University of Florida along with Archbold Biological Station and South Florida Water Management District have undertaken a long term agro-ecology research initiative to develop economically and environmentally sustainable cattle management practices. This research is conducted at the MacArthur Agro-ecology Research Center on Buck Island Ranch in central Florida near Lake Placid.

Florida is the 2nd largest cattle producer in the Eastern U.S. and the 10th largest in the entire nation. The Florida cattle industry is primary composed of cow-calf operations. Runoff water from the Everglades. Thus, this effort towards sustainable agriculture will have a significant impact on an important national ecosystem restoration project for the Everglades.

The experimental design of the project consist of 2 grazing blocks (summer pasture and winter range) with 8 plots in each. The summer pasture plots are 50 (400 acres total) while each winter range plots are 80 acres (640 acres total). There will be 4 stocking rate treatments (including a control of zero stocking rate) with 2 replicates of each treatment. Surface water runoff will be measured and sampled at flumes established on each plot ( a total of 16 instrument stations). Water quality analysis will focus on establishing nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorus) loading rates for each cattle stocking rate for a new decision support system ( a GIS-based hydrologic simulation model with economic components). The model will provide a basis for future cattle management practice recommendations and regulations.

This proposal seeks support for a 5-year study to determine the effect of cattle stocking rates (cows/acre) on water quality. Funding for the initial design, construction, and instrumentation of the experiment is provided under separate grants and contributions of the collaborators. This proposal seeks funds to support personnel who will maintain instruments, review incoming hydrologic data, perform chemical analyses, and report findings. Total five-year budget is $ 678,975.

2001 Southern DataStream