Agricultural Best Management Practices

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) develops total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) for waterbodies that have been found to be impaired. The TMDL is a determination of the maximum amount of a pollutant (such as a nutrient) that a waterbody can receive and still meet the water quality standards that protect human health and aquatic life. To implement a TMDL, FDEP establishes basin management action plans (BMAPs), which identify all known contributors of the pollutant within a BMAP and assigns load reductions for the pollutant. A BMAP also identifies strategies to address the pollutant reductions required to achieve the TMDL. “Nonpoint source” contributors (ones where you cannot point at an actual discharge point), like agriculture, are responsible for implementing rule-adopted BMPs to help achieve water quality standards within BMAPs. Therefore, any agricultural producers within a BMAP area must enroll in the FDACS BMP program and properly implement applicable BMPs or conduct water quality monitoring prescribed by FDEP or the water management district to show that they’re meeting state water quality standards.

• Agriculture in the Lake Okeechobee Watershed: Rule 5M-3
• Conservation Plans for Specified Agricultural Operations: Rule 5M-12,  Notice of Intent[ ]
• Aquaculture: Rule 5L-3
• Silviculture: Rule 5I-6

1. Request On-Farm Technical Assistance. Contact FDACS OAWP representatives for assistance with determining the BMPs that are applicable to the operation. For free assistance, call (863) 467-3250, email AgBmpHelp@FDACS.gov, or contact a regional FDACS OAWP office.
2. Identify Applicable BMPs. FDACS OAWP representatives will work with producers to identify all BMPs that are applicable to the operation and to document the BMPs on the Notice of Intent to Implement BMPs (NOI) and BMP Checklist. The BMP Checklist will serve as the basis for subsequent implementation verification site visits to verify the proper implementation of the BMPs.
3. Submit an NOI. During the enrollment site visit, the FDACS OAWP representatives will assist the producer with completing an NOI and BMP Checklist and, if applicable, review other supporting materials such as a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan or Florida Department of Environmental Protection-approved Nutrient Management Plan for biosolids application. Completion and execution of the NOI with the BMP checklist identifying the applicable BMPs in agreement with FDACS OAWP representatives formally enrolls the producer in the BMP Program.
4. Properly Implement the BMPs. Producers are required to properly implement all applicable BMPs as soon as practicable, but no later than 18 months after completion and execution of the NOI and associated BMP Checklist. BMPs indicated as “Planned” in the BMP Checklist must include a completion date agreed to by FDACS OAWP representatives in the comments section. BMPs that require engineering and design, permitting or construction may be granted an extended schedule for implementation if justified. The proper implementation of BMPs requires ongoing record keeping and maintenance of BMPs (see the Record Keeping section below).

1. Review the BMP manual and note any questions you have about the BMPs, unfamiliar terms or content. Be ready to confirm the parcels of land that you wish to enroll in the program to ensure the accuracy of the information that will be submitted on the Notice of Intent to Implement BMPs.
2. During the site visit, FDACS OAWP representatives will assist the producer in identifying potential pollutant sources and the most likely pathways to surface waters and groundwater. Review previous soil tests, past fertilization practices and other data to help identify possible pollutant sources.
3. The FDACS OAWP representative will need to see the production-related activities near water resources (such as wetlands, streams, sinkholes or springs), ponded or other poorly drained areas, and conveyances that discharge offsite. The representative will discuss with you the BMPs that apply to these areas. Having a preplanned route will make the assessment and enrollment process more efficient. The following resources can be helpful for creating an inventory of the property’s natural features, structures and other improvements:
   1. County Property Appraiser
   2. National Wetlands Inventory
   3. USDA NRCS Soil Survey Maps
4. Make sure that someone who is familiar with the nutrient and irrigation regimes of your operation is available the day of the enrollment site visit.

To document the proper implementation of the applicable BMPs, records must be kept for those BMPs noted with the pencil icon on the BMP Checklist. Examples of records to be kept include rates and locations of all nutrient applications and soil test results. All BMP records should be accurate, clear and well organized. Example record-keeping forms are provided in the manuals. OAWP has also developed a producer record-keeping tool [ 2 MB ] that enables producers to keep nutrient records electronically.

Retain the records for at least five years. Enrolled producers are required to provide FDACS with records regarding the application of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers on the subject parcel. These aggregated records will be collected and retained by an FDACS OAWP representative during an implementation verification site visit every two years. Producers must maintain aggregate records in electronic or digital form unless justification is provided as to why the use of electronic or digital record keeping is not feasible. The producer record-keeping tool mentioned above may be used to meet this requirement.

All documentation is subject to inspection. Please note that falsification of records is a first-degree misdemeanor under Florida law. Certain records that FDACS receives from producers are considered confidential and may be exempt from public records under chapters 812 and 815, Florida Statutes (F.S.), and Section 403.067, F.S.

View maps that show agricultural BMP enrollment acreage statewide and by each water management district. 

• Statewide Enrollment Map [ 6 MB ]

FDACS works with multiple partners, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service, FDEP, water management districts, and soil and water conservation districts, to provide funding to assist producers in implementing Best Management Practices. FDACS prioritizes the use of cost share funding for projects and practices that provide the greatest benefits to water resources.

For more information on currently available FDACS cost share, please contact us at AgBMPHelp@FDACS.gov.