Florida’s sugar farmers joined with environmental activists to praise Everglades restoration legislation which was unanimously passed by the House and Senate and is certain to be signed into law by Governor Rick Scott, whose priority water quality plan is funded through the plan.
Representatives from US Sugar Corp, Florida Crystals Corp., and Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida worked with policymakers and environmental advocates to set terms that provide a framework for the funding of ecosystem restoration project construction.
“Sugar farmers are proud to have worked closely with environmental groups and policy makers to help craft a bill that will conclude decades of drawn out litigation that have been a barrier to restoration,” said Gaston Cantens, Vice President of Florida Crystals. “This bill is a pact that will put into statute the consensus between all groups, which means we can now move forward together with certainty to build the final projects for Everglades restoration.”
The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Matt Caldwell and Sen. Wilton Simpson, calls for Florida’s sugar farmers to continue their on-farm Best Management Practices (BMPs), paid for entirely by farmers. Over the past 17 years, these practices have reduced phosphorus levels by 55 percent.
“The unanimous, bipartisan support in both the House, and now the Senate, to move Everglades legislation and restoration forward proves the success of true compromise and what we hope will be a lasting collaboration between legislators, farmers and environmental groups,” said Robert Coker, Senior Vice President of U.S. Sugar. “
Last year, Scott and federal environmental regulators agreed to a plan that will move past litigation and begin the final phase of Everglades restoration.
“As dedicated stewards of the environment, EAA farmers are proud to be part of the solution,” said Barbara Miedema, Vice President of Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida. “We applaud the bipartisan work of policymakers and stakeholders who put their differences aside in order to move on with the job of Everglades restoration.”
