Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced the preservation of more than 386 acres of working agricultural land in Heart Bar Ranch, Osceola County, through the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. The land is being preserved through a rural land protection easement valued at $2,600,000.
“Preserving an additional 386 acres of working farmland located within Heart Bar Ranch – a family farm that we worked with earlier this year to preserve over 3,000 acres of farmland – is yet another indicator that the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program is not only successful in its mission, but that generational farmers are eager now more than ever to participate in the program to help preserve important land in Florida,” said Commissioner Simpson. “These rural land protection easements strengthen our food security through the protection of prime agricultural land, keep the protected property on the local tax rolls, and require every property owner to maintain the land and its natural resources according to state standards.”
The Rural and Family Lands Protection Program purchases development rights to agricultural properties through voluntary rural land protection easements. These easements prevent future development while allowing agriculture operations to continue contributing to Florida’s economy and resource production.
Heart Bar Ranch is a cattle, timber, wildlife management, and seed operation in Osceola County. In March 2024, the Florida Cabinet approved a rural land protection easement preserving approximately 3,080 acres in Heart Bar Ranch. With this recent easement addition, the property now consists of about 3,466 acres of habitat supporting wildlife and cattle grazing. Pine flatwoods, forested wetlands, and herbaceous wetlands are primary habitat types on this site.
Established in 2001 with the passage of the Rural and Family Lands Protection Act, this program recognizes working agricultural lands as essential to Florida's economic future amidst increasing urban development threats. During the 2024 Legislative Session, Commissioner Simpson secured $100 million from the Florida Legislature for this program each fiscal year under SB 1638.
Commissioner Simpson recently celebrated families involved with the program at an event in Lake Placid, marking its milestone of preserving 100,000 acres of agricultural land. He has been engaged in Florida’s conservation policy long before his current role as Commissioner. As Senate President he championed policies such as the Florida Wildlife Corridor Act and secured $300 million for conservation efforts.
A story map detailing all completed projects under this program can be viewed at FDACS.gov/RFLPPMap.
For further information about Commissioner Simpson and FDACS activities visit FDACS.gov.
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