Farmers Demonstrate Environmental Stewardship

By Kathy Richardson
Contributing Editor
Florida Agriculture
www.floridafarmbureau.org
December 01, 2006

Eight Santa Fe River Basin farm producers involved in the Suwannee
River Partnership CARES program received awards for their exceptional
environmental stewardship at Marc DeChamplain’s Heaven’s Gate Farm in
Gilchrist County on Oct. 5.

CARES – the County Alliance for Responsible Environmental Stewardship –
was initiated by Florida Farm Bureau and the Suwannee River Partnership
to highlight efforts by farm owners to improve natural resource
management in the Suwannee River Basin.

The partnership includes more than 50 local, regional, state and
federal agencies, research institutions, industry associations,
businesses and conservation groups.

Farm owners who have met verifiable standards of excellence in resource
management receive a CARES designation and earn the privilege of
posting a sign on their properties identifying them as award winners
for their good work.

One of the keys to the success of the program involves site visits by
public officials who assess the implementation of state-of-the-art
resource management techniques, or best management practices, at the
farm property.

“Farmers have long been good stewards of the land,” Andrew Walmsely,
environmental services coordinator for Florida Farm Bureau said. “Now
with new information and technology available, farmers are able to be
even more proactive when it comes to protecting the environment.”

Walmsley said it is important to recognize those involved in the CARES
program for their role in maintaining Florida’s natural resources.

Recently, the Florida Legislature granted the Florida Department of
Agriculture and Consumer Services the authority to create the
Environmental Stewardship Certification Program (ESCP).

The ESCP serves as a vehicle for encouraging incentive-based and
cost-share environmental programs throughout the state. The ESCP is a
three-part program consisting of quality assurance, education and CARES
recognition. Farmers enrolled in the ESCP will implement sound,
positive environmental practices while establishing and following
environmental management plans that maintain profitability.

Rich Budell, with the state Agriculture Department’s Office of Water
Policy, said the Suwannee River Partnership CARES program “is one of
the crown jewels of what we’re doing statewide. This shows the farmer’s
commitment to conservation and protecting the environment.”

Budell, speaking to the crowd of over 200 attending the dinner, pointed
out that the farmers being recognized had voluntarily implemented best
management practices that increased the efficiency of their operations
and helped protect the environment.

“The future of the state lies in privately held lands,” he said. “We need to assist those landowners.”

The Santa Fe River Basin CARES award recipients include the following:

Columbia County – Rod Bowdoin, owner of Top Hand Farm: beef cattle and forage crops

Gilchrist County – William and Jason Roberts: beef cattle, forage crops, watermelons, pine straw and timber.

Doug Simpson, owner of Simpson Farm: beef cattle, forage crops and watermelons

Union County – Marvin Smith: Beef cattle, forage crops and fresh market vegetables

Levy County – Tommy Harper, owner of Harper Farm: beef cattle and forage crops

Alachua County – Lawrence and Curtis Davis, owners of LCD Farm: beef cattle, forage crops, tobacco and fresh market vegetables

Robert, Steven, David and Merle Hines, owners of Hines Brothers Farm: Beef cattle, forage crops and tobacco

David, Mark and Brad Hodge, owners of Hodge Family Farm: beef cattle,
forage crops, tobacco, watermelons, cantaloupe and fresh market
vegetables

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