BMPs: New Regulations and Compliance Issues

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1 BMPs: New Regulations and Compliance Issues Kelly T. Morgan Soil and Water Science Department Southwest Florida Research and Education Center Immokalee

2 Agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs) Agricultural BMPs are: practical, cost-effective production practices reduce the amount of pesticides, fertilizers, animal waste, and other agrochemicals prevent pollutants entering our water resources, and conserve water supply. BMPs are designed to: benefit water quality and water conservation while maintaining or enhancing agricultural production. Most of the BMPs are outlined in specific manuals developed by FDACS.

3 FDACS-OAWP BMP Manuals Consolidated Citrus Vegetable & Agronomic Crops Container Nursery Sod Cow/Calf Specialty Fruit & Nut Commercial Equine

4 BMP Manuals Provides BMPs on: Land preparation Nutrient management Irrigation management Drainage Management Sediment and erosion control Water resource protection Integrated pest management

5 Implementation of Agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs) Producers must submit a Notice of Intent (NOI), with a checklist of BMPs that are applicable to their operations. Implementation of FDACS-adopted BMPs provides a presumption of compliance with state water quality standards. FDACS has a long-term commitment to provide assistance (such as cost shares) to farmers to implement BMPs.

6 Purpose of Agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs) Florida law provides for agricultural producers to reduce their impacts to water quality through the implementation of BMPs. The FDEP develop Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs ) for specific pollutants in impaired waterbodies, FDEP adopt Basin Management Action Plans (BMAPs) for many impaired waterbodies. Implementing BMPs benefits both agricultural producers and the environment.

7 State-wide BMP Enrollment Total Florida citrus acreage 501,396 (Florida Ag Statistics 2014/2015) Total Florida BMP enrollment approximately 100% Abandoned groves being removed from list through Implementation Assurance Program.

8 Goal of BMPs are to Improving Water and Nutrient Use Efficiency Efficient water and nutrient use will: Maintain adequate water and soil nutrient levels to maximize plant growth and health Increase growth and yield Decrease production cost and resource depletion, facilitates sustainable production Reduce nutrient losses and environmental impacts

9 Nutrient Management Plan Annual plan should include: Soil test results Plant tissue test results Realistic production goals Based on past production, or potential production Nutrient budget for N, P, and K Rates, Methods, Materials, and Timing Manage soil ph for optimum uptake

10 Leaf Nutrient Concentrations

11 Soil Nutrients Recommendations Using Mehlich-3 Changed from Mehlich 1 to Mechlich 3 in 2014 Most Florida soils have increased in ph Mehlich 3 best extractant to provide fertilizer recomendations

12 Comparing Soil Test Results for Mehlich 1 and Mehlich 3

13 Soil ph Lower Than 7.0 Increases Nutrient Availability

14 What is a BMAP? It is the "blueprint" for restoring impaired waters by reducing pollutant loadings Establish Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL). Represents a comprehensive set of strategies to improve water quality Sets permit limits on wastewater facilities, urban GI BMPs and agricultural BMPs, conservation programs, and financial assistance

15 What is a TMDL? A scientific determination of the maximum amount of a given pollutant that a surface water can absorb and still meet the water quality standards. Protect human health and aquatic life. Water bodies that do not meet water quality standards are identified as "impaired" for the particular pollutants. TMDLs must be developed, adopted and implemented for those pollutants to reduce pollutants and clean up the water body.

16 Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Process Determine source of impairment Determine threshold concentration or load of pollutant that will maintain a water body s designated use or TMDL Determine existing load to water body of pollutant of concern Determine the difference between existing load and the TMDL which equals the load that needs to be reduced

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18 BMP Implementation Assurance The OAWP BMP Implementation Assurance program includes: mail-out surveys by commodity, and site visits by field staff. The OAWP has increased the number of site visits significantly since January Field staff added as a result of the Water Bill

19 BMAP Also Identifies Monitoring Plan For Non-Compliance Annual BMAP progress reports by FDEP, Revisit of BMAP after 5 years with changes made if necessary, BMAP includes a monitoring plan to determine if reductions are not achieved, Agricultural producers not enrolled in BMPs Program or determined to be non-compliant by FDACS Implementation Assurance Program must monitor water quality with FDEP

20 Conclusion Agricultural Best Management Program based on: Practical, technically achievable practices Economically feasible Ecologically sound practices BMP Enrollment Notice of Intent Presumption of Compliance, eligibility of cost share Implementation Assurance Program TMDL/BMAPS Non-compliance can result in water quality testing

21 Thank you for your attention Questions