
BMPs are designed to improve water quality while maintaining agricultural production.
Agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs) are practical measures that producers can take to reduce the amount of fertilizers, pesticides, animal waste, and other pollutants entering our water resources. They are designed to improve water quality while maintaining agricultural production. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) has adopted BMPs for most commodities in the state. Each BMP manual covers key aspects of water quality and water conservation. Typical practices include:
No nitrogen or phosphorus fertilizers in Orange County landscapes 6/1 - 9/30 because too much of it ends up in our water. The reason we have fertilizer regulation is because water quality is measured and managed, and pollution levels are too high. The nutrient pollution in water comes from a variety of sources. The biggest sources in Central Florida include septic tanks and landscape fertilizers. Landscape fertilizers contain nutrients Read More
The Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to update the Orange County Fertilizer Applicators Ordinance during Spring 2022. Commercial, for hire, fertilizer applicators AND institutional fertilizer applicators that need to apply fertilizer as part of their job on a property they own, or is owned by their employer, are all required to be trained in Green Industries Best Management Practices (GI-BMP). This GI-BMP training requirementRead More
New BMP Recordkeeping Requirements for Nitrogen and Phosphorus – Q&A
Implementation of The Clean Waterways Act and Agricultural Best Management Practices