Florida Ag Commissioner Announces State Approval to Preserve Over 10,000 Acres

Florida Approves Preservation of Over 10,000 Acres of Working Farms and Ranches

Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced this week that Florida’s Governor and Cabinet, acting as the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund, have approved the preservation of more than 10,000 acres of working Florida farms and ranches.

The preservation initiative is a part of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ (FDACS) Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, which uses agricultural conservation easements to protect land from future development. This allows Florida farms and ranches to remain operational, contributing to the state’s economy, food supply, and environmental stewardship.

“At today’s Cabinet meeting, we took another important step to safeguard Florida’s agricultural future. By protecting more than 10,000 acres of working farms and ranches through FDACS’ Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, we are ensuring that this land will remain in private, productive agriculture. This is how we secure our food supply, protect our water resources, and preserve the rural way of life that makes Florida strong,” said Commissioner Wilton Simpson.

Among the newly protected properties:

Bentley Ranch: A 2,559-acre cattle and citrus operation southwest of Highlands Hammock State Park, adjacent to the Heartland Wildlife Corridor Florida Forever Project.
Remlap Ranch: A 5,940-acre cattle ranch northwest of Lake Okeechobee, offering freshwater marshes that provide valuable ecological services.
4G Ranch: A 1,893-acre cow-calf operation north of Conner Preserve that includes pasture, wetlands, cropland, and open land. It borders the Crossbar/Al Bar Ranch Florida Forever Project and serves as habitat for the Florida scrub-jay, a federally endangered species.

This land preservation effort underscores Florida’s commitment to protecting agricultural land, supporting rural economies, and conserving natural habitats. Through proactive measures like these, Florida is ensuring a sustainable future for farming, water conservation, and wildlife preservation.