Ag Commish Putnam wants $26M for water quality, re-use programs

By Bruce Ritchie

Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam is requesting nearly $26 million in fiscal year 2014-15 to expand agricultural water quality and water-use programs, according to budget documents filed this week.

Putnam also is requesting $6.1 million to combat citrus greening and more than $6 million to restore oyster reefs in the Florida Panhandle estuaries, including $930,000 to reassess restoration efforts in Apalachicola Bay.

Since 2012, Putnam has been telling audiences that water is the biggest long-term economic challenge facing the state. He made similar statements again last week [mid-Oct.] in presentations to legislative committees.