Agricultural Best Management Plan (BMP)

For the purposes of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Best Management Practices (BMP) program, a BMP is defined by law as a means, a practice or combination of practices determined by the coordinating agencies, based on research, field testing and expert review, to be the most effective and practicable on-location means, including economic and technological considerations, for improving water quality in agricultural and urban discharges. According to Section 373.4595(2)(a), Florida Statutes, BMPs for agricultural discharges must reflect a balance between water quality improvements and agricultural productivity.

What Are Agricultural Best Management Practices?

Categories of practices include:

Nutrient management to determine nutrient needs and sources and manage nutrient applications (including manure) to minimize impacts to water resources.
Irrigation management to address the method and scheduling of irrigation to reduce water and nutrient losses to the environment.
Water resource protection using buffers, setbacks and swales to reduce or prevent the transport of sediments and nutrients from production areas to water bodies.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services' Office of Agricultural Water Policy (FDACS OAWP) develops and adopts BMPs by rule for different types of agricultural commodities. Florida law provides for agricultural producers to reduce their impacts to water quality through the implementation of applicable BMPs adopted by FDACS.

2025.02.19 Basin Mangement Action Plan Update