5/19/1982 - Laserfiche WebLink

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in the acreage in agricultural use in the County.. Randy Sexton testified to the effect that the subject land cannot be used economically for agriculture. In regard to the affect on the aquifer, Mr. O'Haire explained that in citrus use with flood irrigation, water is drawn from the deep aquifer and returned to the shallow aquifer which brings chlorides from one to the other and, in fact, pollutes drinking water. In terms of quantity, consumption for agricultural flood irrigation is five time the consumption for urban domestic use. Commissioner Fletcher noted that Brian Combs, County Extension Agent, did some tests and stated that the property is good for agricultural use. Randy Sexton took the floor and informed the Board that this property is what is known as "heavy" land; it has an accumulation of nematodes and an accumulation of base metals (copper, zinc, manganese, etc.) resulting from 60 years of spraying. Mr. Sexton stated that he could show the Board many examples of replanted land where you do not get a thrifty grove because these metals do not dissipate in heavy marl, and the trees planted in this soil are stunted. He emphasized that his family are third generation citrus farmers in this county, and they obviously would be farming their own land if they felt it would be suitable; this land has lain fallow for 10 years. Planner Dennis Ragsdale commented that staff did not want to give the Board the impression that because urban uses less water than agricultural, the whole county should go to urban; however, in this 'instance the land is not prime agricultural; it is in an area which would be a prime development area; it has road access which would not be impaired from development; the water situation would be solved through county utilities in the future; and also IAY`.132 showed there has been a net increase over the last two years in the acreage in agricultural use in the County.. Randy Sexton testified to the effect that the subject land cannot be used economically for agriculture. In regard to the affect on the aquifer, Mr. O'Haire explained that in citrus use with flood irrigation, water is drawn from the deep aquifer and returned to the shallow aquifer which brings chlorides from one to the other and, in fact, pollutes drinking water. In terms of quantity, consumption for agricultural flood irrigation is five time the consumption for urban domestic use. Commissioner Fletcher noted that Brian Combs, County Extension Agent, did some tests and stated that the property is good for agricultural use. Randy Sexton took the floor and informed the Board that this property is what is known as "heavy" land; it has an accumulation of nematodes and an accumulation of base metals (copper, zinc, manganese, etc.) resulting from 60 years of spraying. Mr. Sexton stated that he could show the Board many examples of replanted land where you do not get a thrifty grove because these metals do not dissipate in heavy marl, and the trees planted in this soil are stunted. He emphasized that his family are third generation citrus farmers in this county, and they obviously would be farming their own land if they felt it would be suitable; this land has lain fallow for 10 years. Planner Dennis Ragsdale commented that staff did not want to give the Board the impression that because urban uses less water than agricultural, the whole county should go to urban; however, in this 'instance the land is not prime agricultural; it is in an area which would be a prime development area; it has road access which would not be impaired from development; the water situation would be solved through county utilities in the future; and also