Florida has approved the preservation of over 3,000 acres of agricultural land, according to Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson. The Governor and Cabinet, acting as the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund, have endorsed this move through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. This initiative aims to prevent future development while allowing agriculture operations to continue contributing to Florida’s economy.
“The Rural and Family Lands Protection Program is a smart investment for the state and for Florida taxpayers,” said Commissioner Wilton Simpson. “We’re protecting critical agricultural lands from development without putting new maintenance costs on the state, while strengthening our food security, conserving natural resources and wildlife habitat, and supporting Florida’s farmers and ranchers.”
Since its inception, approximately 224,000 acres have been preserved under this program. Of these, around 158,000 acres were preserved during Simpson’s administration. The properties approved are part of FDACS Best Management Practices and lie within the Florida Wildlife Corridor. This corridor was established in 2021 through legislation championed by then-Senate President Wilton Simpson.
The recent approvals include Siboney Ranch in Okeechobee County with an easement for about 1,059 acres valued at $9.85 million. A portion of this funding comes from the U.S. Air Force Readiness and Environmental Protection Program. Tilton Family Farm in Putnam County also received approval for an easement covering roughly 2,060 acres at a cost of $5.564 million.
The Rural and Family Lands Protection Program was established in 2001 to counter urban development threats to agricultural lands by partnering with farmers and ranchers for sustainable practices while preserving natural resources.
Since 2022, more than $700 million has been secured for this program under Commissioner Simpson’s leadership, including $250 million allocated in the upcoming state budget.
For more details on completed projects under this program, visit FDACS.gov/RFLPPMap.
