Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced on June 6 the permanent protection of nearly 2,600 acres of working agricultural land through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. The program uses rural lands protection easements to prevent future development while allowing agricultural operations to continue contributing to Florida’s economy.
“Florida’s working agricultural lands are part of our heritage, and it’s our responsibility to protect them,” Simpson said. “I am proud to announce another win for Florida through our Rural and Family Lands Protection Program today. We are permanently protecting nearly 2,600 acres of productive timberland to ensure it stays in private hands and continues working for Florida families. These easements protect private property rights, keep government from owning and managing more land, and ensure Florida families can continue producing the food, fiber, wildlife habitat, and economic opportunity that fuel our state.”
Since its inception, the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program has preserved approximately 230,000 acres statewide. Of this total, about 165,000 acres have been preserved during Simpson’s administration. The properties are enrolled in FDACS Best Management Practices and are located within the Florida Wildlife Corridor.
Thayendanegea Timber is an approximately 1,685-acre property in Baker County that has been preserved from development through a $3.7 million rural lands protection easement with partial funding from the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program. Land West Holdings in Gilchrist County includes about 910 acres protected by two separate easements totaling $2.4 million.
The Rural and Family Lands Protection Program was established in 2001 to partner with farmers and ranchers for sustainable production practices while protecting natural resources. Since 2022, Simpson has helped secure more than $700 million in state funding for the program—including $250 million in the upcoming state budget—according to the official website.
The department functions as a state government agency linked to the Florida Cabinet according to the official website. It also advances agriculture, safeguards consumers and food safety standards, promotes agritourism programs like Florida Farm To You that connect producers with consumers, operates facilities such as the Withlacoochee Training Center for wildfire education, and administers honors including the Agricultural Hall of Fame according to information listed on the organization’s website.
