Fort White FFA students share Nutrients for Life project with SRWMD Governing Board
11-13-12
LIVE OAK, FL, November 13, 2012 – Three FFA students from Fort White High School recently gave a presentation to the Suwannee River Water Management District’s (District) Governing Board about a nutrient management project their chapter conducted for the Nutrients for Life Foundation’s Helping Communities Grow program, in which the chapter won the $5,000 first place award.
The students tested the effects of the following techniques on a crop of mustard greens:
· The method of drip irrigation
· Application of three types of nitrogen fertilizer sources
· The method of fertigation
They studied how these practices affected crop production, the quality of the crop, and the effects on the environment. For example, they identified the most effective drip irrigation methods, the most effective rate of irrigation to prevent nitrogen leaching, and the most effective type of fertilizer to use to control nitrogen leaching. Students went out into the community to demonstrate what they had found and provided information on how the community could use these methods at their own home. They demonstrated the importance of nutrients and best management practices to meet sustainability and which practices would have a minimal effect on the environment. The FFA is in the process of developing an educational brochure to distribute to the community on how to implement the irrigation and fertilization practices in their gardens.
“These young men did an outstanding job with their project and presentation, and we appreciated the FFA students sharing their research with the District and Governing Board,” said District Executive Director Ann Shortelle. “We are pleased to see students learning about nutrient management and irrigation, as both are important not only to agriculture, but also to the health of our water resources.”
A copy of the research project is currently on display at the District’s office.
###
From left, FFA students Joey Lewis, Joshua Compton, and Braden King share their nutrient project with SRWMD Governing Board members.
This was pry something SRWMD has never heard before. If they did they surely dont act upon knowing how we are damaging our water sources. They hire unqualified people who are friends of family and dont know ,or care to know, how they are allowing unsafe practices to continue. Wont be long before they allow another Birdsong or Nestle to come pump our water send their profits back to Virginia (birdsong) or Switzerland (nestle). Florida already pumps 2.6 billion gallons PER DAY (OcalaStyleMagazine Oct 2012). You’d haft to be a moron to think water is being replished in the aquifer at that rate….