Today, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson applauded the Florida Legislature for passing a state budget that provides $425 million in funding, the largest amount in state history, to save Florida’s working farms and ranches from development through the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. Since its inception, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Rural and Family Lands Protection Program has permanently preserved over 234,000 acres of working agricultural land from development, with over 168,000 acres preserved during Commissioner Simpson’s administration.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Today, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson applauded the Florida Legislature for passing a state budget that provides $425 million in funding, the largest amount in state history, to save Florida’s working farms and ranches from development through the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. Since its inception, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Rural and Family Lands Protection Program has permanently preserved over 234,000 acres of working agricultural land from development, with over 168,000 acres preserved during Commissioner Simpson’s administration.
“I’m extremely grateful to Senate President Ben Albritton, House Speaker Daniel Perez, and the entire Florida Legislature for making a historic investment to save Florida’s irreplaceable farmland from development. These lands, mostly in the Florida Wildlife Corridor, support food production, aquifer recharge, and wildlife habitat — and once developed, those benefits are lost forever,” said Commissioner Wilton Simpson. “Because of the leadership of the Florida Legislature and Governor Ron DeSantis, Florida is leading the nation in supporting our farmers, protecting working lands, strengthening our domestic food supply, and preserving our natural resources. In addition to the historic investment in the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, the legislature also provided a directive that solves the long-running challenge of trying to balance saving as many acres of working lands as possible with supporting as many farmers as possible.”
The Rural and Family Lands Protection Program works with willing farmers and ranchers to prevent future development of working land through rural lands protection easements. By permanently protecting working lands from development, Florida is supporting agricultural operations that contribute to Florida’s economy and the production of food, timber, and other resources vital to the prosperity of Florida.
Since Commissioner Simpson came into office, the total acreage of agricultural land permanently preserved through the program has increased by over 250%. With the support of the Florida Legislature and Governor DeSantis, Commissioner Simpson has helped secure more than $1.1 billion in state funding since 2022 for the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, including $425 million in the 2026/2027 state budget passed by the legislature.
For the 2026/2027 state budget, the Florida Legislature provided a historic $425 million for the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. $200 million will support the preservation of as many agricultural operations as possible. The legislature also provided an additional $225 million specifically for projects over 6,000 acres that have not previously received funding from the program. This policy approach will allow FDACS to help as many farmers and ranchers as possible while also securing larger tracts that are available today.
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.
Rural lands protection easements prevent future development of the land and allow agricultural operations to continue contributing to Florida’s economy and the production of food, timber, and other resources vital to the state’s prosperity. Additionally, by purchasing development rights through a rural lands protection easement, the program does not impose an additional burden on the taxpayer for maintaining state-owned lands.
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.
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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