More than 2,800 acres of agricultural land spanning two Central Florida counties has been set aside for preservation under a state conservation program.
The property approved for protection this week includes 1,500 acres on what’s known as the Square One Ranch in Highlands County and about 1,300 acres on the Buckhorn Ranch in Hardee County. The properties are worth a combined $11.4 million.
Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson announced this week that the agricultural land is now protected from development through the state’s Rural and Family Lands Protection Program (RFLPP), which was established in 2001.
“These RFLPP easements represent a lasting investment in Florida’s future, and I was proud to support their approval,” Simpson said after Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Cabinet, acting as the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund, approved the conservation measures.
“By protecting working agricultural lands, we are preserving our food supply, conserving critical natural resources, and supporting the farmers and ranchers who drive our state’s economy — all without adding new costs for taxpayers,” Simpson added
The Square One Ranch is primarily used for pasture and natural forested lands, with several wetlands running through the property. The Buckhorn Ranch is part of the Peace River drainage basin that flows into Charlotte Harbor to the west. It also has pastureland, citrus and other crops.
The Governor and Cabinet also approved for conservation a 450-acre strip of land in Volusia County in an area known as the Longleaf Pine Ecosystem.
Simpson has helped to secure more than $700 million in state funding for the RFLPP since 2022. A total of 230,000 acres of working agricultural land has been set aside for protection since the RFLPP was instituted a quarter century ago.
