Commissioner Wilton Simpson Announces Permanent Protection of Over 3,200 Acres of Agricultural Land Through Rural and Family Lands Protection Program
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced the permanent protection of more than 3,200 acres of working Florida agricultural land across three Florida farms through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. Rural lands protection easements prevent future development and allow agricultural operations to continue contributing to Florida’s economy and the production of food, timber, and other resources vital to Florida's prosperity.
“Florida is fortunate to have farmers and ranchers who are dedicated to keeping their land in production,” said Commissioner Wilton Simpson. “I appreciate the landowners who have partnered with us through the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program to permanently protect these properties while allowing their agricultural operations to continue. This is an important way to preserve Florida’s agricultural lands for future generations.”
Since its inception, the department’s Rural and Family Lands Protection Program has permanently preserved more than 257,000 acres of working agricultural land, with more than 191,000 acres preserved during Commissioner Simpson’s administration.
The three properties are located within the Florida Wildlife Corridor and are enrolled in the department’s Best Management Practices (BMP) program.
D.T. Davis Ranch, Hardee County, Florida
D.T. Davis Ranch
D.T. Davis Ranch, an approximately 522-acre cattle operation in Hardee County, has been permanently preserved from development through a rural lands protection easement totaling $2,950,000. Dominated by a large cypress wetland on the eastern side of the property, it consists of pasture with a smaller open woodland that is potentially xeric hammock. Surrounding lands are primarily pasture, wetlands, and citrus. Part of the property includes historic cattle routes used by ranchers and settlers after the Seminole Indian Wars.
Micco Bluff Ranch, Okeechobee County, Florida
Micco Bluff Ranch
Micco Bluff Ranch, an approximately 180-acre cattle operation in Okeechobee County, has been permanently preserved from development through a rural lands protection easement totaling $2,166,000. The Ranch is located in the Lake Okeechobee Watershed and is adjacent to the Kissimmee River, lying within the Kissimmee River Basin and the Greater Everglades ecosystem. The uplands are almost entirely improved pasture. The western edges of the site consist of unimproved/woodland pasture and there is a small area of scrubby flatwoods and two small areas of dry prairie in the southeastern portion of the site.
The Flatwoods, Levy County, Florida
The Flatwoods
The Flatwoods, an approximately 2,572-acre timber and cattle operation in Levy County, has been permanently preserved from development through two rural lands protection easement totaling $4,900,000. The site is approximately 8 miles north of the Waccasassa Bay Preserve State Park. The natural areas are a combination of mesic hammock and bottomland hardwoods (various Oak species, Hickory, Red Maple, Black Cherry and Magnolia) with a small amount of Red Cedar, Cypress and other swamp species. Many of the natural areas are contiguous with the planted pine providing a larger area of cover and varied habitat for wildlife species.
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. As agricultural lands face increasing pressure from development, the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program partners with farmers and ranchers to ensure sustainable production practices while protecting natural resources.
Rural lands protection easements prevent future development of the land and allow agricultural operations to continue contributing to Florida’s economy and the production of food, timber, and other resources vital to the state’s prosperity. By purchasing development rights through a rural lands protection easement, the program also avoids the long-term costs associated with acquiring and maintaining state-owned conservation lands.
Since 2022, Commissioner Simpson has helped to secure more than $1.1 billion in state funding for the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, including $425 million in the 2026/2027 state budget.
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.
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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