Commissioner Wilton Simpson secures permanent preservation of over 1,200 acres of working ranch land in Lake County to protect agriculture and natural resources

Tallahassee, Florida – In a move that underscores Florida’s commitment to preserving its agricultural heritage, Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson has announced the permanent conservation of D & D Ranch, a sprawling 1,254-acre cattle operation in Lake County. The ranch, a mixture of pasture and forested wetlands, will be permanently protected from development through a $3.8 million easement under the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Rural and Family Lands Protection Program (RFLPP).

“Florida’s future depends on the decisions we make today to protect our agricultural lands and their economic and environmental benefits,” Commissioner Simpson said. “By preserving ranches like D & D Ranch, we’re not only defending Florida’s food security and water resources — we’re keeping agriculture alive and thriving for the next generation. Every acre we protect from development is an investment in Florida’s people, economy, and way of life.”

The Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, established in 2001, is designed to prevent urban development on working agricultural lands while allowing farms and ranches to continue producing food, timber, and other resources essential to Florida’s economy. The program achieves this through conservation easements that purchase the development rights from landowners, ensuring that the property remains in private hands and operational. This model also alleviates taxpayer burden by avoiding the need for state maintenance of acquired lands. Since its inception, the program has permanently preserved more than 223,000 acres, with 158,000 acres protected during Commissioner Simpson’s tenure.

D & D Ranch is strategically located in a landscape critical to both agriculture and conservation. It borders the Southwest Florida Water Management District Green Swamp Conservation Easements to the north and Green Swamp Land Authority Land Protection Agreements to the south. Surrounding lands include pastures, wetlands, citrus groves, and upland forest. According to the University of Florida’s Center for Landscape Conservation Planning, the areas adjacent to the ranch are projected to face significant development pressures by 2040, making its preservation even more critical. The property also falls within the Florida Ecological Greenways Network and the Florida Wildlife Corridor, emphasizing its importance for wildlife connectivity and habitat conservation.

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The RFLPP easement will ensure that D & D Ranch remains an active agricultural site while safeguarding vital environmental resources such as wetlands and wildlife corridors. Commissioner Simpson highlighted that this dual benefit — supporting agriculture while protecting natural resources — is at the heart of the state’s conservation strategy.

Since 2022, the Florida Department of Agriculture under Commissioner Simpson has secured more than $700 million in funding for the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, including $250 million allocated in the 2025/2026 state budget. These investments have enabled the state to partner with ranchers, farmers, and other landowners to maintain sustainable agricultural operations while preserving Florida’s landscapes and water resources.

Commissioner Simpson’s commitment to land conservation is rooted in a long history of legislative leadership. Before his tenure as Commissioner of Agriculture, he served as Florida Senate President, where he championed the Florida Wildlife Corridor Act. That legislation established a framework for connecting and protecting natural areas, ensuring that agricultural lands and wildlife habitats remain intact amidst growing development pressures.

Ranchers and conservationists alike have praised the preservation of D & D Ranch as a model for balancing economic productivity with environmental stewardship. By preventing future development on this property, the state is not only protecting working lands but also safeguarding the ecological and hydrological systems that support Florida’s agriculture and communities.

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“Protecting working ranches like D & D is essential for the long-term health of Florida’s economy and environment,” Simpson said. “These lands provide food, jobs, and natural resources that sustain our state and its residents.”

The D & D Ranch project reflects a broader strategy to maintain the viability of Florida’s agricultural sector while supporting conservation goals. Through the RFLPP, landowners receive fair compensation for development rights, ensuring that farming and ranching can continue sustainably for generations to come.

For Floridians, the preservation of D & D Ranch represents both a win for agriculture and a victory for environmental stewardship, demonstrating how targeted investments and public-private partnerships can secure the state’s natural and economic future.

A complete story map of all Rural and Family Lands Protection Program projects, including D & D Ranch, can be found at FDACS.gov/RFLPPMap. Additional information about Commissioner Wilton Simpson and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is available at FDACS.gov.

This milestone marks another step forward in Florida’s ongoing effort to balance growth with sustainability, ensuring that vital agricultural lands remain protected while the state continues to support environmental and economic resilience.