The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) announced the permanent protection of more than 1,500 acres of agricultural land on four farms through its Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. Two of the protected farms include citrus.
Rural lands protection easements prevent future development and allow agricultural operations to continue producing food, timber and other resources. Since its inception in 2001, the program has permanently preserved more than 246,000 acres of working agricultural land.
The four properties are enrolled in FDACS Best Management Practices and are located within the Florida Wildlife Corridor. The corridor was established by state law in 2021 through the Florida Wildlife Corridor Act.
The newly protected farms that include citrus are Meetinghouse Groves and Stevens Land and Cattle.
MEETINGHOUSE GROVES
Meetinghouse Groves is an approximately 816-acre citrus operation in Putnam County. It has been preserved through a rural lands protection easement totaling $2.665 million, with $1.306 million provided through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program.
Sitting between Lake Margaret and Silver Lake, this property has forested and non-forested wetlands, as well as upland areas used for agricultural production. Portions of three sandhill upland lakes are within the property boundaries. Lake George Conservation Area lies a quarter mile to the south.
STEVENS LAND AND CATTLE
Stevens Land and Cattle, a 485-acre citrus and cattle operation in Hardee County, has been preserved through a rural lands protection easement totaling $2.475 million. The property consists of citrus groves, pasture and wetlands connected to Oak Creek.
Oak Creek runs through the northeast corner of the property and flows into Charlie Creek, an important tributary of the Peace River. The land provides protection to the water flowing into Charlotte Harbor, an estuary of national significance whose waters are dependent on the protection of the rural Peace River Watershed.
OTHER LANDS
Non-citrus lands that were preserved are Warren Timberlands, a 136-acre timber operation in Calhoun County, and Bishop Family Farms, an approximately 228-acre diversified farm in Jefferson County.
A story map of all completed Rural and Family Lands Protection Program projects can be viewed here.
Share this Post