Pelaez and Sons, Inc. cow/calf operation in Okeechobee County
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Today, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced the preservation of Florida farmland through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. Nearly 750 acres of the Pelaez and Sons, Inc. cow/calf operation in Okeechobee County is being preserved through a rural land protection easement for $2,675,000.
“We are proud to partner with Pelaez and Sons to preserve an additional 750 acres of working Florida farmland through the department’s Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. The department’s delegated authority to process these types of rural land acquisitions has been a tremendous aid to achieving our agricultural conservation goals quickly and efficiently – and we look forward to preserving a historic amount of larger acreage properties at the next Cabinet meeting,” said Commissioner Wilton Simpson. “By safeguarding our rural lands through protection easements, we enhance food security, maintain these protected properties within the local tax system, and ensure property owners adhere to state standards for land and natural resource conservation.”
The Rural and Family Lands Protection Program purchases the development rights to the agricultural properties through voluntary rural land protection easements, which prevent the future development of the land and allow agriculture operations to continue to contribute to Florida’s economy and the production of food, timber, and other resources vital to the prosperity of Florida.
Pelaez and Sons, Inc.
Pelaez and Sons, Inc. is a family owned and operated cow/calf operation raising commercial Brangus cattle in Okeechobee County. The Pelaez Family began ranching in 1953 and operate a high-quality cattle operation that is well respected throughout the agricultural community. They manage 900 head of commercial Brangus cattle on their ranch and are a licensed producer of Florida Heritage Beef LLC. The landscape of Pelaez and Sons is primarily composed of improved pasture, but the ranch preserves much native land including hardwood hammocks and pinewood ledges. Towering live oaks are cherished at the ranch along with the many sable palms and pines, sheltering much native flora and fauna, including bald eagles, kestrels, crested caracara, turkey, and whitetail deer, as well as native bromeliads, ferns, and air plants. This project was purchased in conjunction with The Department of Defense’s Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration Program.
About the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program
Established in 2001 with the passage of the Rural and Family Lands Protection Act, 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 Rural and Family Lands Protection Program partners with farmers and ranchers to ensure sustainable production practices while protecting natural resources.
During the 2024 Legislative Session, Commissioner Simpson helped to secure from the Florida Legislature $100 million for the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program and another $100 million each fiscal year, appropriated in SB 1638, to support the Florida Wildlife Corridor, including the acquisition of conservation easements under the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program.
Commissioner Simpson recently recognized the families of the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program at an event in Lake Placid, Florida, and celebrated the program’s 100,000th acre milestone in agricultural land preservation.
Commissioner Simpson has been involved in Florida’s land conservation policy issues long before becoming Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture. As Senate President, Commissioner 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. As Senate President, Commissioner Simpson also secured $300 million for the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program.
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.
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