Fertilizer is a Hot Topic in Florida
A January 2nd, 2011 article in Miami Herald Tribune chronicled the ongoing debate over a University of Florida IFAS study showing the potential harmful effects on water quality posed by summertime “fertilizer bans” featured in many local ordinances.
The full article can be found here: www.heraldtribune.com/article
University of Florida researcher George Hochmuth is sick of defending his research, which is at the heart of a simmering battle over how much fertilizer people can put on their lawns during the rainy summer months.
"I think it's unfair and unprofessional to be charging good scientists who have their heart in the right place," says Hochmuth, an environmental science professor. "The science is almost being held hostage."
Hochmuth and a team of seven researchers at UF's Institute for Food and Agricultural Studies have been lambasted by environmentalist groups and other scientists for their study that suggests banning fertilizers in the rainy season does more harm than good in the effort to keep pollutants out of waterways.
Titled "Unintended Consequences Associated with Certain Urban Fertilizer Ordinance," the study was published in March 2009 amid virulent debate at the Capitol -- and at the request of industry lobbyists.
Though critics have been loud in their indictment of the study, which the institute acknowledges was funded by the fertilizer industry, it has been used at government meetings statewide to slow regulation.
Now Sarasota County, which in 2007 enacted the first strict fertilizer ordinance in Florida, has taken aim at the IFAS study.
"It's tobacco science," said County Commissioner Jon Thaxton, who is leading the way at the county to compel researchers to release documents associated with the study. "At best, it's an unsubstantiated opinion piece, but that's not what they're using it for," claims Thaxton, who in 2007 was appointed to Gov. Charlie Crist's Florida Consumer Fertilizer Task Force to provide recommendations to the state. "They're using it and calling it science and taking it to Tallahassee to write laws with."
Since Sarasota passed its fertilizer restrictions, 40 other cities and counties in Florida have passed similar ordinances. At the same time, legislators have tried but failed to pass a law that would pre-empt the local ordinances and weaken the restrictions on fertilizer use.
Such legislation is certain to be introduced again this year when legislators meet in March, said Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton.
"I can assure you there will be a war," said Bennett, who co-sponsored a bill last year that would have pre-empted local regulation of certain kinds of fertilizers. The bill ultimately was not approved by legislators.
As Bennett acknowledges, his stance will depend on what he hears from the experts on the subject, namely researchers at IFAS.
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reprinted from FPMA eFlash
