South of Lake Okeechobee lies approximately 1,160 square miles of highly productive agricultural land known as the Everglades Agricultural Area, where farmers work to preserve the environment while producing food.
EAA farmers lead the state and all counties east of the Mississippi River in crop production. For the past two decades, the EAA has provided jobs and food for the nation while partnering to send clean water to the Everglades.
Farmers have improved water quality through Best Management Practices including refined stormwater management practices, on-site farm erosion controls and more precise fertilizer application methods. As a result, EAA farmers have reduced phosphorus by an annual average of 56% over the last 20 years, far exceeding state-mandated goals.
The EAA is proof that farmers can reach common goals to preserve land for future generations while simultaneously continuing to feed the nation. To learn more about their work, visit lakeoalliance.org/everglades-agricultural-area.
See more: The Success of Strickland Ranch Centers on Stewardship
