(NSF) — Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried has reiterated a call for Governor Ron DeSantis and the state Cabinet to jointly address issues related to the coronavirus pandemic. Fried, who has complained about a lack of communication between the statewide elected officials, says she’s been requesting weekly briefings from the governor’s office since before an April 7th Cabinet meeting was …
Florida Cabinet Approves Land Deal
Governor Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet on Tuesday agreed to spend $6.4 million to purchase what is known as a “conservation easement” on nearly 20,000 acres of timber land near the Suwannee River and Gulf of Mexico in Dixie County. According to a story from the News Service of Florida, under a conservation easement, the land would be protected …
Ag Interest Spread Cash in Cabinet Race
From farmers to horse trainers, agricultural interests put up more than $100,000 in April to support three candidates running for Florida agriculture commissioner, with U.S. Sugar Corp. accounting for $30,000, new finance reports show. Republicans Denise Grimsley of Sebring, Matt Caldwell of North Fort Myers and Baxter Troutman of Winter Haven each topped six figures in April fundraising, with Troutman’s …
Third Democrat Emerges for Agriculture Commissioner
The race to replace term-limited Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam continues to get more crowded. Tallahassee Democrat Thomas Clayton White Jr. opened a campaign account this week to run in November for the Cabinet post, becoming the third Democrat — and sixth overall candidate — to take the step, according to the state Division of Elections website. White’s filing came after …
Cabinet Approves Okeechobee, Osceola Land Deals
Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet agreed Wednesday to spend $6.8 million to preserve more than 3,000 acres in Okeechobee and Osceola counties. Through the Florida Forever program, the state will spend $4.2 million for 1,992 acres in Okeechobee County. The prairie land, purchased from Open Space Land Trust, Inc., is bordered on the north by the Kissimmee River …
Cabinet Eyes Land Deals in Okeechobee, Osceola
Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet next week are expected to consider proposed deals that would help preserve more than 3,000 acres of land in Okeechobee and Osceola counties. The proposals include spending $4.2 million to buy 1,992 acres in Okeechobee County from Open Space Land Trust, Inc. The land is part of a broader project within the state’s …
Cabinet Considers 6,000-Acre Land Deal in Polk, Hardee
The News Service of Florida Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet on Wednesday are expected to consider a proposed deal that could help preserve more than 6,000 acres of agricultural land in Polk and Hardee counties. Under the proposal, the state would pay $9.79 million for a conservation easement that would cover 6,071 acres owned by Crews Groves, Inc. …
State Preserves More than 5,000 Acres of Environmentally Sensitive Ranch Lands
The Governor and Cabinet approved the preservation of 5,211 acres of environmentally sensitive ranch lands in Okeechobee and Highlands counties through cost-effective conservation easements, which prevent future development of the land and allow agriculture operations to continue to contribute to Florida’s economy. The purchases are a part of the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, where the state partners with …
Rural Lands Program Could Run Short of Cash
by Jim Turner The News Service of Florida Gov. Rick Scott and the state Cabinet could spend about $8.5 million next week to conserve thousands of acres of land owned for decades by two ranching families. Such deals have become a widely used strategy in recent years to protect land from development. But the program that would pay for the …
Cabinet Considers Nearly $7 Million Land Deal
Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet next week are expected to consider a nearly $7 million deal that would help protect 4,177 acres of land north of Lake Okeechobee. The proposal, which Scott and the Cabinet will take up May 23, involves buying what is known as “perpetual conservation easement” for the land about 15 miles north of the …
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