TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced the opening of an application cycle for landowners to apply to the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. The program, which partners with farmers and ranchers through conservation easements, aims to safeguard working agricultural operations that contribute significantly to Florida’s economy and the production of food and fiber. After Commissioner Wilton Simpson helped secure $400 million in funding for the program over the last two years, landowners can now submit their application online to the department through July 27, 2023. The department will then review the applications for eligibility. More information on the program and the application process can be found at: FDACS.gov/RFLPP.
“Food security is national security, and Florida’s agricultural lands are the backbone of our economy and the foundation of our food and fiber production. The Rural and Family Lands Protection Program plays a crucial role in preserving these vital resources for future generations,” said Commissioner Wilton Simpson. “I am proud to announce the opening of the program’s application cycle, which provides an opportunity for landowners to partner with us in conserving and protecting our working agricultural operations. Together, we will continue to support our farmers, ranchers, and producers in their efforts to safeguard Florida’s natural resources and sustain our agricultural heritage.”
Established in 2001 with the passage of the Rural and Family Lands Protection Act, the program has successfully acquired conservation easements on nearly 69,000 acres of working agricultural land to date. 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 RFLPP coordinates with farmers and ranchers to ensure sustainable production practices while protecting natural resources.
Recently, the Governor and Cabinet approved the preservation of approximately 18,279 acres of working agricultural land through cost-effective conservation easements totaling $57,600,705. These easements serve as safeguards against future development, allowing 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. The nine conservation easements marked the most acquisitions in the history of the program to be approved at a meeting of the Governor and Cabinet. The Governor and Cabinet also voted to adopt an amendment to Rule 5I-7, F.A.C. to refine the rules that outline the procedures of the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program which will make the process more streamlined and user-friendly for both applicants to the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program and management of the program. Additionally, participants will now be required to enroll in the department’s agricultural Best Management Practices program.
Commissioner Simpson has been involved in Florida’s land conservation policy issues long before becoming Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture. As Senate President, Simpson worked on legislation and budget issues to protect our precious natural resources. For the 2022-2023 fiscal year, Simpson secured more than $300 million for the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program.
