By Cacee Hilliard @FlaFarmOffice
Environmental stewardship is the beating heart of Florida’s Suwannee Valley. Home to the most freshwater springs in the nation, the Suwannee Valley encompasses more than 15 Florida counties and includes the largest agricultural area in the state. For more than 20 years, the Florida Farm Bureau, in cooperation with the Suwannee River Partnership, has rewarded farmers and ranchers who make exemplary efforts to be good stewards of the environment. By implementing best management practices, or BMPs, farmers and ranchers effectively manage their use of water and natural resources to protect the environment.
Farmers and consumers have the same goal in mind: clean water for all. The CARES program helps send messages to diverse audiences, helping to tell the critical stories of more than 900 beneficiary farmers and ranchers and their efforts to protect water quality and natural resources. Water quality remains a contentious issue in Florida, and the Florida Farm Bureau is proud to recognize growers who are on the forefront of protecting it.
Farmers and consumers have the same goal in mind: clean water for all.
The Farm Bureau’s CARES (County Alliance for Responsible Environmental Stewardship) program is a huge success due to the significant partnership with more than 60 government agencies. Agencies involved include the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and the management districts of the Florida water, agricultural organizations, businesses and local communities. Governments.
Each spring, these partners come together in the collective Suwannee River Partnership to recognize local farmers and ranchers who have been nominated for the CARES program. Due to the pandemic, the spring event has been canceled in 2020.
The 2021 CARES Recognition Event takes place November 18, in conjunction with Farm-City Week (November 17-24). Recognizing farmers and ranchers for their excellent stewardship of the environment during this week serves to highlight how rural and urban communities play an important role in protecting our state’s diverse natural resources and ecosystems.
Florida Farm Bureau looks forward to honoring 20 outstanding environmental stewards that day with lunch and guest speakers. We’ll continue to tell their story to an online audience throughout the holiday season.
Visit www.ThisFarmCARES.org to learn more about the program and meet former CARES grantees.
Cacee Hilliard is assistant director of public relations for the Florida Farm Bureau Federation.
