The Facilitating Agricultural Resource Management Systems (FARMS) Program is an agricultural Best Management Practice (BMP) cost-share reimbursement program developed cooperatively by the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS).

The purpose of the program is to address issues concerning water quantity, water quality and natural system functions within the District. The session will cover how the FARMS Program began - its purpose, objectives and goals, the types of cost-share projects that are funded to meet program objectives, and how the program has evolved from its original intent to its present day stuatus. You will learn how project eligibility is determined, how projects are approved and funded, and what requirements a potential project applicant will need to meet. Examples of existing projects will be shared to illustrate how the program functions.

In addition to the FARMS Program, this session will include information on agricultural BMPs developmed by FDACS, presented by their Office of Agricultural Water Policy. The presentation will explain the "Who, What, Why, Where, and How" of agricultural best management practices (BMPs) for water quality and water conservation. It will provide a description, purpose, geography, and implementation of agricultural BMPs in Florida. There will be a brief overview of cost-share programs and basin management action plans.

Material from the presentation can be found at the Office of Agricultural Water Policy website at: http://floridaagwaterpolicy.com/AtaGlance.html.