Drought may cut short some Florida crops
Drought may cut short some Florida crops
South Florida is currently facing the most serious drought conditions since water tables began being recorded over 90 years ago. The low tables have resulted in the South Florida Water Management District ordering the most severe water usage restrictions on the public, including on the agriculture industry, in its history.
Lake Okeechobee, southern Florida's primary source of fresh water, supplies water to the western, eastern and southern areas of the state via the canals it feeds. The lake's water level is maintained by rainfall, which has been historically low since Jan. 1.
On April 3, the lake's level was 10.34 feet - about four feet below normal for this time of year - and just a couple of inches higher than its all-time recorded low in 2001.
"But the situation is much more bleak this year," said Jesus Rodriguez, lead media relations specialist for the water district. "Rainfall from January to March in 2001 was at 65 percent of historical data records. We are currently at about 36 percent for the year. The forecast offers even less hope. There is no rainfall expected in the near future, meaning that the lake's water level will continue to drop."
Florida residents are the first to have restrictions placed on them when drought conditions occur in the state, typically beginning with lawn watering and car washing restrictions. But the situation is so severe this year that restrictions have also been placed on crop irrigation, a situation that has occurred only a couple of times in history. It is devastating news to produce growers because it means that crops will potentially shrivel up and die in the fields.
SFWMD's conservation system is organized in phases for growers, just as it is for residents.
In Phase I, those in agriculture are ordered to cut water usage by 15 percent. In Phase II, restrictions are increased to 30 percent, and in Phase III, they rise to 45 percent. During the phased periods, growers are required to report their weekly water consumption to the SFWMD, and the district also monitors the reports to ensure that growers are complying.
"On March 15, an order was upgraded to Phase II from Phase I for the Lake Okeechobee service area, which includes the Everglades Agricultural Area, and portions of Hendry, Glades, Lee, Okeechobee, Palm Beach and Martin counties," said Mr. Rodriguez. "This area constitutes a wide ring surrounding the lake. The lower east coast of the state is also being moved into Phase II. An order was issued to place Martin and St. Lucie counties on Phase I as of April 13. A small number of users in the Lake Okeechobee service area will go under a modified Phase III. This means they will have to cease water withdrawal from canals that have dropped to 14 feet, and a few are tracking on that level now."
Mr. Rodriguez said that SFWMD stays in touch with growers through e-mail releases on a regular basis so they have ample notice on upcoming phase changes. The district also conducts monthly governing board meetings, and this year the meetings have had strong agricultural representation in attendance.
Lou Pizzo, president of Lou Pizzo Produce Inc. in Pompano Beach, FL, said the water shortage is taking a big toll on Florida growers this year.
"Cucumber and peppers crops will likely suffer the most," said Mr. Pizzo. "We generally see three harvests, with a seasonal wrapup in mid-May. Without water, growers will be lucky to get one harvest -- and the remainder of what is in the ground will shrivel up and die. That means the season will be cut short by as much as a month, and perhaps even more."
Barry Delk, owner of Jimmy Delk Produce Sales Inc., also in Pompano Beach, concurred with Mr. Pizzo.
"We'll definitely be done within a couple of weeks if we don't get some rain," he told The Produce News April 4. "We generally work cucumbers until May 10, but without moisture we'll be lucky to make it to the end of the month with supplies. The district has never cut us off completely before, but it appears they have no choice this year."
Mr. Rodriguez said that most growers are complying, and they understand that the district is doing everything it possibly can to ease the situation. It will, however, issue citations to those who abuse the regulations.
"This year we have issued about 15 warnings and two citations," he said. A citation fine is typically $1,000 for a first offense, but it can go as high as $10,000 a day for 10 days. I have not seen any of these issued in my tenure with the district, nor have I heard of any. This type of fine would be applied to someone who is a repeat offender who purposely ignores the restrictions."
The district is taking alternative action in an effort to help ease the shortage. It recently installed force-forward pumps at the bottom of Lake Okeechobee especially to help those in agriculture. The pumps will force water into the canals to help them maintain levels. Installation of the pumps was completed around April 1, and they were scheduled to begin operating during the following week.
"Those on Phase III restrictions will get a little relief from the pumps," said Mr. Rodriguez. "Those on Phase II will remain at that level as long as the water tables can tolerate it, in hopes that the losses to the agriculture industry will be as minimal as possible. We cannot even pull water in from northern areas of the state, such as the Kissimmee chain of lakes, because they are suffering the same drought situation. We are all doing rain dances here in Florida."
Lake Okeechobee, southern Florida's primary source of fresh water, supplies water to the western, eastern and southern areas of the state via the canals it feeds. The lake's water level is maintained by rainfall, which has been historically low since Jan. 1.
On April 3, the lake's level was 10.34 feet - about four feet below normal for this time of year - and just a couple of inches higher than its all-time recorded low in 2001.
"But the situation is much more bleak this year," said Jesus Rodriguez, lead media relations specialist for the water district. "Rainfall from January to March in 2001 was at 65 percent of historical data records. We are currently at about 36 percent for the year. The forecast offers even less hope. There is no rainfall expected in the near future, meaning that the lake's water level will continue to drop."
Florida residents are the first to have restrictions placed on them when drought conditions occur in the state, typically beginning with lawn watering and car washing restrictions. But the situation is so severe this year that restrictions have also been placed on crop irrigation, a situation that has occurred only a couple of times in history. It is devastating news to produce growers because it means that crops will potentially shrivel up and die in the fields.
SFWMD's conservation system is organized in phases for growers, just as it is for residents.
In Phase I, those in agriculture are ordered to cut water usage by 15 percent. In Phase II, restrictions are increased to 30 percent, and in Phase III, they rise to 45 percent. During the phased periods, growers are required to report their weekly water consumption to the SFWMD, and the district also monitors the reports to ensure that growers are complying.
"On March 15, an order was upgraded to Phase II from Phase I for the Lake Okeechobee service area, which includes the Everglades Agricultural Area, and portions of Hendry, Glades, Lee, Okeechobee, Palm Beach and Martin counties," said Mr. Rodriguez. "This area constitutes a wide ring surrounding the lake. The lower east coast of the state is also being moved into Phase II. An order was issued to place Martin and St. Lucie counties on Phase I as of April 13. A small number of users in the Lake Okeechobee service area will go under a modified Phase III. This means they will have to cease water withdrawal from canals that have dropped to 14 feet, and a few are tracking on that level now."
Mr. Rodriguez said that SFWMD stays in touch with growers through e-mail releases on a regular basis so they have ample notice on upcoming phase changes. The district also conducts monthly governing board meetings, and this year the meetings have had strong agricultural representation in attendance.
Lou Pizzo, president of Lou Pizzo Produce Inc. in Pompano Beach, FL, said the water shortage is taking a big toll on Florida growers this year.
"Cucumber and peppers crops will likely suffer the most," said Mr. Pizzo. "We generally see three harvests, with a seasonal wrapup in mid-May. Without water, growers will be lucky to get one harvest -- and the remainder of what is in the ground will shrivel up and die. That means the season will be cut short by as much as a month, and perhaps even more."
Barry Delk, owner of Jimmy Delk Produce Sales Inc., also in Pompano Beach, concurred with Mr. Pizzo.
"We'll definitely be done within a couple of weeks if we don't get some rain," he told The Produce News April 4. "We generally work cucumbers until May 10, but without moisture we'll be lucky to make it to the end of the month with supplies. The district has never cut us off completely before, but it appears they have no choice this year."
Mr. Rodriguez said that most growers are complying, and they understand that the district is doing everything it possibly can to ease the situation. It will, however, issue citations to those who abuse the regulations.
"This year we have issued about 15 warnings and two citations," he said. A citation fine is typically $1,000 for a first offense, but it can go as high as $10,000 a day for 10 days. I have not seen any of these issued in my tenure with the district, nor have I heard of any. This type of fine would be applied to someone who is a repeat offender who purposely ignores the restrictions."
The district is taking alternative action in an effort to help ease the shortage. It recently installed force-forward pumps at the bottom of Lake Okeechobee especially to help those in agriculture. The pumps will force water into the canals to help them maintain levels. Installation of the pumps was completed around April 1, and they were scheduled to begin operating during the following week.
"Those on Phase III restrictions will get a little relief from the pumps," said Mr. Rodriguez. "Those on Phase II will remain at that level as long as the water tables can tolerate it, in hopes that the losses to the agriculture industry will be as minimal as possible. We cannot even pull water in from northern areas of the state, such as the Kissimmee chain of lakes, because they are suffering the same drought situation. We are all doing rain dances here in Florida."
