FLORIDA SOIL BUILDERS

KEEPING OUR STATE’S FARMING SUSTAINABLE

Written by: Ava Grace

AFlorida farmer sends a soil sample to a lab for analysis. The lab sends the results back with recommendations that simply state: “It needs everything but sand.”

Joking aside, Florida farmers have enjoyed the benefits of abundant sunshine and a subtropical climate that provides ample rainfall. But the high sand content of the soil presents a challenge for growing crops.

Farmers have been producing a wide variety of fruits and vegetables in the state for well over one hundred years. Florida agriculture is one of the state’s largest industries, second only to tourism in revenue generated. The agricultural industry provides thousands of jobs for farm workers and associated businesses such as agricultural packing and processing facilities.

After World War II, the introduction of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides made it easier to produce more abundant crops. Abundant crops created competition at the marketplace leading to the reduction in input costs to retain a reasonable profit. This competition led to elimination of some production practices such as crop rotation, cover crops and other methods that allow for sustaining and even increasing organic matter in the soil.

Over the past 80 years, these trends away from techniques that improve organic matter have taken a negative toll on the soils. Additionally, the consumer is now demanding more organic produce in lieu of produce grown with synthetic inputs.

Every year, farmers are struggling to produce crops that are competitive in today’s world markets. Most large farming operations have found it necessary to alter their management techniques to find ways to regenerate the soil. These regenerative programs include planting cover crops and adding amendments such as high-quality compost which increases the organic matter and minerals in the soil.

One of the biggest sources of compost is Immokalee-based Florida Soil Builders,Inc., a manufacturer and supplier of premium compost.