Commissioner Wilton Simpson announces that farmland in Alachua County will be permanently preserved through the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program

Tallahassee, Florida – In a continued effort to safeguard Florida’s agricultural heritage and prevent rapid urban sprawl, Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced the permanent preservation of Holt Agricultural, a 421-acre farm located in Alachua County. The land will be protected through a rural lands protection easement valued at $2,975,000, under the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ (FDACS) Rural and Family Lands Protection Program.

The Holt Agricultural property, located just north of the San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park, is known for its mix of cropland, pasture, and wetland forest. It supports a variety of crops including peanuts during the winter months and broccoli and watermelon in the spring and summer seasons. The surrounding area, a mosaic of pastureland, forest, and planted timber, is projected to undergo major development by 2040, based on projections from the University of Florida.

This protection easement ensures that the Holt Agricultural property will remain in private hands, dedicated to farming, and will be off-limits to future development. It’s a decision that reflects the state’s broader commitment to supporting rural communities and preserving Florida’s agricultural legacy.

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“Protecting working farms like Holt Agricultural is how we keep Florida free, self-reliant, and economically strong,” said Commissioner Simpson. “This easement ensures the land stays in private hands, continues to feed our communities, and supports the values that make rural Florida worth fighting for.”

The Rural and Family Lands Protection Program operates on a voluntary basis. It purchases development rights from willing landowners in exchange for a permanent agreement that prevents development but allows agricultural operations to continue. These easements play a crucial role in maintaining Florida’s food supply chain and the economic contribution of agriculture, forestry, and other natural resource-based industries.

Since its creation in 2001, the program has preserved over 210,000 acres of working agricultural land. Nearly 146,000 of those acres have been added during Simpson’s tenure as Commissioner. The preservation of Holt Agricultural marks yet another milestone in what has been a highly active and successful expansion of the program.

The 2024 Florida Legislative Session saw additional support for land conservation efforts. Commissioner Simpson helped secure a $100 million appropriation for the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. Senate Bill 1638 also ensures that $100 million will be available each fiscal year moving forward to support the Florida Wildlife Corridor, which includes acquisition of rural land protection easements.

Commissioner Simpson’s dedication to land conservation began long before his role at FDACS. As Florida Senate President, he was a driving force behind the Florida Wildlife Corridor Act, which laid out a statewide plan to protect and connect key natural habitats while preserving working agricultural lands. He also played a key role in allocating $300 million to the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program during his time in the Senate.

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The recently protected Holt Agricultural property is a prime example of what this program aims to preserve—land that is not only productive and essential to the local food economy, but also environmentally significant. The wetlands and forests along small creeks on the property contribute to local biodiversity and water quality, while the surrounding grasslands provide vital open space that could otherwise be lost to development.

With increasing pressure from residential and commercial expansion, especially in counties like Alachua, the urgency to secure and protect farmland is growing. By locking in agricultural use through conservation easements, Florida is reinforcing its food security, safeguarding its ecosystems, and respecting the traditions of rural life that continue to shape its identity.

For the public and policymakers interested in seeing the full scope of the state’s efforts, FDACS has published an interactive map showcasing all completed Rural and Family Lands Protection Program projects, available at FDACS.gov/RFLPPMap.

For more updates and information on Commissioner Wilton Simpson’s ongoing work, visit FDACS.gov.