Drought puts Florida's winter vegetable season in jeopardy
Drought puts Florida's winter vegetable season in jeopardy
A drought in Florida may result in more than $1 billion in statewide economic losses over the next two years if conditions continue as they are today.
"Some agricultural industries like cattle, citrus and sugar won't feel the worst of their financial pains until 2008 and 2009," said Charles Bronson, commissioner of the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services.
The department said that normal summer rains have eased the severity of urban water shortages throughout the state but not enough to raise the water level of Lake Okeechobee, which supplies water to the dense population and agricultural industries in the entire south Florida region, besides being a critical supplemental water supply for the Everglades.
South Florida currently faces the most serious drought conditions since water tables began being recorded over 90 years ago. In April, the low tables had caused the South Florida Water Management District to order the most severe water usage restrictions on the public in its history, and on the agriculture industry (see The Produce News, April 10, 2007).
The district did take alternative action at that time in an effort to help ease the shortage by installing force-forward pumps at the bottom of Lake Okeechobee to help those in agriculture. The pumps force water into the canals to help them maintain levels. But the pumps cannot pump water that is not there to be pumped.
Lake Okeechobee stores irrigation water for approximately 700,000 acres of agriculture, in what is considered one of the more productive farmland areas in the world.
"Agriculture around the lake is facing a dire situation," said Mr. Bronson. "If there's any hope of avoiding a financial meltdown, it is absolutely essential that the state, the South Florida Water Management District and the Army Corps of Engineers do everything possible to increase water levels in Lake Okeechobee."
Even with the increasing rainfall in recent weeks, Mr. Bronson believes that state agencies must find a way to put more storage water back into the lake. Florida's "dry season" starts in November, and most agricultural producers do not feel that there is sufficient water to get them through the critical period until next spring. Without ample water, the state's valuable winter vegetables, citrus crops and sugar production would likely face disaster.
Many south Florida farmers have been under water restrictions since November. Some who have wells on their farms have been ordered to cap them to prevent drawing water from the ground. Those found not complying with the restrictions face fines of as much as $10,000 per day. Mr. Bronson said that some farms are currently questioning the viability of even planting a fall crop.
"This is a tough situation," said Mr. Bronson. "Would you invest hundreds of thousands of dollars planting crops with the prospects of having an insufficient water supply to keep them alive?"
He also stressed that agriculture losses will undoubtedly affect tax revenues, employment and food prices.
"It's not just about farm profitability; it affects everyone who eats and relies on the economy," he said.
"The activities conducted by growers of fresh vegetables at this time of year are in field preparation," said Danny Raulerson, director of marketing for the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association in Maitland, FL. "The soil moisture is adequate for laying plastic mulch, and planting has not yet started. We won't begin to feel the effects of the water shortage situation until we begin planting and growing, in another month or so."
"Some agricultural industries like cattle, citrus and sugar won't feel the worst of their financial pains until 2008 and 2009," said Charles Bronson, commissioner of the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services.
The department said that normal summer rains have eased the severity of urban water shortages throughout the state but not enough to raise the water level of Lake Okeechobee, which supplies water to the dense population and agricultural industries in the entire south Florida region, besides being a critical supplemental water supply for the Everglades.
South Florida currently faces the most serious drought conditions since water tables began being recorded over 90 years ago. In April, the low tables had caused the South Florida Water Management District to order the most severe water usage restrictions on the public in its history, and on the agriculture industry (see The Produce News, April 10, 2007).
The district did take alternative action at that time in an effort to help ease the shortage by installing force-forward pumps at the bottom of Lake Okeechobee to help those in agriculture. The pumps force water into the canals to help them maintain levels. But the pumps cannot pump water that is not there to be pumped.
Lake Okeechobee stores irrigation water for approximately 700,000 acres of agriculture, in what is considered one of the more productive farmland areas in the world.
"Agriculture around the lake is facing a dire situation," said Mr. Bronson. "If there's any hope of avoiding a financial meltdown, it is absolutely essential that the state, the South Florida Water Management District and the Army Corps of Engineers do everything possible to increase water levels in Lake Okeechobee."
Even with the increasing rainfall in recent weeks, Mr. Bronson believes that state agencies must find a way to put more storage water back into the lake. Florida's "dry season" starts in November, and most agricultural producers do not feel that there is sufficient water to get them through the critical period until next spring. Without ample water, the state's valuable winter vegetables, citrus crops and sugar production would likely face disaster.
Many south Florida farmers have been under water restrictions since November. Some who have wells on their farms have been ordered to cap them to prevent drawing water from the ground. Those found not complying with the restrictions face fines of as much as $10,000 per day. Mr. Bronson said that some farms are currently questioning the viability of even planting a fall crop.
"This is a tough situation," said Mr. Bronson. "Would you invest hundreds of thousands of dollars planting crops with the prospects of having an insufficient water supply to keep them alive?"
He also stressed that agriculture losses will undoubtedly affect tax revenues, employment and food prices.
"It's not just about farm profitability; it affects everyone who eats and relies on the economy," he said.
"The activities conducted by growers of fresh vegetables at this time of year are in field preparation," said Danny Raulerson, director of marketing for the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association in Maitland, FL. "The soil moisture is adequate for laying plastic mulch, and planting has not yet started. We won't begin to feel the effects of the water shortage situation until we begin planting and growing, in another month or so."
