(FDACS/TALLAHASSEE, FL/March 26, 2024) — Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced the protection of over 8,000 acres of Florida agricultural land through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. With today’s approval by the Governor and Cabinet, approximately 8,349 acres of working agricultural lands will be preserved through cost-effective rural land protection easements totaling $25,296,000. Rural land protection easements prevent future development of the land and allow agriculture operations to continue to contribute to Florida’s economy and the production of food, timber, and other resources vital to the prosperity of Florida.
“Today’s approval to partner with Heart Bar Ranch and Rainey Pasture to preserve over 8,000 acres of productive agricultural land through the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program is another huge win for the state of Florida,” said Commissioner Wilton Simpson. “These rural land protection easements strengthen our food security though the protection of prime agricultural land, keep the protected property on the local tax rolls, and require every property owner to maintain the land and its natural resources according to state standards.”
Once finalized, these projects represent the 88th and 89th approved Rural and Family Lands Protection Program easements, with more than 120,000 acres preserved through the program.
Heart Bar Ranch
Heart Bar Ranch is a cattle, timber, wildlife management, and seed operation in Osceola County. The easement consists of approximately 3,080 acres of native or semi-native habitat for wildlife, much of which also supports cattle grazing. Pine flatwoods, forested wetlands, and herbaceous wetlands are the primary habitat types. Over 4 miles of Camp Lonesome Creek traverses the project before flowing into Canoe Creek, which has a mile of frontage. The project site is enrolled in the FDACS’ Best Management Practices program and is located within the Florida Wildlife Corridor.
Rainey Pasture
Rainey Pasture is a timber operation in Marion County. The easement consists of approximately 5,269 acres, is in the Silver Springs Watershed, is situated along the western floodplain of the Ocklawaha River, and provides several miles of river protection. The project site is enrolled in the FDACS’ Best Management Practices program and is located within the Florida Wildlife Corridor.
Established in 2001 with the passage of the Rural and Family Lands Protection Act, the program recognizes that working agricultural lands are essential to Florida’s economic future. Agricultural lands are being increasingly threatened by urban development. To counter this trend, the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program partners with farmers and ranchers to ensure sustainable production practices while protecting natural resources.
During the 2024 Legislative Session, Commissioner Simpson helped to secure from the Florida Legislature $100 million for the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program and another $100 million each fiscal year, appropriated in SB 1638, to support the Florida Wildlife Corridor, including the acquisition of conservation easements under the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program.
Commissioner Simpson recently highlighted the historic interest in the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program and the results of the 2023 application cycle. Landowners from over 180 properties – representing over 200,000 acres – submitted new applications to be considered for funding. In December 2023, the Governor and Cabinet formally approved the program’s project acquisition list [ 
], which ranks over 250 eligible properties for acquisition, estimated at over $1 billion in value.
Commissioner Simpson has been involved in Florida’s land conservation policy issues long before becoming Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture. As Senate President, Commissioner Simpson championed the successful passage of the Florida Wildlife Corridor Act, which directed the state of Florida to better protect and connect Florida’s natural areas and wildlife habitats and to preserve working agricultural lands from future development. As Senate President, Commissioner Simpson also secured $300 million for the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program.
A story map of all completed Rural and Family Lands Protection Program projects can be viewed here: FDACS.gov/RFLPPMap.
For more information about Commissioner Simpson and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, visit FDACS.gov.
Source: Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services