TALLAHASSEE — Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam invites Florida’s agricultural land owners to apply for the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, which uses perpetual conservation easements to preserve land for agricultural use and protect natural resources. The program will accept applications from Aug. 1 to Oct. 2, 2017.
“With more than 1,000 people moving to Florida every day, we must continue to prioritize the preservation of our agricultural lands and natural spaces,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam. “Through the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, we’re partnering with farmers and ranchers to permanently preserve these invaluable pieces of our rural economy and environment in a cost-effective way.”
Since its inception, the program has acquired perpetual conservation easements on more than 35,000 acres of working Florida ranches and farms to protect rural and agricultural lands threatened by other uses, such as residential and commercial development. In the 2017 budget, the program was appropriated $10 million for the acquisition of perpetual agriculture conservation easements.
“The Rural and Family Lands Protection Program is significantly different than other land acquisition programs because it recognizes that a thriving rural economy with a strong agricultural base is essential to Florida’s future,” said State Forester Jim Karels.
The goals of the program include:
- Protecting valuable agricultural lands.
- Creating conservation easements that ensure sustainable agricultural practices.
- Preventing conversion to non-agricultural land uses in the rural base of Florida.
- Helping to protect natural resources in conjunction with these agricultural operations.
Florida agriculture and related industries have an overall economic impact estimated at more than $120 billion annually, making it the state’s second largest industry, and help support more than 2 million jobs. Find more information on theRural and Family Lands Protection Program.
—Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
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