See the Best Practices for biosolids when used in your Florida citrus grove to amend the soil.
In our last blog, we shared information on the rules and regulations governing the use of biosolids; the information came from a UF/IFAS Tip of the Week article.. The article also shared Best Practices for biosolids. See them below.
Best Practices for Biosolids in Citrus
The article shared these Best Practices for biosolids in Florida citrus groves:
- “The materials used are compliant with federal, state and local requirements as well as with your audit scheme.
- Application records are kept which include: the type of biosolid, treatment classification, supplier certification and date and method of application.
- Materials are not applied in a way that allows for contact with the harvestable portion of the citrus crop or allows for potential contamination via runoff or drift.
- Adequate time intervals between biosolid application and harvest are maintained. Even though citrus is a tree fruit with a reduced likelihood of contact, risk-based decision-making should still be documented to demonstrate that no reasonably foreseeable hazards exist from the use of biosolids.
- Dropped produce or produce in contact with the ground is not harvested.”
Further Resources
The article also shared that “More information about biosolids and the FSMA Produce Safety Rule can be found on the FDA Biological Soil Amendments of Animal Origin Fact Sheet and the EPA Biosolids Website,” and that “On-Farm Readiness Reviews (OFRRs) are a valuable resource for growers looking to ensure their practices meet FSMA requirements. To request an OFRR, visit www.fdacs.gov/OFRR. Contact UFFoodSafety@ifas.ufl.edu with additional questions.”
Griffin Fertilizer is committed to helping both growers and ranchers make sound agronomic and economic decisions in order to maximize the health of their grove and pasture. As a full-service custom dry & liquid fertilizer blender and crop protection product distributor, we will continue our mission to further advance Florida agriculture. For questions -or concerns about your farm or pasture, contact us and one of our team will be in touch.