florida

Federal Legislation Would Conserve Citrus Land

Jim Rogers Land, Legislative

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

Jim Rogers Land

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

Jim Rogers Florida, Land, nursery

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, …

An Opportunity for Florida’s Agricultural Landowners

Jim Rogers Economics, Florida, Land

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 …

Start a Farm Succession Plan Today

Jim Rogers Land, Research

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

Tacy Callies Land

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

Ernie Neff Land

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

Ashley Robinson Environment, Land

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

Ernie Neff Land

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

Ernie Neff Land

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

Ernie Neff 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 …