Letter from the Commissioner

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2 Letter from the Commissioner Dear Friend in Agriculture: It is my great pleasure to present the winners of the 1995 Agricultural-Environmental Leadership Awards. These awards highlight the environmentally innovative agricultural practices implemented by Florida growers and ranchers. The original environmentalists the true stewards of our land have always been our growers and ranchers who depend on the land to produce our food. The modern farmer produces quality food in unsurpassed quantities to meet the demands of our nation and the world. And they do this on less land than ever before. Today s farmer is constantly pioneering ways to ensure a continuing supply of food without degrading the land and water that produced it. This program provides a brief overview of the seven winners. The selection was a difficult task, made by an independent committee that included representatives from major agricultural groups, environmental groups and government agencies. There were many excellent applications which illustrated the great lengths to which our growers and ranchers are progressing to preserve our natural resources. Please help me in recognizing these deserving winners. Sincerely, BOB CRAWFORD Commissioner of Agriculture 1

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4 1995 Winners 3

5 Overall Winner, Grower Clive Morris Schroeder-Manatee Ranch 7550 Lorraine Road Bradenton, Florida The Schroeder-Manatee Ranch encompasses approximately 28,000 acres in Sarasota and Manatee counties. Operating since the 1920s, the ranch is a diverse agricultural enterprise involved in cattle, citrus, row crops, sod and tree nursery production. The Schroeder-Manatee Ranch is one of Southwest Florida s leaders in reducing water use. In a region with a growing population and increasing demands on water resources for agricultural, industrial and public use, the ranch employed a variety of conservation measures to minimize its deep aquifer water use. 4

6 Overall Winner, Grower Conversion to drip irrigation was one of the major conservation measures used. The ranch also entered into an agreement with Manatee County to use treated domestic wastewater for its expansive citrus, vegetable and sod production. The ranch currently irrigates 1,290 acres of citrus and 720 acres of sod using treated effluent. The efficient irrigation systems and use of treated effluent have enabled the ranch to reduce its deep aquifer pumpage by an impressive 82 percent, based upon 1994 pumpage. The Schroeder-Manatee Ranch is in the forefront of implementing strategies that allow the region s communities and growers to cooperatively address water resource issues in a mutually beneficial manner. Not only has the ranch been instrumental in forging an urban-agricultural formula for successful water reuse, it also produces a drought-tolerant grass known as FX-10. This grass will allow urban residents and businesses to also reduce their demand for irrigation water. As stewards of the land, the Schroeder- Manatee Ranch initiated a comprehensive crop rotation and cover crop management plan to reduce soil erosion during the early 1980s. The ranch is also an active civic partner through support of local 4-H and FFA programs and the Manatee Fair, and through membership in the local Chamber of Commerce and Farm Bureau. The ranch is also actively involved in the local Extension Service water resource education programs. 5

7 Overall Winner, Non-Grower Burt McKee United AgriProducts, Inc Coconut Palm Drive, Suite 170 Tampa, Florida Burt McKee is considered one of the most knowledgeable resource people in agriculture, with a talent for analyzing complicated information and presenting it in a format that can be easily utilized by Florida farmers and ranchers. Through his newsletter, Environmental Update, he provides farmers with accurate, up-to-date information on pesticide use, emergency planning, pesticide safety, worker protection and many other subjects important to agricultural producers. With an unwavering commitment to excellence, Mr. McKee brings innovation, enthusiasm and perseverance to the resolution of complex environmental 6

8 Overall Winner, Non-Grower issues, tempered by the common sense gained from a rural beginning in Alabama. Approximately 70,000 pounds of lead arsenate, a pesticide canceled for use on citrus, remained in grower possession and was creating an environmental challenge to growers and regulators. Operation Clean Sweep, a program for the proper collection and disposal of the chemical, was launched in July The program was a resounding success due Mr. McKee s persistence and dedication in laying the groundwork for this project. He worked with government agencies, agricultural representatives, chemical distributors and citrus growers over several years to provide a grower-friendly process for the proper collection and disposal of this canceled chemical. Mr. McKee is recognized as a leading agri-chemical and environmental expert and has developed an excellent reputation with many state and federal regulatory agencies. Through tireless efforts, he is able to bring together grower and regulator in the spirit of cooperation. His contributions to Florida agriculture have gained him national acclaim and have resulted in his employer expanding his responsibilities nationwide. 7

9 Waste Management William Berman Davie Dairy, Inc N.E. 128th Avenue Okeechobee, Florida Davie Dairy, Inc., is a 960- acre dairy in Okeechobee County. Its two milking facilities can accommodate 900 cows each, enabling the dairy to produce 12,500 gallons of milk daily. Davie Dairy was the first dairy in the Okeechobee watershed to construct a total confinement system for housing milk cows. The dairy accomplished this by departing from then current conventional practices and constructing the first free-stall milk herd confinement facility for the management of animal waste. This project has demonstrated at great financial risk to the dairy 8

10 Waste Management that dairy herd confinement in South Florida can be successful when properly implemented. The project reduces pollution by eliminating a large non-point source runoff problem from intensively used pasture. This conversion to a manageable and treatable point source is accomplished through the concentration and collection of animal waste and a reduction in water volume used. Phosphorus loading on herd pastures has been reduced by an estimated 78 percent. The collected wastewater is either recycled for use in the barns, or the nutrients removed by vegetation prior to its discharge from the site. 9

11 Pesticide/Nutrient Management Mark Nelson O.F. Nelson and Sons Nursery 2300 Sheeler Road Apopka, Florida O.F. Nelson and Sons is considered one of the horticultural industry s leaders in utilizing environmentally sound methods to grow plants. The nursery has developed an international reputation for promoting biological controls by playing a crucial role in research that led to the development of biological methods to control the sweet potato whitefly. The Nelsons are responsible for discovering Delphastus pusillus, a small predatory beetle that feeds voraciously on all stages of the sweet potato whitefly. This beetle is now 10

12 Pesticide/Nutrient Management being sold commercially worldwide and was featured on the 1994 calendar distributed by BioBest, one of the world s largest producers of biological control agents. The Nelsons also initiated a biological control program using predator mites to control two-spotted spider mites on Dieffenbachia. O.F. Nelson and Sons has taken considerable economic risks to further the knowledge of controlling plant pests with biological controls. Through participation in numerous Florida Nursery Growers Association-sponsored seminars, the nursery has actively promoted the use of Integrated Pest Management practices (IPM) with other growers. Progressive growers such as Mr. Nelson reflect positively on the horticultural industry and herald the day when IPM is the norm, not the exception. 11

13 Wildlife Protection Calvin Houghland Bright Hour Ranch Route 1, Box 146 Arcadia, Florida Bright Hour Ranch is a 45,000-acre commercial cow/calf operation, citrus and sod production venture. Approximately 16,000 acres is in improved acreage, 500 acres is planted in citrus and the balance is native grazing pasture that supports the cattle herd and wildlife habitat. Calvin Houghland has strived to protect and augment the area s natural resources and ecological systems. Recognizing the importance of water systems, the ranch has constructed a weir struc- 12

14 Wildlife Protection ture in order to create and preserve a water system that enhances the surrounding wetlands and provides habitat for a variety of wildlife. This weir provides a freshwater lake of more than 20 acres and controls runoff from a canal that serves as the major water source in that area for livestock and wildlife. Bright Hour Ranch maintains a licensed 4,800-acre game preserve that is managed as an integral part of the ranch operation. In addition to the game preserve, the ranch works with the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission in the management of its deer population through the annual doe deer harvest program. 13

15 Water Quality Paul Genho Deseret Cattle and Citrus Deseret Ranches of Florida Deseret Lane St. Cloud, Florida Deseret Ranch is a 300,000-acre beef cattle ranch located in Osceola, Orange and Brevard counties and situated on flatwoods adjacent to the St. Johns River. It is a multiple-use operation consisting of 30,000 head of cattle, sod production and forest land. The ranch is considered a model for large-scale environmentally sensitive operations. One of its premier projects is a water conservation system that recycles clean water to the St. Johns River. Voluntarily, and at its own expense with $711,000 in engineering and con- 14

16 Water Quality struction costs alone Deseret began a plan that included systematic testing for nitrogen, phosphorus and pesticides, maintenance of natural resources, and major construction of stormwater retention areas. At present, approximately 70 percent of stormwater runoff within the ranch s boundaries is filtered through these areas. The average amount of dissolved oxygen in Deseret waters is 10 parts per million, which is twice the standard established by state regulations. Deseret has also completed three smaller retention ponds and has obtained permits for the construction of two additional ponds. At the completion of these projects, the majority of Deseret s pumped stormwater discharge will be treated in retention ponds before being discharged to the St. Johns River. 15

17 Soil Conservation to reduce soil erosion and sedimentation into water bodies and to enhance natural resources and wildlife habitat. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices have also been used to reduce pesticide use. C.A. Fulford and Sons Fulford Farms, Inc. Route 2, Box 172 Monticello, Florida With a diligent eye toward the protection of natural resources, the Fulford family has farmed 1,200 acres of peanuts, corn, soybeans and small grains in Jefferson County for many years. The family has aggressively implemented Best Management Practices (BMPs) In operating their farm, the Fulford family cooperates with the Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District and the Aucilla River Small Watershed Program. They use structural and non-structural practices to reduce soil erosion and sedimentation. Structural controls include grassed waterways, water and sediment control basins, parallel terraces and tile outlet terraces. Non-structural controls include contouring, crop rotation, crop residue management, subsoiling and reduced tillage. 16

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