Florida Sugar Farmers Nearly Triple Everglades Restoration Water Quality Requirements

July 17, 2012 - PRLog -- Sugar farmers in the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA), south of Lake Okeechobee, achieved a 71 percent reduction in phosphorus leaving the farming region for the 2011-12 water year—almost three times better than required under Florida’s Everglades Forever Act.  

This follows last year’s record-breaking success of 79 percent on-farm reduction and an overall average reduction of 55 percent for the past 17 years.  

The South Florida Water Management District, the agency tasked with Everglades restoration, announced the successful results demonstrating the EAA’s on-farm Best Management Practices (BMPs), developed by university scientists in collaboration with farmers, continue to be a resounding success.

“Contrary to what some detractors claim about restoration, the numbers do not lie and the facts speak for themselves—water flowing to the Everglades is significantly cleaner today as a direct result of the farmers’, the State’s and the SFWMD’s efforts,” said Judy Sanchez, senior director of corporate communications and public affairs.  “The farmers’ BMP program is an outstanding success and nearly two decades of scientific data proves farmers are doing their fair share to improve water quality in South Florida.”  

In addition to improving water quality through high-tech sustainable farming practices, farmers have paid “agricultural privilege taxes” of than $200 million for the construction of Stormwater Treatment Area (STAs) to further clean water from farms, urban areas and Lake Okeechobee.  Built on nearly 60,000 acres of former farmland, the STAs had their best performance year ever in 2012.  STAs have removed an additional 1560 metric tons of phosphorus, on top of the 2,500 metric tons farmers have removed through on-farm BMPs.

“Florida’s sugar industry has been a stable economic force and major job provider for South Florida for more than 80 years and we have a strong track record of working with state and federal partners on developing successful, science-based solutions to Everglades restoration,” Sanchez said.  “These latest results again demonstrate the significant role sugar farmers play in protecting the Everglades as well as providing jobs producing safe, affordable food for all Americans.”

Florida Agriculture Fast Facts:
- Supports 1.4 million Florida jobs
- Generates $100 billion annual economic impact in Florida
- Responsible for more than $3 billion in tax revenue for local and state government
- Florida Sugar Industry provides 7,000 direct jobs & 23,500 indirect jobs in the state
- Florida Sugar Industry generates more than $3 billion in annual economic impact