The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) has established a grant program to offer financial incentives to nursery owners within the C-11 West Basin to implement BMPs for water quality improvements. The C-11 West Basin is comprised of approximately 72 square miles of mostly residential and commercial land, including approximately 170 nurseries.

SFWMD and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) have each allocated $200,000 in Fiscal Year 2005 for the C-11 West Basin Nursery Best Management Practices Grant Program. Palm Beach Soil and Water Conservation District (PBSWCD) shall contribute technical and other administrative support services for this effort.

The objective of the C-11 West Basin Nursery Best Management Practices Grant Program is to provide funding to nursery growers located within the C-11 West Basin to voluntarily implement specific nursery BMPs. Financial incentives for voluntary BMPs in this basin will help improve the quality of discharges from this area.

As required by the 1994 Everglades Forever Act (EFA), water delivered to the Everglades Protection Area (EPA) must meet state water quality standards. Compliance with water quality standards will be achieved through implementation of the Everglades Protection Area Tributary Basins Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals (LTP), which includes water quality improvement strategies and Best Management Practices (BMPs).

It is the intent that this process be such that water quality improvement projects are implemented as soon as possible. That preference be given to those projects with the greatest long-term water quality benefits for phosphorus reduction in discharges. Administrative expenses be kept to a minimum so that the funds are used for actual water quality improvements to the

maximum extent possible.

To be eligible, an applicant must meet the following requirements:

A) Nursery grower applicant must own the property on which the project is proposed, have a long-term lease (4 or more years), or be the legally authorized representative of the owner or lessee.

B) Nursery must be an existing business, located within the C-11 West Basin boundaries and established for more than 1 year.

C) Submit a completed Application form and a completed Request for Taxpayer Identification

Number and Certification form to the Palm Beach Soil and Water Conservation District by the public noticed deadline(s).

D) The project must consist of BMP practices that are considered to reduce phosphorus in offsite discharges.

A Selection Committee was established consisting of one member from the Broward County Environmental Protection Department, the Broward County Farm Bureau, the Florida Nursery Growers and Landscape Association, the SFWMD, FDACS, the University of Florida IFAS, the PBSWCD and NRCS. The Selection Committee will hold (a) public meeting(s) to evaluate, rank, and to allocate funds to eligible projects. Additional public meetings may be held as needed in order to allocate entire funds.

For information on the C-11 West Basin Nursery Best Management Practices Grant Program contact, David Legg at (561) 683-2285.

Service-to-member benefits -- an increasing value~~~~~~~~

Accidental Death Coverage Free accidental death coverage on named member starts at $1000 the first year and automatically increases $100 per year with a maximum of $3000. Membership must be paid by renewal date to qualify. Death caused by a licensed motor vehicle or military action is excluded.

Alamo Rent-A-Car 15 % off daily and 5 % off weekly rates in the U.S. and 10 percent off both daily and weekly rates in Europe. Call 1-800-354-2322 and request rate plan BY381470.

Anheuser-Busch Theme Parks Pick up your club card at your county Farm Bureau for discounts on Busch Gardens, Sea World and Adventure Island, in-park purchased merchandise, shows and tours.

Carquest Present your Farm Bureau membership card at any Carquest store in Florida to receive the preferred customer card. For additional information contact Carquest's Phillip Snyder at 352-372-8581.

Child Safety Seats Approved Cosco safety child car seat for $25. (One third retail price).

Choice Hotels Through Significant Organization Savings (SOS) Program members receive 20 % off published rates at thousands of Choice hotels nationwide, including Sleep, Comfort, Quality, Clarion, Mainstay Suites, Econolodge and Rodeway Inns.

Vision Select Plan Optical benefit plan including Laser vision correction. Coverage for the entire family. Unlimited savings. Buy one pair get one free. Plus additional features.

Dodge Rebate Dodge Truck Division of Chrysler Corp. & dealers give Farm Bureau members up to a $500 rebate toward the purchase of certain Dodge pickups and vans. Rebate is taken off purchase price.

Farm Bureau Bank Mortgages, credit cards, vehicle loans, etc. Brochures at your local office or call 1-800-492-FARM or visit www.farmbureaubank.com

Florida Agricultural Marketing High quality juice, fruit, vegetables, nuts and meat products produced by Farm Bureau members in Florida and other states. Contact your local Farm Bureau office or visit the "Voice of Agriculture" website at http:..www.ffbic.com

Insurance Protection For financial security and peace of mind:

Life Auto Annuities Long term care

Property /Casualty Income Replacement BCross/BShield

Cancer expense Hospital confinement Estate Planning

Long Distance Calling Save with Farm Bureau Connection on long distance calls-24 hours a day, seven days a week. 5.9 cents minute out-of-state calls, 9.9 cents within state, billed in six second increments. Calling Card fee is 13.9 cents per minute with no surcharge. A PERSONAL "800" number which rings on your phone is 9.9 cents minute. You get it all for a low $1.50 monthly access fee! Contact your county Farm Bureau for an application.

Monthly Member Publication Members receive FloridAgriculture magazine which contains information about agriculture and the people who make it a dynamic industry.

Notary Service Free notary service available at many county Farm Bureaus.

"No Trespassing" Signs Reward for information leading to the prosecution of persons responsible for theft from, or vandalism to, property of a Farm Bureau member. "No Trespassing" signs can be purchased through your county Farm Bureau office.

Prescription Service Several prescription discount plans are available. Contact the county Farm Bureau Office for details.

Tire Kingdom Discount on tires and service. Pick up your card at the county Farm Bureau office.

Universal Studios Fan Club 10% discount at Universal Studios. Advance online purchase http://universalstudios.com/fanclub, click, Orlando, Buy Tickets, then enter our code number, 0015.

Farm Bureau provides all these benefits plus:

*A strong legislative voice in Tallahassee and Washington

*A strong county-wide organization to address local issues

NIAA Equine ID Subcommittee

Reaches Consensus on RFID

The National Institute for Animal Agriculture (NIAA) Equine ID Subcommittee, part of the NIAA Animal Identification and Information Systems Committee made recommendations for equine identification standards during the organization's annual meeting in April. The resolution, approved by the full committee and NIAA Board of Directors, reads: BACKGROUND: The equine industry has historically used varied methods of identification for a variety of reasons; while adequate for their purposes, not all current identification methods provide a unique method of permanent identification of the horse. By establishing a uniformly accepted method of identification, like RFID technology, these conditions are met:

• Internationally compatible;

• Permits a 15-digit identification number;

• Allows for compatibility with current equine registration conventions.

RESOLUTION: The National Institute for Animal Agriculture has determined that the use of ISO/ANSI compatible RFID chips (11784/85, 134.2 kHz) should be the required form of equine identification to comply with the United States National Animal Identification System (NAIS) for the purpose of disease traceback.

The subcommittee was established in 2002 to address specific issues about equine identification as pertaining to a national animal identification system. "The NIAA equine ID subcommittee has come a long way in a short period of time," said chair J. Amelita Facchiano. "We realize the importance of our need to be proactive in this arena and in regards to ISO (International Standards Organization) compliance as we work together with the NAIS Equine Species Working Group. "When we look at disease issues today and their potential effects,equine ID is about assuring the health/welfare, economic growth and prosperity of our industry both in the US and internationally," she said.