Howard Cattle Corporation in Hendry County
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Today, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced the preservation of more Florida agricultural land through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. Howard Cattle Corporation, a 754-acre cattle operation in Hendry County, is being preserved through a rural land protection easement for $4,145,000.
Commissioner Wilton Simpson said, “By permanently preserving Howard Cattle Corporation’s land from future development, we’re not only supporting Florida agriculture but also protecting natural landscapes that sustain our wildlife and water resources.”
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.
Howard Cattle is a 754-acre commercial cow/calf and quarter horse breeding operation in Hendry County. The property is adjacent to Spirit of the Wild Wildlife Management Area to the north and Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest to the east. A variety of wetland and large landscape species including the Florida panther are found on this property, which lies within the Florida Wildlife Corridor.
This property is operated by the 2nd generation of Howards and the 3rd generation is upcoming. The operation raises approximately 250 cattle on grasslands primarily composed of improved pasture with pockets of mature pines, cabbage palms, and oaks. It is located entirely within the Twelvemile Slough Florida Forever Project, and other surrounding lands include citrus, pasture, and wetlands.
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 a $100 million legislative appropriation 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 rural land protection 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 100,000 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 a $300 million legislative appropriation for the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program.
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.
Howard Cattle is a 754-acre commercial cow/calf and quarter horse breeding operation in Hendry County. The property is adjacent to Spirit of the Wild Wildlife Management Area to the north and Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest to the east. A variety of wetland and large landscape species including the Florida panther are found on this property, which lies within the Florida Wildlife Corridor.
This property is operated by the 2nd generation of Howards and the 3rd generation is upcoming. The operation raises approximately 250 cattle on grasslands primarily composed of improved pasture with pockets of mature pines, cabbage palms, and oaks. It is located entirely within the Twelvemile Slough Florida Forever Project, and other surrounding lands include citrus, pasture, and wetlands.
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 a $100 million legislative appropriation 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 rural land protection 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 100,000 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 a $300 million legislative appropriation for the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program.
Hope this program will not be eliminated under new government cutbacks .. Exciting its so close !!
ReplyDeleteDo you know if goverment gets mineral rights ? Is it protected from drilling or mining ?
ReplyDelete