Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson has announced that the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Rural and Family Lands Protection Program has preserved additional Florida farmland in Washington County, Florida. The 2,336-acre Hard Labor Creek has been protected through an easement for nearly $5 Million. The program purchases the development rights to agricultural properties through voluntary easements, preventing future development and allowing ag operations remain in agricultural production. Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson said, “This investment in Hard Labor Creek is another example of Florida’s commitment to keeping agriculture strong, protecting private property rights, and preserving the way of life that built this state. Programs like the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program ensure that Florida’s farmers and ranchers can continue producing the food, fiber, and resources we depend on while safeguarding our natural lands from unchecked development. This is a commonsense, conservative approach to conservation – protecting working lands, supporting our economy, and securing Florida’s future.” Hard Labor Creek consists of rolling pines and forested wetlands managed for timber as well as habitat for various species of wildlife. The property also includes the site of the Battle of Vernon from the American Civil War.