Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson is today highlighting the historic interest in the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program and the results of the 2023 application cycle. Landowners from 181 properties – representing over 200,000 acres – submitted applications to be considered for funding. The program, which partners with farmers and ranchers through conservation easements, aims to safeguard working agricultural operations that contribute to Florida’s economy and the production of food and fiber.
“Food security is national security, and Florida’s agricultural lands are the backbone of our economy and the foundation of our food and fiber production. The Rural and Family Lands Protection Program plays a crucial role in preserving these vital resources for generations to come,” said Commissioner Wilton Simpson. “I am encouraged by the historic interest in the program, as shown by 181 new landowners – representing over 200,000 acres – applying for funding to safeguard Florida’s natural resources and sustain our agricultural heritage. However, demand to participate in this program now drastically exceeds our available funding, which I will work to correct this coming legislative session.”
As Senate President, Commissioner Simpson secured $300 million in funding for the program during the 2022 legislative session. In June, Commissioner Simpson announced the opening of the first application cycle for the program since 2017. The department will now review the submitted applications for eligibility and then proceed with the process to create a list of projects in priority order that qualify for acquisition. This list will include both new project applications and existing projects from the previous acquisition list.
More information on the program and the application process can be found at FDACS.gov/RFLPP.
Established in 2001 with the passage of the Rural and Family Lands Protection Act, the program has successfully acquired conservation easements on nearly 69,000 acres of working agricultural land to date. The program recognizes that working agricultural lands are essential to Florida’s economic future. Agricultural lands are being increasingly threatened by urban development. To counter this trend, the RFLPP coordinates with farmers and ranchers to ensure sustainable production practices while protecting natural resources.
In May, the Governor and Cabinet approved the preservation of an additional 18,279 acres of working agricultural land through cost-effective conservation easements totaling $57,600,705. The nine conservation easements marked the most acquisitions in the history of the program to be approved at a meeting of the Governor and Cabinet. The Governor and Cabinet also voted to adopt an amendment to Rule 5I-7, F.A.C. to refine the rules that outline the procedures of the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program which will make the process more streamlined and user-friendly for both applicants to the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program and management of the program.
Commissioner Simpson has been involved in Florida’s land conservation policy issues long before becoming Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture. As Senate President, Simpson championed the successful passage of the Florida Wildlife Corridor Act, which directed the state of Florida to better protect and connect Florida’s natural areas and wildlife habitats and to preserve working agricultural lands from future development.
A story map of all completed Rural and Family Lands Protection Program projects can be viewed here: FDACS.gov/RFLPPMap.
For more information about Commissioner Simpson and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, visit FDACS.gov.
