By MaryAnn Kwader
P.R. Programs Manager
Farmers who have voluntarily adopted best management practices (BMPs) to manage the flow of nutrients to the Santa Fe Basin were recognized for their ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship at a dinner hosted by Sen. Rod Smith in mid-October at the DeChamplain Heaven’s Gate Farm in Trenton.

Florida Farm Bureau, in cooperation with the Suwannee River Partnership and the Suwannee River Water Management District, inducted five agricultural producers who have implemented sound environmental practices into the County Alliance for Responsible Environmental Stewardship (CARES) program.

CARES is an incentive-based program dedicated to protecting Florida’s water quality by promoting environmentally sound and economically viable farming. It is backed by 31 agricultural associations, government agencies and corporations working together in partnership with farmers to reduce nitrate levels in rivers and groundwater through voluntary management programs.

“Farmers depend on the environment for their livelihood,” said Matt Harrison, Farm Bureau’s CARES program coordinator. “No one has a larger stake in protecting the environment than farmers.”

In order to qualify for the program, farmers must implement BMPs specific to their farming operation. BMPs are used to minimize pollutants from agricultural activities from entering water resources.

The implementation of BMPs is a continual process that requires an on-farm assessment to indicate the operation’s needs. It often takes several years to fully execute the practices.

Once the recognition is received, on-site inspections verify continued environmental stewardship efforts through a quality assurance program.

Participation in the CARES program signifies a long-term commitment to the environment. Farmers selected for recognition under the CARES program will have a sign placed at their farm gates proclaiming “This Farm CARES.” The first group of CARES signs was placed on farms during spring 2001.

Florida Farm Bureau and the other cooperating agencies of the Suwannee Partnership continue to promote the CARES program to ensure that the public understands the significant contributions made by farmers and ranchers displaying the signs.

“By recognizing producers for implementing BMPs, we want to promote agriculture’s environmental contribution to the state,” Harrison said.

With this year’s inductees, more than 140 participants have been recognized with CARES signs in the last three years. Florida Farm Bureau plans to implement the CARES program throughout the state.

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CONTACT WEBMASTER

Florida Farm Bureau Federation
P.O. Box 147030
Gainesville, FL 32614-7030
Phone: (352) 378-1321