Environment and agriculture issues are very important to AIF members as they have a direct correlation to many of Florida’s key industries. Environmental laws affect almost every Florida business directly or indirectly. Agriculture is one of Florida’s main industries, which is why AIF formed its Environmental Sustainability & Agriculture Council. We must be good stewards of our land and water resources, and AIF and its members will lead the way in protecting those resources.
AIF SUPPORTS legislation to address Florida’s major water challenges. Florida’s legislators made great strides towards addressing these challenges in 2015. AIF SUPPORTS the major provisions from last year’s legislation highlighted below:
Springs Protection: AIF SUPPORTS sensible deadlines for the protection and recovery of threatened springs using processes that rely on sound science.
Central Florida Water Initiative (CFWI): AIF SUPPORTS addressing looming water shortages in the foot- print of the CFWI through implementation of a water supply plan and uniform regulatory process for that region.
Lake Okeechobee & the Northern Everglades: AIF SUPPORTS the bundle of proposed changes that will update water permitting for Lake Okeechobee and the Northern Everglades consistent with water permitting in the rest of Florida under the Clean Water Act and existing Florida environmental laws.
Regulatory Reform: AIF SUPPORTS placing additional assistance in state law for self-suppliers, prohibiting reductions in water permit quantities due to successful water conservation efforts, support for public-private partnerships, and updating and upgrading the required elements of a regional water supply plan to make the plans more useable and reliable.
Some minor technical differences remain between the final versions passed in the Senate and House Water bills during the 2015 Session. AIF SUPPORTS efforts to get these minor differences resolved so that full passage in the both chambers can occur in the 2016 Legislative Session.
AIF SUPPORTS continued funding of the Office of Agricultural Water Policy within Commissioner Putnam’s Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
AIF SUPPORTS $8.5 million in state funding for re- search into the causes and cure of citrus greening disease. The citrus business is a significant player in the state’s agricultural industry. The industry continues to suffer losses from greening. This is a critical time to develop research to defeat citrus greening disease.
AIF SUPPORTS Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam’s budgetary request for $25 million for the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program here in our state. The Rural and Family Lands Protection Program is a preservation program designed to protect important agricultural lands through the acquisition of permanent land conservation easements.
AIF SUPPORTS funding science-based programs and projects to improve the water quality and water quantity of Florida’s major first-magnitude springs. Florida has an outstanding water quality tool box with the Total Maximum Daily Load program and the requirements for Minimum Flows and Levels. We support legislation that will use these science-based techniques on a water body specific basis, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
We support reasonable deadlines to implement these programs by state and water management districts. We support Governor Scott’s proposed $50 million funding for the springs recovery efforts. We endorse efforts by farmers to use “Best Management Practices” developed by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services as a means of reducing the impact of their operations on the environment.
AIF SUPPORTS legislation, which allows landowners to continue to have their property classified as “agricultural” if they are participating in a water retention program sponsored by a water management district. Water retention and storage are vital to expanding Florida’s water sup- ply. AIF, through its Florida H20 Coalition, has supported legislative efforts to increase Florida’s water supply. AIF also endorses efforts to allow the owners of a surface water storage project, which provides water resource benefits to be eligible for a consumptive use permit for 50 years.
AIF SUPPORTS state funding for alternative water sup- ply projects. When planning for Florida’s future, the state must have an adequate supply of water. Unless we begin to fund and build new water infrastructure that provides a sufficient amount of water to all users, we will not be in a position to meet future demand. It takes seven years to plan, design, build and permit a major new water facility. Experts have consistently opined that alternative water supply projects are the state’s best bet to achieve water security including reclaimed water projects, desalination plants, aquifer storage and recovery, reservoirs, water conservation, and similar tools. Those states with adequate water supplies will have a head start on economic development and jobs in the future.
AIF SUPPORTS legislation addressing the patchwork of inconsistent, unscientific and arbitrary county and municipal ordinances related to fertilization of urban turf, lawns and landscapes. AIF will continue leading efforts to ensure sound science is the foundation of fertilizer use policies to
protect our environment and provide predictable guide- lines for residential users and businesses without having to navigate arbitrary and emotionally driven local government ordinances.
AIF OPPOSES any “bottle bill” legislation to help pay for recycling efforts. This tax is unnecessary as a majority of Florida’s cities and counties have an excellent curbside- recycling program. Forcing Florida’s families to pay even more at a store with no real improvement in our environment does not make economic or environmental sense, especially in these challenging times.
AIF SUPPORTS the removal of sales tax on the purchase and repair of agricultural processing and packaging machinery, as well as the expansion of sales tax exemptions on items used in the production of agricultural products including fence materials, trailers and other items integral to the farm operation.
AIF OPPOSES the Federal Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) implementation of the overreaching rule, Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS), due to the extreme detrimental impact it will have on Florida businesses and home-owners. Specifically, it would cause great swaths of private property in Florida to fall under the jurisdiction of the Federal EPA.
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) allow farmers to have better harvests with higher yields while using less water and less land. GMO crops are critical to providing balanced meals to the world’s growing population.
AIF OPPOSES any legislation that would mandate a company to label their foods and/or ingredients as being genetically modified. Requiring GMO labeling would be a major cost burden on Florida companies, and would cause great confusion in transportation supply chains.
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