The U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA NRCS) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in Florida have purchased a conservation easement at G Road Grove, a citrus grove and tree nursery in Florida panther habitat. G Road Grove expands the protected area within the Florida Panther Dispersal Zone, a 30,000-acre corridor in Hendry and Glades counties. The …
Alico Grove Transitions and Transactions
Alico, Inc. President and Chief Executive Officer John Kiernan recently discussed several Alico citrus grove transitions and transactions. Here are some of his comments that were included in an announcement of the company’s financial results for the period ending March 31. “To be clear, Alico will continue to conduct our regular citrus operations at nearly all of our groves for …
Florida Citrus Acreage Still Tops in United States
As part of its recently published Florida Citrus Statistics 2022–23, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) reported Florida’s citrus acreage at 332,256 acres, down 11% from the prior season. The net loss of 43,046 acres was 11,000 acres more than was lost the previous season. New plantings at 6,203 acres were down from the previous season. All …
Florida Citrus Land Sales and Prices
The recent Lay of the Land Florida 2023 Market Report from SVN Saunders Ralston Dantzler Real Estate highlighted 40 citrus grove sales in 12 Central Florida counties last year. The average sales price of $11,141 per net tree acre was up 3% from the prior year. The average gross acre sales price was $9,284, up 7%. The highlighted grove sales …
Citrus Acreage Attrition by County in Florida
By Ariel Singerman Citrus greening (HLB) has significantly impacted the Florida citrus industry. The disease has caused tree health, yield and fruit quality to decrease significantly over time. In 2022–23, due to the combined impact of HLB, Hurricane Ian and a freeze in December 2022, the statewide average yield for both Valencia and non-Valencia oranges was estimated to be approximately …
Deadline Set for Florida Land Protection Program
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) announced that landowners can apply online to the state’s Rural and Family Lands Protection Program (RFLPP) until 5 p.m. on July 27. The department will review the applications for eligibility. The program, which partners with farmers and ranchers through conservation easements, aims to safeguard working agricultural operations. “Florida’s agricultural lands are …
Federal Legislation Would Conserve Citrus Land
Due to hurricanes, citrus greening and unfair trade pressures, Florida’s citrus growers are increasingly left with little choice but to sell their land to developers, said U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida. Because of that, he introduced the Conservation Reserve Program Amendments Act to establish a subprogram under the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) to conserve citrus agricultural land. The legislation …
Florida Citrus Land Sales Remain Strong
While the real estate boom in Florida has cooled somewhat in the past year, it didn’t temper the turnout for the annual Lay of the Land Conference, which is hosted by SVN Saunders Ralston Dantzler Real Estate. The Feb. 23-24 event drew record attendance to the recently opened Bonnet Springs Park event center in Lakeland, Florida. The event hosts speakers …
Rucks Nursery Becomes Conservation Area
A partnership between Conservation Florida, the Polk County Parks and Natural Resources Division and the U.S. Department of Defense secured funding to create a conservation easement for Phillip Rucks Citrus Nursery. The easement provides protection for rare upland wildlife and plant species. The 320-acre nursery is conserved in perpetuity and will never be developed, but will remain productive agricultural land, …
Foreign Investors Buying Up American Farmland
Much of what’s happening in the world today has reminded us of the importance of self-sufficiency. With world supply chains in chaos due to COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine, the term home-grown takes on an especially relevant note. We are blessed in the United States with the capability to feed and clothe ourselves. We have millions of acres that …
An Opportunity for Florida’s Agricultural Landowners
It was a good time to be in the real estate business in Florida in 2021. That was a common theme coming out of the annual Lay of the Land Conference held in Lakeland, Florida, in April. The conference is hosted by SVN | Saunders Ralston Dantzler Real Estate. Some real estate sectors have moved through the COVID-19 pandemic better …
Florida Real Estate Is Red Hot
The Florida real estate market is on fire. That was the take-home message of the Lay of the Land Conference held in Lakeland, Florida, on April 19–20. The conference, now in its 17th year, is hosted by SVN | Saunders Ralston Dantzler Real Estate. Attendees got a deep dive into how the U.S. and Florida economies are faring and received …
Start a Farm Succession Plan Today
The numbers are staggering. Farmers older than 65 outnumber farmers under 35 by five to one. In the next 20 years, 70% of U.S. farmland will change ownership. Seventy-seven percent of that land will transfer to relatives. That means succession planning and estate planning should be major focuses for farm families in years to come. An industry survey showed that …
Annexation Plan for Gardinier Florida Citrus
More than 900 acres of citrus groves, owned by Sarasota-based Gardinier Florida Citrus, was recently approved in a master annexation plan by the Lake Wales City Commission. Shelton Rice, a lawyer with Peterson & Myers, represents Gardinier and outlines what the Gardinier Master Annexation agreement means for the future of the 932 acres of citrus. “It lays out when portions …
Central Florida Grove Prices Tumble
Central Florida grove land sold for about 30% less per net tree acre in 2020 than the year before, according to a firm that sells much Florida land. Brian Beasley, senior advisor at SVN Saunders Ralston Dantzler in Lakeland, reported the sales in the firm’s Lay of the Land 2020 Market Report. “We assume most of this decrease (in prices) …
Agriculture Group Addresses Climate Change
Florida agricultural leaders launched an initiative to identify and implement climate-smart agriculture solutions and ecosystem services that benefit the public, producers and the planet. The Florida Climate Smart Agriculture (FLCSA) Work Group is the collaborative effort of Solutions from the Land (SfL) and the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). The multi-stakeholder effort is led by …
Florida Buys 5,734 Acres From Alico
The state of Florida recently purchased approximately 5,734 acres of Alico Ranch for $14.4 million from Alico, Inc. The purchase was made under the Florida Forever program, pursuant to an option agreement between the state and the company earlier this fiscal year. “This is now the third sales transaction we have completed with the state of Florida within the last …
Report: Make Farmland Access Equitable
A new report claims major barriers prevent the next generation of farmers and ranchers, particularly those of color, from accessing quality, affordable farmland. The report, Land Policy: Towards a More Equitable Farming Future, was released by the National Young Farmers Coalition. See the full report here. According to the report, land ownership in the United States is vastly unequal. The …
Florida May Buy More Alico Land
The state of Florida has entered into an option agreement to purchase approximately 5,804 acres of land from Alico, Inc.’s Alico Ranch for approximately $14.6 million under the Florida Forever program. “The 5,804-acre parcel is considered a primary and secondary zone for the federally endangered Florida panther and can contribute to increased protection of Florida’s biodiversity at the species, natural …