Jon Deas, IIID Farms, Hamilton
Jon Deas and his family own and operate IIID Farms in Jennings, Florida. The farm was established in the late 1800’s by Kato Deas, the grandfather of Jon Deas. They proudly produce cattle, corn and peanuts. Mr. Deas has been implementing Best Management Practices (BMPs) on the farm for many decades. 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. IIID Farms use a pivot irrigation system that applies the correct amount of water to the corn and peanuts. GPS technology is used in the planting and harvesting of the crop. When applying fertilizer to the crops, Mr. Deas uses a GPS guided system to ensure the precise amount of fertilizer is being applied to each plant.
Mr. Deas is actively involved in his local community, serving as Director of the Hamilton County Farm Bureau, membership chairman and state director of Florida Farm Bureau. He has also been a past president of the Florida Tobacco Growers Association and the Soil and Water Conservation District Committee as well as a past member and treasurer of the Suwannee River Resource Conservation Development Council. He and his family are actively involved in New Hope Baptist Church. When asked why he is a farmer who CARES, Deas responded, “farmers are the best stewards of our land and we need to continue BMPs to protect water quality and limit governmental involvement in farming.”
