Commissioner Wilton Simpson Announces Preservation of Florida Farmland Through Rural and Family Lands Protection Program

Heart Bar Ranch, Osceola County, Florida

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Today, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced the preservation of Florida farmland through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services' Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. More than 386 acres of working agricultural land in Heart Bar Ranch in Osceola County is being preserved through a rural land protection easement for $2,600,000.

"Preserving an additional 386 acres of working farmland located within Heart Bar Ranch - a family farm that we worked with earlier this year to preserve over 3,000 acres of farmland - is yet another indicator that the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program is not only successful in its mission, but that generational farmers are eager now more than ever to participate in the program to help preserve important land in Florida," said Commissioner Wilton Simpson. "These rural land protection easements strengthen our food security though the protection of prime agricultural land, keep the protected property on the local tax rolls, and require every property owner to maintain the land and its natural resources according to state standards."

The Rural and Family Lands Protection Program purchases the development rights to the agricultural properties through voluntary rural land protection easements, which prevent the 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.

Heart Bar Ranch

Heart Bar Ranch is a cattle, timber, wildlife management, and seed operation in Osceola County. In March 2024, the Florida Cabinet approved a rural land protection easement that preserved approximately 3,080 acres in Heart Bar Ranch. With this most recent rural land protection easement, the property consists of approximately 3,466 acres of native or semi-native habitat for wildlife, much of which also supports cattle grazing. Pine flatwoods, forested wetlands, and herbaceous wetlands are the primary habitat types. Over 4 miles of Camp Lonesome Creek traverses the project before flowing into Canoe Creek, which has a mile of frontage. The project site is enrolled in the FDACS' Best Management Practices program and is located within the Florida Wildlife Corridor.

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 from the Florida Legislature $100 million 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 conservation easements under the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program.

Commissioner Simpson recently recognized the families of the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program at an event in Lake Placid, Florida, and celebrated the program's 100,000^th acre milestone in agricultural land preservation.

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 $300 million 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.

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