Farmers may apply for land protection program

St. Johns County is encouraging local farmers, ranchers and agricultural landowners to apply for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ (FDACS) Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, with the application window open through Jan. 23.

Landowners may apply online at www.fdacs.gov/Consumer-Resources/Protect-Our-Environment/Rural-and-Family-Lands-Protection-Program.

St. Johns County encourages all eligible farmers and landowners to explore this opportunity to protect their agricultural legacy and support long-term land stewardship.

The county will continue to advance strategic plan priorities like enhance conservation, economic prosperity, community trust, and community wellbeing by promoting these opportunities to the community.

This is a statewide agricultural land-preservation program that protects working farms and ranches through the purchase of permanent agricultural land conservation easements. These easements allow landowners to continue agricultural operations while ensuring land remains protected from future non-agricultural development.

Created by the Florida Legislature in 2001, the program has preserved more than 222,000 acres of working agricultural lands across the state.

The program is designed to:

• Protect valuable agricultural lands at risk of development.

• Support sustainable production by creating easements that work in harmony with active farming, ranching and timber operations.

• Protect natural resources such as water quality, wildlife habitat and open space alongside ongoing agricultural use.

To be eligible, agricultural land must support active, economically viable operations and meet at least one of the following public purposes:

• Promote or improve wildlife habitat.

• Protect water bodies, aquifer recharge areas, wetlands or watersheds.

• Preserve open space and natural areas.

• Protect agricultural lands threatened by conversion to other uses.

Projects are evaluated by a technical review team and ranked by the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program selection committee. Final approval is determined by the governor and cabinet.

Rural Lands Protection Easements are less-than-fee acquisitions, meaning landowners retain ownership and continue agricultural production. In exchange, they receive compensation for restricting future development in perpetuity.

This structure allows landowners to:

• Continue farming, ranching or timber operations.

• Maintain land on the local tax roll.

• Receive payment for development rights without transferring property ownership.

FDACS is offering applicants the option to submit a 90-second video to share their property and personal story. While not required, some landowners have found it helpful to add their personal story with an application.

How to Apply

New applicants must create an account at the application portal. Previous applicants listed on the 2025 ranked list must log in to update their existing application.

Apply or learn more online at: www.fdacs.gov/Consumer-Resources/Protect-Our-Environment/Rural-and-Family-Lands-Protection-Program.