Historic Vote Boosts Preservation Inventory by 50%, Protecting Florida’s Agricultural Future (FDACS/TALLAHASSEE, FL/Dec. 17, 2024) — The Governor and Cabinet, sitting as the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund, approved the preservation of over 62,000 acres of working Florida farms and ranches through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. The …
FDACS Announces Preservation of Two Florida Family Farms
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) has announced the preservation of two Florida farms through their Rural and Family Lands Protection Program (RFLPP). Adams Farm, a 1,687-acre farm located in Walton and Holmes counties, and Triple S Ranch, an 806-acre farm in Citrus County, are being preserved through rural lands protection easements for $2,275,200 and $3,392,000. Adams Farms, Inc. is a …
Ceremonial Groundbreaking Held for New FDACS Facility
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson, along with Senate President Ben Albritton, Senator Corey Simon, Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey, and Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) employees this week to celebrate the groundbreaking of FDACS’ new, state-of-the-art facility at the Conner Complex in Tallahassee. “The new facility is more than just a building – it’s a symbol of FDACS’ commitment …
Highlands County Ranch Preserved through Florida’s Rural and Family Lands Protection Program
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) has announced the preservation of more Florida farmland through their Rural and Family Lands Protection Program (RFLPP). The Bar Rocking C Ranch, a 1,070-acre cattle operation in Highlands County, is being preserved through a rural lands protection easement for $4,300,000. Bar Rocking C Ranch is a cattle ranch in western Highlands County, approximately 8.3 miles …
FDACS Highlights Agricultural Lands to be Preserved With Recently Announced Partner Funding
(FDACS/TALLAHASSEE, FL/Nov. 20, 2024) — Following the Florida Conservation Group’s recent announcement of $47 million in state and federal funding to preserve active agriculture operations in the Peace River Valley region, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson is highlighting four proposed agricultural conservation projects that will receive funding. These agricultural operations in Southwest Florida will be permanently preserved from future development, as …
Hendry County, Florida Ranch Preserved Through RFLPP
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) announced the preservation of more Florida agricultural land through their Rural and Family Lands Protection Program (RFLPP). Howard Cattle Corporation, a 754-acre cattle operation in Hendry County, is being preserved through a rural land protection easement for $4,145,000. Howard Cattle is a 754-acre commercial cow/calf and quarter horse breeding operation in Hendry County. The property is …
FDACS Announces 2025 Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame Inductees
(FDACS/TALLAHASSEE, FL/Oct. 23, 2024) — Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson and the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame Foundation announced Cary and Marcia Lightsey, Madeline Mellinger, and Jim Strickland as the 2025 Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame inductees. Since 1980, the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame has honored men and women who have made lasting contributions to agriculture in the state and …
Florida Farmland Preserved through RFLPP
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) has announced the preservation of Florida farmland through the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program (RFLPP). Nearly 750 acres of the Pelaez and Sons, Inc. cow/calf operation in Okeechobee County is being preserved through a rural land protection easement for $2,675,000. Pelaez and Sons, Inc. is a family owned and operated cow/calf operation raising …
FDACS Urges USDA to Issue Disaster Declaration for Hurricane Milton Agricultural Damage
~ Preliminary Agricultural Damage Assessment Estimates Losses at $1.5 – $2.5 Billion ~ (FDACS/TALLAHASSEE, FL/October 17, 2024) — Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson sent a letter to the United States Secretary of Agriculture formally requesting a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Disaster Declaration for Florida counties impacted by Hurricane Milton. Hurricane Milton caused catastrophic damage to Florida’s agricultural producers, compounding losses and …
Approval of First Loan for Hurricane Debby Impacted Florida Farmers
First loan approval comes just 15 days after Hurricane Debby made landfall in Florida (FDACS/TALLAHASSEE, FL/Oct. 4, 2024) — Today, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced the approval of the first Hurricane Debby recovery loan through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Agriculture and Aquaculture Producers Natural Disaster Recovery Loan Program. Commissioner Simpson announced the launch of the application …