- 2023 Districtwide agricultural cost-share
- 2022 Silver Springs Ag BMP cost-share
- 2022 Districtwide agricultural cost-share
- 2021 Districtwide agricultural cost-share
- 2021 Silver Springs Ag BMP cost-share
- 2020 Districtwide agricultural cost-share
- 2020 Silver Springs Ag BMP cost-share
- 2019 Agricultural cost-share
- 2019 Silver Springs Ag BMP cost-share
- 2018 Silver Springs Ag BMP cost-share
- 2018 Agricultural cost-share
- 2017 Agricultural cost-share
- TCAA resources
- Other ag programs
2022 Silver Springs Agricultural BMP Cost-share program
The objective of the St. Johns River Water Management District’s Silver Springs Springshed Agricultural BMP Cost-Share Program is to engage farmers, growers and ranchers in the Silver Springs Springshed in the shared goals of water conservation and run-off nutrient reduction; thereby helping to assure the sustainability of agriculture within the region while addressing the Silver Springs Basin Management Action Plan and Minimum Flow Prevention Strategy.
Application deadline was March 14, 2022.
Eligible Projects/Equipment
Project types and cost-share items that will be considered for funding include those listed below; however, other ideas that would further the program’s objectives may be proposed. Permitting and preparation of bids will not be considered eligible for funding.
Projects and Equipment:
- Surface Drip Irrigation
- Micro-Irrigation
- Center pivot or Linear Move Overhead
- Irrigation/Drain Tile
- Center Pivot Retrofits
- Tailwater Recovery and Reuse
- Expanded Waste Storage
- Over Saran Irrigation (Freeze Protection)
- Soil Moisture/Climate Sensor Telemetry
- Precision Agriculture Equipment
- Fertilizer Application Equipment with GPS
- Variable Frequency Drive for pumps
See “Program overview” at right for additional details.
Program contact
For information about the districtwide Agricultural Cost-Share Program, contact:
- Suzanne Archer
(St. Johns River
Water Management District)
at 407-215-1450 or sarcher@sjrwmd.com
2021 Districtwide agricultural cost-share
The St. Johns River Water Management District accepted applications for its districtwide Agricultural Cost-Share Program through Jan. 29, 2021. The objective of the program is to engage farmers, growers and ranchers in the shared goals of water conservation and reduction of nutrient run-off.
Projects eligible for funding include, but are not limited to, the following (please note that high tunnels will not be considered for funding):
- Irrigation system retrofits
- Soil moisture and climate sensor telemetry
- Rainwater harvesting
- Subirrigation drain tile
- Tailwater recovery and reuse
- Soil mapping with variable rate fertilizer application
- Expanded waste storage
Cost-share could be up to 75 percent, not to exceed $250,000 annually, of the design, construction and implementation costs for approved projects. An MIL (Mobile Irrigation Lab) evaluation is recommended for submittal with the application but is not required. Applications were due by Jan. 29, 2021.
Regarding SB 552, the district’s agricultural cost-share program has been funded with the goal of increasing water conservation and thereby reducing water use. Participation in the cost-share program is entirely voluntary. To ensure that expending these funds provides a return on investment in the form of an actual reduction in water use, one requirement of the cost-share agreement is that the recipient be willing to memorialize the savings produced by district funds through a modification of their consumptive use permit. Any reduction in allocation that does occur as a result of receipt of funds through the cost-share program would have a backup allocation for a minimum of five years, while the new system is being evaluated to ensure the reduction would not impair the permittee’s ability to continue their operation. If a grower chooses to fund his/her own conservation project, there would be no reduction in permitted allocation during the term of the permit in compliance with the Florida Statutes. Additionally, in order to promote conservation, the district may provide longer duration permits to those who have demonstrated conservation on their farms, regardless of funding source.
Silver Springs Minimum Flows and Levels
Cost-share recipients who are subject to the Prevention Strategy for the Silver Springs Minimum Flows and Levels with a project that will create a resource benefit that could be used to offset impacts from their existing permitted water use as of April 12, 2017, will be required to designate the water resource as a receiving entity of any excess benefit up to a maximum of the percentage of funding provided by the District for the project, and to modify their Consumptive Use Permit(s) accordingly.
Program contact
For information about the districtwide Agricultural Cost-Share Program, contact:
- Suzanne Archer
(St. Johns River
Water Management District)
at 407-215-1450 or sarcher@sjrwmd.com
2021 Silver Springs Agricultural BMP Cost-share program
The objective of the St. Johns River Water Management District’s Silver Springs Springshed Agricultural BMP Cost-Share Program is to engage farmers, growers and ranchers in the Silver Springs Springshed in the shared goals of water conservation and run-off nutrient reduction; thereby helping to assure the sustainability of agriculture within the region while addressing the Silver Springs Basin Management Action Plan and Minimum Flow Prevention Strategy.
Application deadline was Feb. 26, 2021.
Eligible Projects/Equipment
Project types and cost-share items that will be considered for funding include those listed below; however, other ideas that would further the program’s objectives may be proposed. Permitting and preparation of bids will not be considered eligible for funding.
Projects and Equipment:
- Surface Drip Irrigation
- Micro-Irrigation
- Center pivot or Linear Move Overhead
- Irrigation/Drain Tile
- Center Pivot Retrofits
- Tailwater Recovery and Reuse
- Expanded Waste Storage
- Over Saran Irrigation (Freeze Protection)
- Soil Moisture/Climate Sensor Telemetry
- Precision Agriculture Equipment
- Fertilizer Application Equipment with GPS
- Variable Frequency Drive for pumps
See “Program overview” at right for additional details.
Program contact
For information about the districtwide Agricultural Cost-Share Program, contact:
- Suzanne Archer
(St. Johns River
Water Management District)
at 407-215-1450 or sarcher@sjrwmd.com
2020 Districtwide agricultural cost-share
The St. Johns River Water Management District accepted applications for its districtwide Agricultural Cost-Share Program through March 2, 2020. The objective of the program is to engage farmers, growers and ranchers in the shared goals of water conservation and reduction of nutrient run-off.
Projects eligible for funding include, but are not limited to, the following (please note that high tunnels will not be considered for funding):
- Irrigation system retrofits
- Soil moisture and climate sensor telemetry
- Rainwater harvesting
- Subirrigation drain tile
- Tailwater recovery and reuse
- Soil mapping with variable rate fertilizer application
- Expanded waste storage
Cost-share could be up to 75 percent, not to exceed $250,000 annually, of the design, construction and implementation costs for approved projects. An MIL (Mobile Irrigation Lab) evaluation is recommended for submittal with the application but is not required. Applications are due by March 2, 2020.
Regarding SB 552, the district’s agricultural cost-share program has been funded with the goal of increasing water conservation and thereby reducing water use. Participation in the cost-share program is entirely voluntary. To ensure that expending these funds provides a return on investment in the form of an actual reduction in water use, one requirement of the cost-share agreement is that the recipient be willing to memorialize the savings produced by district funds through a modification of their consumptive use permit. Any reduction in allocation that does occur as a result of receipt of funds through the cost-share program would have a backup allocation for a minimum of five years, while the new system is being evaluated to ensure the reduction would not impair the permittee’s ability to continue their operation. If a grower chooses to fund his/her own conservation project, there would be no reduction in permitted allocation during the term of the permit in compliance with the Florida Statutes. Additionally, in order to promote conservation, the district may provide longer duration permits to those who have demonstrated conservation on their farms, regardless of funding source.
Silver Springs Minimum Flows and Levels
Cost-share recipients who are subject to the Prevention Strategy for the Silver Springs Minimum Flows and Levels with a project that will create a resource benefit that could be used to offset impacts from their existing permitted water use as of April 12, 2017, will be required to designate the water resource as a receiving entity of any excess benefit up to a maximum of the percentage of funding provided by the District for the project, and to modify their Consumptive Use Permit(s) accordingly.
Program contact
For information about the districtwide Agricultural Cost-Share Program, contact:
- Suzanne Archer
(St. Johns River
Water Management District)
at 407-215-1450 or sarcher@sjrwmd.com
2020 Silver Springs Agricultural Cost-share program
The objective of the St. Johns River Water Management District Silver Springs Springshed Agricultural BMP Cost-Share Program is to engage farmers, growers and ranchers within the Silver Springs Springshed in the shared goals of water conservation and run-off nutrient reduction; thereby helping to assure the sustainability of agriculture within the region while addressing the Silver Springs Basin Management Action Plan and Minimum Flow Prevention Strategy.
Application deadline is March 2, 2020.
Project types and cost-share items that will be considered for funding include those listed below; however, other ideas that would further the program’s objectives may be proposed. Permitting and preparation of bids will not be considered eligible for funding.
Projects and Equipment:
- Surface Drip Irrigation
- Center pivot or Linear Move Overhead
- Center Pivot Retrofits
- Expanded Waste Storage
- Soil Moisture/Climate Sensor Telemetry
- Fertilizer Application Equipment with GPS
- Other Conservation/Quality Projects that meet program objectives
- Micro-Irrigation
- Irrigation/Drain Tile
- Tailwater Recovery and Reuse
- Over Saran Irrigation (Freeze Protection)
- Precision Agriculture Equipment
- Variable Frequency Drive for pumps
See “Program overview” at right for additional details.
Program contact
For information about the districtwide Agricultural Cost-Share Program, contact:
- Suzanne Archer
(St. Johns River
Water Management District)
at 407-215-1450 or sarcher@sjrwmd.com
Districtwide agricultural cost-share
The St. Johns River Water Management District accepted applications for its districtwide Agricultural Cost-Share Program through Aug. 16, 2019. The objective of the program is to engage farmers, growers and ranchers in the shared goals of water conservation and reduction of nutrient run-off.
Projects eligible for funding include, but are not limited to, the following (please note that high tunnels will not be considered for funding):
- Irrigation system retrofits
- Soil moisture and climate sensor telemetry
- Rainwater harvesting
- Subirrigation drain tile
- Tailwater recovery and reuse
- Soil mapping with variable rate fertilizer application
- Expanded waste storage
Cost-share could be up to 75 percent, not to exceed $250,000 annually, of the design, construction and implementation costs for approved projects. An MIL (Mobile Irrigation Lab) evaluation is recommended for submittal with the application but is not required. Applications were due by Aug. 16, 2019, with project selection anticipated for approval at the district’s Oct. 8, 2019, Governing Board meeting.
Regarding SB 552, the district’s agricultural cost-share program has been funded with the goal of increasing water conservation and thereby reducing water use. Participation in the cost-share program is entirely voluntary. To ensure that expending these funds provides a return on investment in the form of an actual reduction in water use, one requirement of the cost-share agreement is that the recipient be willing to memorialize the savings produced by district funds through a modification of their consumptive use permit. Any reduction in allocation that does occur as a result of receipt of funds through the cost-share program would have a backup allocation for a minimum of five years, while the new system is being evaluated to ensure the reduction would not impair the permittee’s ability to continue their operation. If a grower chooses to fund his/her own conservation project, there would be no reduction in permitted allocation during the term of the permit in compliance with the Florida Statutes. Additionally, in order to promote conservation, the district may provide longer duration permits to those who have demonstrated conservation on their farms, regardless of funding source.
Silver Springs Minimum Flows and Levels
Cost-share recipients who are subject to the Prevention Strategy for the Silver Springs Minimum Flows and Levels with a project that will create a resource benefit that could be used to offset impacts from their existing permitted water use as of April 12, 2017, will be required to designate the water resource as a receiving entity of any excess benefit up to a maximum of the percentage of funding provided by the District for the project, and to modify their Consumptive Use Permit(s) accordingly.
Program contact
For information about the districtwide Agricultural Cost-Share Program, contact:
- Suzanne Archer
(St. Johns River
Water Management District)
at 407-215-1450 or sarcher@sjrwmd.com
2019 Silver Springs Agricultural Cost-Share Program
The St. Johns River Water Management District accepted applications for the Silver Springs Agricultural Cost-Share Program through June 3, 2019. The objective of the program is to engage farmers, growers and ranchers in the Silver Springs Springshed in the shared goals of water conservation and run-off nutrient reduction; thereby helping to assure the sustainability of agriculture within the region while addressing the Silver Springs Basin Management Action Plan and Minimum Flow Prevention Strategy.
Project types and cost-share items that will be considered for funding include those listed below; however, other ideas that would further the program’s objectives may be proposed. Permitting and preparation of bids will not be considered eligible for funding.
- Surface Drip Irrigation
- Center pivot or Linear Move Overhead
- Center Pivot Retrofits
- Expanded Waste Storage
- Soil Moisture/Climate Sensor Telemetry
- Fertilizer Application Equipment with GPS
- Other Conservation/Quality Projects that meet program objectives
- Micro-Irrigation
- Irrigation/Drain Tile
- Tailwater Recovery and Reuse
- Over Saran Irrigation (Freeze Protection)
- Precision Agriculture Equipment
- Variable Frequency Drive for pumps
See “Program overview” at right for additional details.
2018 Silver Springs Agricultural Cost-Share Program
The St. Johns River Water Management District accepted applications for the Silver Springs Agricultural Cost-Share Program through Nov. 30, 2018. The objective of the program is to engage farmers, growers and ranchers in the Silver Springs Springshed in the shared goals of water conservation and run-off nutrient reduction; thereby helping to assure the sustainability of agriculture within the region while addressing the Silver Springs Basin Management Action Plan and Minimum Flow Prevention Strategy.
Project types and cost-share items that will be considered for funding include those listed below; however, other ideas that would further the program’s objectives may be proposed. Permitting and preparation of bids will not be considered eligible for funding.
- Surface Drip Irrigation
- Center pivot or Linear Move Overhead
- Center Pivot Retrofits
- Expanded Waste Storage
- Soil Moisture/Climate Sensor Telemetry
- Fertilizer Application Equipment with GPS
- Other Conservation/Quality Projects that meet program objectives
- Micro-Irrigation
- Irrigation/Drain Tile
- Tailwater Recovery and Reuse
- Over Saran Irrigation (Freeze Protection)
- Precision Agriculture Equipment
- Variable Frequency Drive for pumps
See “Program overview” at right for additional details.
Districtwide agricultural cost-share
The St. Johns River Water Management District accepted applications for its districtwide Agricultural Cost-Share Program through July 28, 2017. The objective of the program is to engage farmers, growers and ranchers in the shared goals of water conservation and reduction of nutrient run-off.
Projects eligible for funding include, but are not limited to, the following (please note that high tunnels will not be considered for funding):
- Irrigation system retrofits
- Soil moisture and climate sensor telemetry
- Rainwater harvesting
- Subirrigation drain tile
- Tailwater recovery and reuse
- Soil mapping with variable rate fertilizer application
- Expanded waste storage
Cost-share could be up to 75 percent, not to exceed $250,000 annually, of the design, construction and implementation costs for approved projects. An MIL (Mobile Irrigation Lab) evaluation was recommended for submittal with the application but is not required. Applications were due by July 28, 2017, with project selection anticipated for approval at the district’s Oct. 10, 2017, Governing Board meeting.
Regarding SB 552, the district’s agricultural cost-share program has been funded with the goal of increasing water conservation and thereby reducing water use. Participation in the cost-share program is entirely voluntary. To ensure that expending these funds provides a return on investment in the form of an actual reduction in water use, one requirement of the cost-share agreement is that the recipient be willing to memorialize the savings produced by district funds through a modification of their consumptive use permit. Any reduction in allocation that does occur as a result of receipt of funds through the cost-share program would have a backup allocation for a minimum of five years, while the new system is being evaluated to ensure the reduction would not impair the permittee’s ability to continue their operation. If a grower chooses to fund his/her own conservation project, there would be no reduction in permitted allocation during the term of the permit in compliance with the
Florida Statutes. Additionally, in order to promote conservation, the district may provide longer duration permits to those who have demonstrated conservation on their farms, regardless of funding source.
Program contact
For information about the districtwide Agricultural Cost-Share Program, contact:
- Suzanne Archer
(St. Johns River
Water Management District)
at 407-215-1450 or sarcher@sjrwmd.com
Tri-County Agricultural Area (TCAA) resources
TCAA Water Management Partnership
Multiple agencies are contributing funding, education and technical assistance for growers in the TCAA of Flagler, Putnam and St. Johns counties to implement projects that contribute to improving the health of the St. Johns River. These projects are anticipated to contribute to the improved health of the river through on-farm and regional water management projects and practices that reduce the movement of nutrients to the river, improve water conservation, and result in more efficient farm management while maintaining the long-term viability of agriculture in the TCAA. Applications for the TCAA Water Management Partnership cost-share program are different than the deadline to submit applications for the district’s general agricultural cost-share opportunity.
Project types
Cost-share could be up to 75 percent of the engineering, design and construction costs of an approved project, as submitted using the TCAA Water Management Partnership cost-share funding application form. The grower will be expected to cover maintenance costs; however, future requests for long-term maintenance items (such as drip tape) may be considered for funding.
Project types eligible for funding include:
- Subsurface drip
- Surface drip
- Overhead
- Sub irrigation drain tile
- Wet detention
- Recovery/reuse
Program contacts
For information about the TCAA Water Management Partnership, contact:
Stacey Simmons Environmental Manager (Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Office of Agricultural Water Policy) at 850-815-1361 or stacey.simmons@fdacs.gov
Sol Looker Environmental Consultant (Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Office of Agricultural Water Policy) at 448-220-7265 or Sol.Looker@fdacs.gov
Suzanne Archer (St. Johns River Water Management District) at 407-215-1450 or sarcher@sjrwmd.com
TCAA extension agents (additional information and assistance in filling out applications)
- Putnam County:
Wendy Mussoline
386-329-0318
wmussoli@ufl.edu - St. Johns County:
Evelyn “Prissy” Fletcher
904-209-0430 ext. 4774
pfletch@ufl.edu
Practices/equipment
Cost-share could be up to 75 percent for approved practices/equipment, as requested using the TCAA Water Management Partnership cost-share funding application form. Bander requests may include a global positioning system unit, tender, travel assembly, and/or other bander-related items to ensure the most efficient use of the equipment. Cost-share for approved practices/equipment other than banders and related items could be up to 75 percent of cost.
Cost-share amounts may be contingent on other funds being received for the same practice/equipment (such as Environmental Quality Incentives Program [EQIP] funding). However, if these practices/equipment are part of a project proposal (as shown on the cost-share funding application form), they may be considered for up to 75 percent cost-share. Funding from this program may not duplicate funding from other programs. Projects eligible for funding include:
- Banding equipment
- Pump upgrades with soil moisture sensors
- Soil moisture sensors
- Observation wells
- Soil plant analysis development (SPAD) meters
- Soil compaction meters
- Nurse tank and injection pumps for fertigation
- Automated fertigation and irrigation controllers for drip systems
Cumulative funding cap
Cost-share funding per producer for single-farm projects/practices may not exceed an annual total of $300,000. Supplemental cost-share from other programs will not count toward the TCAA Water Management Partnership cumulative funding cap. TCAA Water Management Partnership cost-share approved for participation in regional projects will not count toward the annual total cap.
Eligibility requirements
Participating growers must meet eligibility requirements, such as complying with all applicable laws and permits, allow appropriate district staff to monitor and inspect project sites, and participate in educational initiatives for other growers.
How to apply for funding
Interested growers who meet the eligibility criteria should submit a completed application along with requested attachments to Stacey Simmons. Project selection committees will review all applications to determine if funding is appropriate based on its potential on the individual farm and expansion to other farms.
National Water Quality Initiative
Funding for implementation of approved agricultural conservation practices to improve water quality in the lower St. Johns River (Deep Creek and Clarks Bay) TCAA watershed is a program (National Water Quality Initiative) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
NRCS also has other programs for growers, including conservation stewardship and technical assistance, organic and energy incentives, farms and ranchlands protection, and soil survey programs. Application deadlines vary by program.
For additional information, visit the NRCS website.
Other programs administered by USDA-NRCS
Growers are encouraged to work with NRCS to develop conservation plans for their operations to assess the nutrient and water management needs across an entire farm, thereby improving a grower’s position to compete for federal and other funds as they become available.
Funding opportunities include:
- Conservation plans
Conservation planning is a natural resource problem-solving and management process, with the goal of sustaining natural resources. Conservation plans include strategies to maintain or improve yields, while also protecting soil, water, air, plant, animal and human resources. They are developed in accordance with the USDA-NRCS field office technical guide. Assistance in developing a plan can be obtained through the local Soil and Water Conservation District, the USDA-NRCS, the Cooperative Extension Service, and private consultants who function as technical service providers. Conservation plans are usually required to receive cost-share funds for any of the programs described on this page. - Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
EQIP provides financial assistance for the implementation of selected management practices. Eligibility for the program requires that the farm have a USDA-NRCS approved conservation plan. Practices eligible for EQIP cost-share funds are designed to improve and maintain the health of natural resources, and include cross-fences, water control structures, brush management, prescribed burning, nutrient management, and erosion control measures. - Florida EQIP program
Florida EQIP provides a voluntary conservation program for farmers and ranchers that promotes agricultural production and environmental quality as compatible national goals. Florida EQIP offers financial and technical help to assist eligible participants install or implement structural and management practices on eligible agricultural land. Applications are accepted year-round, with specific deadlines for special projects. For additional information, contact Jeffrey Woods, assistant state conservationist for financial assistance programs, at 352-338-9515 or jeffrey.woods@fl.usda.gov. You may also visit the EQIP website to locate the nearest local office. - Conservation Security Program (CSP)
CSP is a voluntary conservation program that supports ongoing stewardship on private lands. It rewards farmers and operators who meet the highest standards of conservation and environmental management. Its mission is to promote the conservation and improvement of soil, water, air, energy, plant and animal life. - Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP)
WRP is a voluntary program designed to restore wetlands. Program participants can establish easements (30-year or perpetual) or enter into restoration cost-share agreements. In exchange for establishing a permanent easement, the landowner usually receives payment up to the agricultural value of the land and 100 percent of the wetland restoration cost. Under the 30-year easement, land and restoration payments are generally reduced to 75 percent of the perpetual easement amounts. In exchange for the payments received, landowners agree to land-use limitations and agree to provide wetland restoration and protection.
Additional information about these programs, including eligibility criteria, is available by contacting your local USDA service center or the agency’s website.
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services grants
Qualified Florida agribusinesses can benefit from grant opportunities to help defray the costs of promoting Florida-grown agricultural products and expanding into domestic and international markets. For additional information, visit the FDACS website.