWP Tallahassee and field staff work directly with farmers and agricultural representatives to assist them in understanding and implementing BMPs.

  • OAWP also contracts with entities such as the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), the Water Management Districts, the Soil and Water Conservation Districts, the Resource Conservation and Development Councils, and private-sector entities to provide cost-share, educational, and technical assistance.

  • OAWP is participating in a contract with IFAS to provide training to private-sector vendors who wish to assist in National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Conservation Plan development.

  • OAWP is developing a “Quality Assurance” program, to follow up with farmers statewide and ensure that BMPs are being implemented properly.

  • OAWP will be also working with FDEP, IFAS, the Water Management Districts, and others to monitor the effectiveness of BMPs in protecting water quality.

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