Steven Borek, GTO Farms, Gilchrist
Steven Borek and his family own and operate GTO Farms in High Springs, Florida. Mr. Borek has been farming for many decades and started GTO Farms in the early 2000s. They proudly produce snap beans, soybeans and sweet corn. Mr. Borek has been implementing Best Management Practices (BMPs) on the farm since 2009. BMPs are a set of guidelines that advise producers on how to manage the water, nutrient, and pesticides they are using to reduce agriculture’s impact on the state’s natural resources. GTO Farms uses a nutrient and irrigation management program to protect water quality and minimize the loss of nutrients to the environment. Crop rotation is used to reduce soil erosion, improve the soils organic matter and minimize crop disease build-up. Cover crops are also used to reduce soil erosion and trap excess nutrients left in the soil after the crop is harvested. Mr. Borek also uses an Integrated Pest Management system throughout the farm to reduce farm expenses, conserve energy and protect the environment.
Mr. Borek is a Florida Farm Bureau member and spends most of his time on the farm. When asked why he is a farmer who CARES, Borek responded, “to allow future generations the opportunity to enjoy the farming life.”
