District invests in sustainable agriculture initiatives in the Lower St. Johns River Basin

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People having a discussion out on a farm

Staff from both the St. Johns River Water Management District and Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services met with DeLee Produce LLC about the farm’s water conservation practices.

People having a meeting out in a farm

PALATKA, Fla., May 16, 2024 ― The St. Johns River Water Management District remains committed to advancing sustainable agricultural practices in the region through innovative projects aimed at conserving water, protecting water quality, and enhancing farm management efficiency. Demonstrating proactive efforts to safeguard the long-term sustainability of agriculture within the Lower St. Johns River Basin, the District recently executed three contracts totaling nearly $190,000.

These projects represent a strategic investment in the future of agriculture, with a focus on implementing targeted solutions to address key challenges faced by local growers. The projects include:Map of agriculture projects

  • L&M Farms of North Florida (Putnam County) – Implementation of land leveling and pipe installation spanning 831 acres, optimizing water distribution and enhancing irrigation efficiency.
  • DeLee Produce LLC (St. Johns County) – Adoption of precision fertilizer application technology, enabling more accurate placement and adjustable-rate application to reduce fertilizer usage on row crops. Growers utilize GPS controllers to ensure uniform coverage, minimize overlapping patterns, and tailor application based on specific soil types within their fields.
  • Ben Wells Produce LLC (St. Johns County) – Deployment of precision land leveling equipment to optimize land surface topography, promoting efficient water utilization and enhancing farm productivity.

Under the cost-share program, projects are eligible for funding at up to 75% of engineering, design and construction costs. Awardees commit to covering maintenance expenses throughout the project’s lifecycle. Additionally, where applicable, they must modify consumptive use permits to reflect the water savings achieved through District funding, reducing the amount of water they are eligible to withdraw.

The collaborative efforts of multiple agencies, including the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), and the District, underscore a shared commitment to supporting local growers in the Tri-County Agricultural Area. With federal funding opportunities provided by the Natural Resource Conservation Service, the program continues to empower growers with cost-share opportunities, with 19 projects funded this fiscal year, and 195 projects receiving funding since the program’s inception.

For information, visit www.sjrwmd.com/localgovernments/funding.