Commissioner Wilton Simpson Announces Governor and Cabinet Approve Protection of Agricultural Lands

Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson today announced that the Governor and Cabinet, sitting as the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund, have approved the preservation of nearly 6,500 acres of working Florida farms and ranches 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.

“Today’s approval is a major victory for Florida’s hardworking farmers and ranchers, who are the backbone of our state’s economy and way of life,” said Commissioner Wilton Simpson. “By protecting these nearly 6,500 acres of productive agricultural land, we are ensuring that future generations can continue Florida’s proud tradition of farming and ranching while also safeguarding our natural resources. Florida is growing rapidly, and it is critical that we strike the right balance between responsible growth and preserving the lands that feed our families and fuel our economy. I appreciate the Governor and my fellow Cabinet members for their unwavering commitment to protecting Florida’s rural heritage and securing our state’s agricultural future.”

Since its inception, the program has permanently preserved more than 205,000 acres, with over 140,000 acres preserved during Commissioner Simpson’s administration.

All 3 properties approved today will be enrolled in FDACS Best Management Practices and are located within or just outside of 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.

The Governor and Cabinet approved rural lands protection easements for the following projects:

Ryals Citrus and Cattle

Ryals Citrus and Cattle is primarily a cow-calf operation. The family began ranching this land 100 years ago and has also diversified into watermelon farming. The property consists of 3,722 acres in north central Charlotte County. It is located approximately 12 miles east of Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda. The property is adjacent to the first Ryals Citrus and Cattle property acquired in 2023 and protects the Prairie Creek, a headwater of the Peace River. Charlotte County’s Prairie Creek Preserve is situated between the two western parcels and several other conservation areas are located within the vicinity.

Acquisition Cost: $13,215,000 — with 50% of the acquisition cost to be provided through a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Agricultural Land Easements (ALE) program — bringing the Board of Trustees’ acquisition cost down to $6,607,500.

Williams Property

The Williams property is a family-run agricultural operation located in Levy County. They farm corn, peanuts, watermelon, cabbage, green beans, rye, and oats. They also run a cattle and silvicultural operation. The 1,782-acre property consists of approximately 209 acres of improved pasture where bahia grass is the dominant vegetation, approximately 650 acres is irrigated row crops, approximately 1,914 acres of timber, approximately 110 acres of cypress and approximately 618 acres of wetlands. Protecting this property will contribute to enhanced water quality, aquifer recharge, flow attenuation, and flood hazard reduction.

Acquisition Cost: $6,060,000

Headwaters Ranch

The Headwaters Ranch is a 993-acre cattle ranch located in Lake County comprised of improved pasture, as well as bottom land hardwood areas and native vegetation. The headwaters of the Withlacoochee River run through the property. Typical central Florida plant and animal species, including storks, cranes, alligators, bobcat, and bear on mainly pasture and bottomland hardwood forests.

Acquisition Cost: $6,000,000 – with 53% of the acquisition cost to be provided through a partnership contribution from the Southwest Florida Water Management District – bringing the Board of Trustees’ acquisition cost down to $2,800,000.

About the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program

Established in 2001 with the passage of the Rural and Family Lands Protection Act, the program recognizes that working agricultural lands are essential to Florida's economic future. Agricultural lands are being increasingly threatened by urban development. To counter this trend, the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program partners with farmers and ranchers to ensure sustainable production practices while protecting natural resources.

During the 2024 Legislative Session, Commissioner Simpson helped to secure a $100 million legislative appropriation for the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program and another $100 million each fiscal year, appropriated in SB 1638, to support the Florida Wildlife Corridor, including the acquisition of rural land protection easements under the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program.

Commissioner Simpson has been involved in Florida’s land conservation policy issues long before becoming Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture. As Senate President, Commissioner Simpson championed the successful passage of the Florida Wildlife Corridor Act, which directed the state of Florida to better protect and connect Florida’s natural areas and wildlife habitats and to preserve working agricultural lands from future development. As Senate President, Commissioner Simpson also secured a $300 million legislative appropriation for the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program.

A story map of all completed Rural and Family Lands Protection Program projects can be viewed here: FDACS.gov/RFLPPMap.

For more information about Commissioner Simpson and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, visit FDACS.gov.