Florida preserves more than 13,000 acres of agriculture land under protection program

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson announced Monday the preservation of over 13,000 acres of ranchland through the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program.

“Today’s partnerships with Buck Island Ranch and Adams Ranch protect over 13,000 acres of agriculturally productive, economically significant, and environmentally rich Florida ranchlands,” Simpson said.

“These partnerships also represent a historic moment for the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, as nearly 100,000 acres of working agricultural lands, and their economic and environmental benefits, have been preserved for future generations,” he said.

“I appreciate Governor DeSantis and my fellow Cabinet members for their support of this program and the preservation of these critically important lands.”

The acreage will be preserved at a cost of over $36 million and help agricultural conservation easements, which assist in the prevention of future land development and allow operations for food and timber, as well as other resources, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Adams Ranch, located in Osceola County, will have nearly 9,000 acres of land protected through the program.

Bucks Island Ranch, located in Highlands County, will also have nearly 4,500 acres preserved.

Both ranches are considered to be two of the top producing cow-calf ranches in the state.

Once finalized, the projects will be the 68th and 69th Rural and Family Lands Protection Program conservation easements, totaling nearly 100,000 in acreage protection.

Supported by Gov. Ron DeSantis, the program received some vetoes from the governor in June. Despite budget approval by the state legislature, DeSantis vetoed some $100 million allocated to the Land Acquisition Trust Fund for the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, citing previous funding.

The veto was criticized by Simpson, who felt the industry was “targeted” given the state’s surplus and that the program was “critical” to the Wildlife Corridor.

“Agriculture is a $180 billion economic engine for Florida,” Simpson said in June. “The ability to produce a safe, affordable, and abundant food supply is a matter of State and National Security, especially as we welcome 1,000 new residents every day.”

However, DeSantis’ office noted the program still has hundreds of millions of dollars at its disposal.

“At a minimum, $240 million remains available for the program moving into the upcoming fiscal year,” they said at the time.