Area farmers benefit from SRWMD cost-share funding
LIVE OAK, FL, February 22, 2013 – Several agricultural producers within the Suwannee River Water Management District (District) have been approved to receive a total of $214,975 in cost-share funds for projects to help save water. The District set aside $1.5 million for the program this fiscal year and this marks the second round of those funds.
The cost-share program assists farmers in paying for projects such as irrigation retrofits, new water saving technologies, and alternative water supplies. The cost-share funds for this quarter will help pay for projects that are estimated to reduce groundwater pumping by 149 million gallons of water annually.
During the first quarter, the District partnered with 32 applicants who received $512,575 in cost-share funding to reduce groundwater pumping by about 867 million gallons of water annually or roughly 2.4 million gallons a day.
“The District is pleased to assist area farmers in reducing groundwater pumping by an estimated 1,016 million gallons of water annually or just under 2.8 million gallons per day for the program’s first two funding cycles,” said District Executive Director Ann Shortelle. “The District is encouraged by our producers’ willingness to implement new water conservation technologies to achieve water resource protection.”
Agricultural producers within the District have until April 5 to apply for cost-share funds for the next funding cycle. Funds will be awarded through a ranking process based on various criteria, including the effectiveness of the proposed project to protect, conserve, or restore water resources. The funds will pay for projects that increase irrigation efficiency and water conservation and assist with nutrient management technology.
Interested parties may apply online through the District’s Agriculture webpage atwww.mysuwanneeriver.com/
For more information, contact Kevin Wright at 386.362.1001 or toll free at 1.800.226.1066 (FL only).
@Laura,
No. I did not read the bill. However, I was recently requested by my several members of my church to go with two other members to visit a gentleman who was involved in activities related to this subject. We had a talk with him and hope he got the message.
Lots of folks in our community are suffering from hard economic situations and some are not handling it well. Good folks sometimes take their suffering out on the weak around them and outsiders need to step in an offer some assistance. Got to be handled carefully though. Next step is the sheriff.
I do understand the bill that passed was expanded to include gay and lesbian concerns. Is that what you are referring too? Personally, I don’t mind the inclusion of these issues. The weak should never be subjected to undue suffering from the strong. Would offer some scripture on the subject, but this is clearly a secular site.
@ Leroy -
Did you read the Violence Against Women Act?? I heard the title was misleading and there were things in the bill that were ridiculous. I haven’t read it for myself, though, and was just wondering if you had.
@Frank:
I’d make those odds 4:1.
Leroy – it is an 8-2 shot that Bob was a lawyer.
Frank,
I just noticed that both our county congresspersons, (Yoho and Southerland), and one of our two senators,( Rubio), voted against the violence against women bill in the congress. Did our local women voters send the message that they prefer to be in an abusive relationship? Dang interesting times.
Frank,
Please read this little fable about how our government is influenced by individuals and corporations.
http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/dave-johnson/48301/bob-the-businessman-a-fable
While I applaud Jack for a novel idea, I doubt it will play out. Maybe when people in the area with shallow wells go dry they would consider something like that to forestall legal action, but see little
chance of them doing it because they care about he community. They don’t. Just out of curiosity, how many jobs has Nestles provided to Madison residents? Anyone know? That water is a public resource seems common sense, but evidently not to everyone. Certainly not the corporate interests that help themselves to it for free.
@Jack:
Great idea with a solid foundation. Unfortunately, rich companies, (and wealthy individuals), have no interest in “paying their part” or contributing to the general welfare of the community at large. That’s the whole reason behind the current budget fiasco.
Moral values and dollars do not mix well tthese days. It’s becoming a very ugly world in which we live.
What is the argument? What is a small farm. what is the ageanda
Just a passing thought…….. Nestles has been a great addition to Madison County in terms of jobs. There were many considerations offered and given to Nestles upon their initial interest of locating in Lee. Now, it is obvious that Nestles is a profitable operation and plan to remain in operation in Madison County. Why not approach Nestles and discuss an arrangement for Madison County to receive .01 (1 cent) for each gallon pumped OR for each bottle shipped. Nestles would simply pass this penny on to the end user and Madison County would be one of the most prosperous counties in the State of Florida. To the Honorable County Commissioners of Madison County Florida….. It cost nothing to ask! Again, just a thought………
Mr. Leroy…if you want another example, take Citizens Property Insurance Co. The largest in the state. I wrote a letter to the Taxahassee Minority Peoples Democrat, but received no air time.
Everyone seems to agree that Citiznes is a grossly mismanaged actuarial time bomb ticking away. Kind of like interest on money. Always working. Rich people from Europe with ocean front homes have insurance with Citizens. Rich Canadians. Rich people, everywhere, period, getting state backed insurance at artificially low rates to live on the water. And when the inevitable storm hits, every single person that owns a car or a home in Florida will be on the hook to pay the billions in damages. One hundred years ago you could not have found a man in Florida dumb enough to build on the ocean, with the singular exception of Henry Flager, who could afford to self insure. If people that live on the ocean can not afford insurance, maybe they should not live on the ocean.
If State Farm insured it, it would cost them $70,000 a year in premiums. I say, Oh, well. Just one more water issue, one more political disgrace.
Mr. Frank,
Your comment reminds me of a quote. “”if you starve with a tiger, the tiger starves last”
Mr. Leroy…intersting facts and undoubtedly true. We will soon all learn about the value of water and it will have nothing to do with Water Management Districts. The WMD’s are political agencies. The directors are appointed by politicians. This is not meant to malign the hundreds of real scientists that staff most of the ranks. But decisions are made at a higher level, and it is all political and all about money. Thinking that the WMD’s districts are here to help is like thinking that Al Capone was an altruist only interested in serving the public something it wanted. Big agriculture controls the WMD’s. Small farmers and the general populace have indeed benn duped by local, state, and federal politicians. And, of course, all this generosity they are spouting off about is nothing more than giving your tax dollars to big farmers. It is easy to be generous with someone elses money.
Got too say the rain is a blessing it is amazing nature balances it self out. With everbody being.so smart smart
@Mr. Rathburn,
Been reading your comments on this site for several years. You seem to be in possession of some interesting information valuable to the folks inhabiting our county. Someone recently sent me this link to a site that provides some info on the value of water. Please read through the facts and tell me if they seem true. http://www.oldhamcountywater.com/interesting-water-facts.html
Seems to me we ignorant folks have been duped by our local and state governments. Water Management Boards have been created by these authorities to decide how our critical natural resources are to be managed and allocated and small farmers with many generations in our county seem to have been left out of the deal. Converting our precious water into money seems to be the game. Please tell us what we need to do? Is it too late?
Running Nestle’s out of town would do the same thing and save more money. One more big government give away to industrial agriculture.