Agriculture and Best Management Practices

The Blue-Green Algae Task Force believes full compliance with the statutory BMP requirements is necessary to realize the nutrient reduction benefits as projected in the BMAP process to achieve a TMDL. It is critical that all agricultural producers enrolled in BMP programs maintain accurate records, as articulated in the various BMP manuals, to demonstrate that they are implementing BMPs, verifying BMPs and making them available to the appropriate authorities for analysis and review. DEP incorporated responses from the DACS below.

Click on each recommendation below to learn about state actions taken to address it. 

Recommendations 

  • Funding and action to increase BMP enrollment in all BMAP areas to ensure that the maximum environmental benefit is achieved.

    The Clean Waterways Act requires DACS to perform on-site inspections at least every two years for any agricultural producer enrolled in the DACS BMPs program and prioritize inspections for producers in the Lake Okeechobee, Indian River Lagoon, Caloosahatchee River and Estuary, and Silver Springs BMAPs. During these IV site visits, DACS representatives are required to ensure the proper implementation of applicable BMPs for the enrolled property and review required records that producers must maintain to demonstrate compliance with the BMPs.

    By focusing efforts and using better data management to identify potential enrollees, DACS continues to increase enrollment in BMAP areas and non-compliant landowners are referred to DEP for enforcement action. Since this legislation took effect, DEP and FDACS have collaborated on education and outreach to successfully enroll more than 98% of the parcels initially referred by FDACS, adding over 677,000 acres to the BMP program in just two years.

    Additionally, DACS refers landowners/producers to DEP after they either deny requests or do not respond to requests by DACS to conduct IV site visits and nutrient records collection. More than half of those parcels referred to DEP for failure to complete the IV site visits have been brought into compliance. DEP will continue bringing the remaining parcels into compliance through outreach and enforcement if needed.

  • Effectiveness of BMPs be supported by adequate data to justify the presumption of compliance with water quality standards granted upon enrollment and implementation.

    DACS and DEP worked collaboratively to develop the currently adopted BMPs which establish the most effective practices, based on literature review and best professional judgement, while considering economic and technological feasibility. DACS intends such collaboration to continue and expand, including providing support to DEP's verification of BMP effectiveness through monitoring at representative sites.

    BMP effectiveness is also understood through the tracking of load calculations in BMAPs. With the July 1, 2025 BMAP updates, DEP and DACS will continue to evaluate BMP implementation alongside water quality targets. DEP looks forward to working with DACS to ensure that data and science inform DACS’ BMPs.

  • Requirement that each NOI to adopt BMPs be accompanied by an estimate of input reduction and load reduction associated with adopting these practices.

    DACS funds agronomic research that supports current BMPs or evaluates potential BMPs for water quality and water conservation, considering the rate, source, placement, and timing of the application. Implementation of these measures improves crop nutrient use efficiency and minimizes potential nutrient runoff and leaching from agricultural operations.

    DACS assigns nutrient input reductions to BMPs and cost share projects, analyzes nutrient reductions for each NOI, and estimates, in coordination with DEP, load reductions at the basin or sub-watershed level. These reductions are updated annually as part of DEP’s Statewide Annual report and whenever DEP updates individual BMAPs.

    DACS works with DEP to estimate input reductions at the watershed level. As required by law, DACS collects nutrient application records from producers at their inspection verification visits. DACS and FDEP are developing a memorandum of agreement to share the fertilization application data. DEP intends to use the information to assist with BMAP planning efforts, such as model calibration and potential project identification and development.

    The DACS BMP program develops tools, models, other metrics, and on-farm management strategies that could be used to inform the effectiveness of sector-specific BMPs and evaluate nutrient loading to adjacent water bodies.

  • Regular review and revision of existing BMP manuals to achieve a greater environmental benefit.

    The Clean Waterways Act requires DACS, in cooperation with UF/IFAS and other universities and colleges, to annually develop research plans and legislative budget requests to: evaluate and suggest enhancements to the existing adopted agricultural BMPs to reduce nutrient runoff and develop new BMPs that, if initially verified as effective by DEP, DACS may adopt by rule.

  • Inclusion of advanced technologies that reduce leaching and runoff of nutrients into revised and updated BMP manuals as appropriate.

    The current BMPs allow for implementation of technological solutions and tools. The 2024 manual revisions incorporate some additional measures, and other technologies are being evaluated. DACS annually sets specific funding priorities for BMP research and solicits project proposals. At present, DACS is seeking proposals to better evaluate current and evolving methods to implement BMPs as well as benefits of alternative technologies.

  • The current effort by DACS to update BMP manuals should be accelerated.

    DACS has completed updates to the Cattle and Sod BMP Manuals and is in the process of updating the Dairy, Nursery, Vegetable and Agronomic Crop, Citrus, Poultry, Equine, Specialty Fruit and Nut, and Small Farms and Specialty Livestock BMP Manuals. Materials and status of rulemaking to update the manuals can be accessed online.

    DEP conducts a thoughtful and thorough review, in accordance with the requirements of section 403.067(7)(c)(2)-(3) F.S., working collaboratively with DACS on any feedback.

    Once the review and revisions are finalized, DACS transmits these manuals to partner agencies for further review and to the public as part of the rulemaking process.

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