Commissioner Wilton Simpson Announces State Protection of Agricultural Land

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Today, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced the preservation of more Florida farmland through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services' Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. More than 540 acres of agricultural land located in Flagler and Putnam counties is being preserved through a rural lands protection easement on Singleton Family Farms, a multi-generational farming operation.

"Protecting working farms like Singleton Family Farms ensures that Florida's agricultural heritage remains strong," said Commissioner Wilton Simpson. "This easement supports a family that has invested generations into feeding our state, while also safeguarding critical land within the Florida Wildlife Corridor. It's a win for agriculture, a win for conservation, and a win for Florida's future."

The Rural and Family Lands Protection Program purchases the development rights to agricultural properties through voluntary rural lands 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.

Singleton Family Farms

Singleton Family Farms is a working potato farm producing chip potatoes under contract with Frito-Lay. The family operation also includes a small cow-calf operation on the original homestead property, managed by a younger member of the Singleton family. The project site is enrolled in the department's Best Management Practices (BMP) program and lies within the Florida Wildlife Corridor, further enhancing its conservation value.

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. Since its inception, the program has permanently preserved more than 212,600 acres of working agricultural land, with more than 147,300 acres preserved during Commissioner Simpson's administration.

Since 2022, Commissioner Simpson has helped secure more than $700 million in state funding for the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, including $250 million in this year's state budget.

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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