Florida landowners have a fresh opportunity to lock down the future of their farms and ranches against the encroaching tide of development. Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson officially opened the application window today for the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, initiating a new push to preserve the state’s agricultural footprint.
The program offers a deal to farmers and ranchers: the state pays for conservation easements that prevent future construction on the property, and in exchange, the land remains in private hands, continuing to produce food and fiber for the economy.
Applications are being accepted online now through January 23, 2026.
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“Florida’s working agricultural lands are not just undeveloped fields and pastures — they sustain our economy, support our wildlife, nourish our communities, and protect our natural resources,” Simpson said. “Our working agricultural lands are increasingly threatened by development, and the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program partners with our farmers and ranchers to ensure these lands are protected and remain productive for generations to come.”
The initiative is designed as a countermeasure to urban sprawl, which threatens to pave over the state’s fertile grounds. Unlike traditional conservation, where the state buys land outright, this program purchases only the development rights. This approach keeps the land on the local tax rolls and spares taxpayers the cost of maintenance, as the farmers continue to manage the property themselves.
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Simpson has made land conservation a signature aspect of his administration. Since its inception in 2001, the program has preserved roughly 224,000 acres. Notably, about 158,000 of those acres were secured during Simpson’s tenure alone.
The state is backing the effort with significant capital. Since 2022, Simpson has helped steer more than $700 million in state funding toward the program, including a $250 million allocation in the 2025/2026 state budget.
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