Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson announced this week that the Governor and Cabinet, sitting as the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund, approved the preservation of more than 2,800 acres of working agricultural land through the state’s Rural and Family Lands Protection Program.
The approvals include conservation easements on two cattle ranches — Square One Ranch in Highlands County and Buckhorn Ranch in Hardee County — that will permanently restrict future development while allowing agricultural operations to continue. State officials said the easements are intended to protect food production, conserve natural resources and maintain rural economic activity without transferring land ownership to the state.
“These Rural and Family Lands Protection Program easements represent a lasting investment in Florida’s future, and I was proud to support their approval today,” said Commissioner Simpson. “By protecting working agricultural lands, we are preserving our food supply, conserving critical natural resources, and supporting the farmers and ranchers who drive our state’s economy – all without adding new costs for taxpayers.”
Square One Ranch includes approximately 1,500 acres and was approved for a $6.1 million easement, with $2 million provided through the U.S. Air Force Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration Program. The property consists of pasture, forested uplands and wetlands and is located within the Florida Wildlife Corridor.
Buckhorn Ranch covers 1,326 acres and received a $5.3 million easement. The property includes improved pasture, citrus and row crop areas and lies within the Peace River drainage basin. Both ranches participate in FDACS Best Management Practices and are fully located within the Florida Wildlife Corridor.
FDACS said the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program has permanently preserved more than 230,000 acres since its creation in 2001, including over 165,000 acres during Simpson’s administration. The commissioner also voted to approve a separate 450-acre conservation easement in Volusia County as part of the Longleaf Pine Ecosystem Florida Forever Project.
