There have been some changes and new opportunities for growers to benefit from a cost-share program available from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Office of Agricultural Water Policy (OAWP). We asked John “JP” Fraites to provide some insights on what the OAWP does and the cost-share program.
First, what is your role with FDACS?
FRAITES: As assistant director of the OAWP, I manage the policy, budget and contracts sections of the division. Our team works tirelessly to provide support to producers implementing best management practices (BMPs) through developing the BMP manuals, administering the BMP Cost-Share Program, providing field staff and Mobile Irrigation Lab support in the field, and much more.
What are the major responsibilities of the OAWP at FDACS?
FRAITES: OAWP’s primary function is the BMP program, which focuses on identifying the most effective and practicable on-location means for improving water quality while balancing water-quality improvements and productivity. Agricultural producers within a Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP) are required to either enroll in our BMP program or participate in water-quality monitoring through the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Our webpage has more information on the BMP program.
What are some of the recent changes to the OAWP cost-share program?
FRAITES: Our objective this year is to grow the cost-share program by showing why the program is important. The BMP Cost-Share Program is designed to assist enrolled producers with BMP implementation. OAWP made three changes to the program this year. First, we made program information and the application available on a new webpage. Second, we increased potential funding percentages for eligible producers willing to voluntarily provide additional data on the performance of the funded project. Lastly, we developed an approved list of projects, so producers know what they can do to improve how they implement BMPs. See the cost-share webpage for all of this information.
What types of projects does the cost-share program fund?
FRAITES: The cost-share program funds projects that focus on nutrient management, irrigation management and water resource protection. Each project will identify which BMP is being implemented by using the BMP checklist in the commodity-specific manual for that enrolled producer. We have a complete list on the cost-share webpage broken into these three major categories.
Will growers be asked to share more information under these new offerings?
FRAITES: Yes, that’s correct. We offer 75% for standard cost-share projects. However, producers who voluntarily share performance data on the project being funded will receive 80% to share two years of data or 90% for four years of data. The information that we are looking for is to show how the project is performing in relation to the BMP being implemented. This data will also help us educate the public and policymakers about what Florida’s producers are doing to help address both water quality and water conservation. More times than not, producers will already be collecting the type of information that is beneficial to the program.
Can you provide some details on the new regional water projects program?
FRAITES: In addition to growing the cost-share program, Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson has made it a priority to help address regional water-quality issues through regional water projects. To help accomplish this vision, we are developing a new regional projects program, distinctly separate from the cost-share program. There’s more to come in the next few months. The objective of the regional projects program will be to identify landowners willing to build large-scale water-quality improvement projects to get a better bang for the buck in areas with more acute needs.
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