ST. LUCIE COUNTY, Fla – Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson announced Friday the conservation of a local family-owned farm in St. Lucie County through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. The program has secured a rural land protection easement to preserve the 490-acre Joseph Miller Ranch, a cow/calf operation, for $2,070,000.
Commissioner Simpson highlighted the significance of the preservation, stating, “The protection of Joseph Miller Ranch is a significant victory for both Florida’s agricultural community and the entire state. By safeguarding this land from future development and maintaining its agricultural use, we are not only conserving a vital natural resource but also ensuring that future generations will continue to reap the economic and environmental benefits of our state’s rich agricultural heritage.”
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The Rural and Family Lands Protection Program works by purchasing development rights through voluntary easements, which prohibit further development and allow agricultural activities to persist, thus contributing to Florida’s economy and the production of essential resources like food and timber.
Located about 14 miles west of Port St. Lucie and 11 miles northeast of Okeechobee, Joseph Miller Ranch spans 490 acres of both uplands and wetlands, harboring a rich diversity of wildlife.
The ranch includes ecosystems such as mature mixed wetland hardwoods and hydric hammock, interspersed with numerous depression marshes and small dome swamps.
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A segment of Cypress Creek also meanders through the southwest corner of the property, and the rest is covered with a mix of hammocks and woodland pasture. This preservation effort underscores the state’s commitment to maintaining its natural landscapes and agricultural operations.
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