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Government Helps Farmers Use Irrigation Runoff

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 9, 2008

Updated: 01/08/2008 11:46 pm

LITHIA - Farmers across eastern Hillsborough County can save millions of gallons of water by recycling water flowing from their crops.

The government is helping them accomplish that.

The FARMS program, sponsored by the Southwest Florida Water Management District, encourages farmers and nursery owners to conserve water. Several local growers are taking advantage of the program.

Holmberg Farms in Lithia, a 200-acre container nursery, which typically uses about 600,000 gallons per day, has pumped 60 percent to 70 percent less water from the underground aquifer thanks to three reservoirs that recycle water draining from the nursery.

The state Legislature and Swiftmud are paying half of the $589,000 it cost for the third reservoir and pumping system.

Overuse of the aquifer, which can cause saltwater intrusion and other issues for farmers, prompted Swiftmud to start the FARMS program, program director Bill Orendorff said. FARMS stands for Facilitating Agricultural Resources Management Systems.

Farmers must apply for the grant money and submit a project design to be eligible for consideration.

Yvette C. Hammett

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