Commissioner Wilton Simpson announces permanent protection of more than 1,675 acres of working agricultural land in Levy and Putnam counties through Florida conservation program

Tallahassee, Florida – Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson has announced the permanent protection of more than 1,675 acres of working agricultural land in Levy and Putnam counties through the state’s Rural and Family Lands Protection Program.

The latest conservation efforts are designed to keep the land available for agricultural use while preventing future development that could permanently change these rural areas. Officials said the protected properties will continue supporting farming, timber production, natural resources, and Florida’s broader agricultural economy.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) completed rural lands protection easements for two properties — Osceola Pines in Levy County and Patricia Flanders in Putnam County. Through these agreements, the state purchased development rights on the properties, allowing agricultural operations to continue while protecting the land from future conversion to other uses.

“When we protect working agricultural land, we’re protecting Florida’s future. Every easement we complete keeps these lands in production, strengthens our rural communities, and protects them from future development,” said Commissioner Wilton Simpson. “Through historic investments in the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, we’re ensuring Florida’s farmers, ranchers, and timber producers can continue doing what they do best while preserving the landscapes and natural resources that define our state.”

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The Rural and Family Lands Protection Program has become one of Florida’s major tools for preserving agricultural land while supporting private landowners. Since the program began, FDACS has permanently protected more than 241,000 acres of working agricultural property. More than 176,000 acres of that total have been preserved during Commissioner Simpson’s administration.

Both newly protected properties are enrolled in FDACS Best Management Practices and are located within the Florida Wildlife Corridor. The corridor was created through state legislation in 2021 under the Florida Wildlife Corridor Act, an initiative that was supported by Simpson while he served as Florida Senate President.

The Osceola Pines property covers approximately 545 acres in Levy County and is used as a timber operation. The land has been protected through a rural lands protection easement valued at $1,030,000. Of that amount, $515,000 was provided through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service Regional Conservation Partnership Program.

The property includes a well-managed pine plantation with trees of different ages covering slightly more than half of the site. It also contains about 250 acres of mature cypress and wetland hardwood basin swamp that runs through the entire length of the property from north to south.

Officials said the mixture of forests, wetlands, and timber areas creates an important landscape that supports both agricultural production and natural habitats. The surrounding area contains similar combinations of working forests and wetland ecosystems.

The second protected property, Patricia Flanders, covers approximately 1,131 acres in Putnam County. The timber property has been preserved through a rural lands protection easement totaling $1,301,000.

Located north of Ocklawaha Lake, the Patricia Flanders project includes two separate tracts that are entirely within the Etoniah/Cross Florida Greenway Florida Forever project area.

The eastern tract contains planted timber areas and sandhill habitat, along with scattered depressional wetlands that transition into shrub and forested wetlands. The western tract includes a combination of sandhill, planted timber, and riparian wetlands connected to Little Orange Creek and Cabbage Creek, which crosses the northern portion of the property.

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State officials said protecting these lands helps maintain important connections between natural areas while allowing responsible agricultural operations to continue. The easements provide long-term conservation benefits without requiring the state to purchase and maintain the properties as public lands.

The Rural and Family Lands Protection Program was established in 2001 through the passage of the Rural and Family Lands Protection Act. The program was created in response to growing pressure on agricultural lands from expanding development.

Rather than removing land from private ownership, the program works with farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural producers by purchasing development rights through conservation easements. This approach allows landowners to continue agricultural activities while protecting important rural landscapes and natural resources.

Since 2022, Commissioner Simpson has helped secure more than $1.1 billion in state funding for the program. That investment includes $425 million approved in Florida’s 2026/2027 state budget, providing additional resources for future conservation projects.

Simpson has also played a role in Florida’s conservation policies before becoming agriculture commissioner. During his time as Senate President, he supported the passage of the Florida Wildlife Corridor Act, which focused on protecting and connecting natural areas, wildlife habitats, and working agricultural lands across the state.

The department said the continued expansion of the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program reflects Florida’s effort to balance economic growth with conservation. By protecting agricultural lands from future development, officials say the state can support rural communities while preserving landscapes that contribute to Florida’s environment and economy.

A complete map showing completed projects through the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program is available through FDACS resources. The department continues working with landowners statewide to identify additional opportunities to protect working agricultural lands for future generations.