Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced that the Governor and Cabinet, sitting as the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund, have approved the preservation of more than 2,800 acres of working Florida agricultural land through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. Rural lands protection easements prevent future development of the land and allow agriculture operations to continue to contribute to Florida’s economy and the production of food, timber, and other resources vital to the prosperity of Florida.
“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 Wilton 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.”
Since its inception, the department’s Rural and Family Lands Protection Program has permanently preserved over 230,000 acres of working agricultural land, with over 165,000 acres preserved during Commissioner Simpson’s administration.
Both properties approved today are enrolled in FDACS Best Management Practices and are located within the Florida Wildlife Corridor, which was established in state law in 2021 through the Florida Wildlife Corridor Act as a priority of then-Senate President Wilton Simpson.
Source : fdacs.gov