Nine agricultural projects to share in district funds for water conservation, nutrient reduction

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PALATKA, Fla., April 13, 2018 — Nine agricultural projects will share in more than $918,000 from the St. Johns River Water Management District to improve water conservation and reduce nutrient loading to area waterways. The district’s Governing Board approved the project ranking at Tuesday’s meeting. Proposed projects are anticipated to collectively conserve an estimated 616,438 gallons of water each day and reduce total nitrogen by an estimated 2,084 pounds per year and total phosphorus by 10,695 pounds per year.

“Sustainable farming practices protect the environment but also can increase growers’ production and quality,” said St. Johns River Water Management District Executive Director Dr. Ann Shortelle. “These proactive measures by the agricultural community will increase irrigation efficiency for water conservation and reduce nutrient loading to the St. Johns River and its tributaries.”

Projects receiving funds are:

  • Cherrylake Inc.
  • Bernard A. Eagan Groves
  • Hammond Station Growers, Inc.
  • Caldwell Citrus Groves (two projects)
  • Triple J Farms
  • IMG Enterprises Inc.
  • Legacy Farms and Ornamentals
  • Estes Groves Inc.

The district received 13 applications for projects seeking funds through the Fiscal Year 2018-2019 Districtwide Ag Cost-share Program for projects in the 15 counties outside the Tri-County Agricultural Area (portions of Flagler, Putnam and St. Johns counties), which has its own separate funding program for agricultural projects.

The Districtwide Agricultural Cost Share program began in July 2015 to assist farmers and growers with implementing projects that conserve water and result in nutrient loading reductions. To date, 75 projects have been approved for funding since the program’s inception.

For information about district cost-share programs, visit www.sjrwmd.com/localgovernments/funding/.