ABOUT SCHIRARD FAMILY, LLC
Schirard Family, LLC is a family owned and operated farm founded by Brantley Schirard, Sr. who began his career in Florida agricultural production in the late sixties. Brantley, Sr. grows citrus and raises beef cattle with the help of his son, Brantley Schirard, Jr.
Best Management Practices, or BMPs, have been implemented on Schirard’s operation since its inception. It was and still is important to him today that the hundreds of acres of wetlands, water resources and natural areas with wildlife habitats are preserved and left undisturbed. The areas where citrus groves and pastures of cattle reside are heavily managed to ensure water and nutrient use is efficient and water quality is protected.
Some of the most effective BMPs implemented on the citrus side of the operation include drawing surface water from canals and retention areas for irrigation, minimizing impacts to the aquifer. Micro-jet irrigation is used to apply water at the root zone, providing water savings of up to 30%. When applying nutrients, variable rate applications apply only the exact amounts of nutrients needed, preventing excessive use. To protect soil health, soil and tissue sampling is completed regularly to analyze nutritional content and guide the farm’s nutrient management program. Additionally, native species of trees are planted to provide wind breaks around the groves. Wildlife habitats which are home to numerous species, such as deer, birds, and even a few gators are left undisturbed.
What is most impressive about this farm is the magnitude of water quality protection efforts. As water drains out of the groves it enters a series of canals which moves it throughout not just one, but multiple treatment areas before it can leave the property. During this movement, water and any nutrients not taken up by the trees directly interact with acres of native vegetation, berms and buffers. These BMPs work together to take up excess nutrients and literally clean hundreds of thousands of gallons of water each day.
What is additionally impressive about this treatment system is that it cleans up water that flows onto the Schirard’s property from the neighboring landowner. Partnering with another landowner to protect water quality is Florida agriculture at its best.
Florida Farm Bureau is proud to award Mr. Brantley Schirard, Sr. along with his son, Brantley Schirard, Jr., and family, with a 2019 CARES designation and sign for their outstanding efforts to protect Florida’s natural resources.
