Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced Wednesday the preservation of a Florida family farm through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Rural and Family Lands Protection Program.
An approximately 1,449-acre portion of the Canaan Ranch, a 3,040-acre working tree farm in Gilchrist County, is being preserved through a rural land protection easement for $4,783,400.
“The preservation of the Canaan Ranch through the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program represents another victory for Florida agriculture’s continued productivity and its legacy of environmental stewardship,” said Commissioner Wilton Simpson. “By permanently preserving this land from development, we not only protect a vital natural resource but also honor the legacy of those who have worked it for generations. This initiative ensures that future generations of Floridians will continue to benefit from the economic and ecological contributions of our state’s agricultural lands.”
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The Rural and Family Lands Protection Program purchases development rights to agricultural properties through voluntary rural land protection easements, which prevent future development 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.
Canaan Ranch
Canaan Ranch is a timber operation spanning 3,040 acres in eastern Gilchrist County. The ranch, owned and operated by the same family since 1944, is situated at the northern boundary of the Brooksville Ridge, approximately 3.6 miles south-southwest of the Santa Fe River. Current agricultural uses include timber production and preservation of the longleaf pine/wiregrass ecosystem.
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Historically, sandhill was the dominant natural community on the tract, representing about 43% of the property. Two-thirds of the property is in natural or planted longleaf pine, with the remainder consisting of planted slash pine, oak hammock, depressional wetlands, and small karst features.
Canaan Ranch has been implementing Best Management Practices (BMPs) on the farm for decades. These guidelines advise producers on managing water, nutrients, and pesticides to reduce agriculture’s impact on the state’s natural resources. The ranch also uses a prescribed burning system to suppress undesirable plant species and maintain the trees’ natural balance.
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