A 498-acre cattle ranch called Turnpike Dairy in Florida’s Martin County has been permanently protected from development through a $7.48 million conservation easement, with half of the funding coming from Martin County. The deal allows the ranch to stay in private ownership and continue agricultural operations while preserving wildlife habitats and contributing to the larger Florida Wildlife Corridor. This protection is part of Florida’s Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, which has safeguarded over 251,000 acres since its inception in 2001.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-11,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On September 29, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson announced that the governor and Cabinet approved the preservation of more than 4,500 acres of agricultural land through the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. Specifically, a 498-acre cattle ranch known as Turnpike Dairy in Martin County has been protected from future development with a $7.48 million conservation easement. The program ensures that the property will remain privately owned while being preserved for agricultural use, with Martin County contributing $3.74 million toward the easement.
Turnpike Dairy includes grazing pasture and wetlands that provide critical habitat for wildlife. It lies within the Florida Wildlife Corridor and borders land managed by the South Florida Water Management District, helping maintain connections between protected areas. The conservation deal is part of an effort to preserve working farms and ranches amid increasing development pressures in the state.
Written for “Florida Ranch Conservation Easement” on 2026-10-11,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
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No political leaning scored for article 72212 · logged 2026-10-11
A 498-acre cattle ranch in Florida’s Martin County has been permanently protected from future development through a $7.48 million conservation easement, allowing the family that has managed the property for generations to continue its agricultural operations.
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that → protect → operations
Known as Turnpike Dairy, the ranch will remain in private ownership under the agreement, with Martin County contributing $3.74 million towards the easement.
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County → know → easement
The property includes grazing pasture, wetlands and bayheads that provide wildlife habitat.
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that → include → habitat
The ranch is among several agricultural properties approved for protection under Florida’s Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, which seeks to preserve working farms and ranches as development pressure increases.
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pressure → approve → farms
Conservation deal keeps ranch in agricultural use
Turnpike Dairy lies within the Florida Wildlife Corridor and borders conservation land managed by the South Florida Water Management District.
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Dairy → keep → District
It is also close to other properties covered by conservation easements, helping maintain connections between protected areas.
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It → cover → areas
The property contains improved pasture alongside scattered wetlands and bayheads, which support wildlife and contribute to the wider landscape.
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which → contain → landscape
The ranch is enrolled in the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Best Management Practices programme, which promotes agricultural practices designed to protect natural resources.
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which → enrol → resources
Under a rural lands protection easement, development rights are purchased to prevent future development while allowing farming and ranching to continue.
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farming → purchase → development
The land remains privately owned rather than being transferred to the state.
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land → remain → state
Florida programme has protected more than 251,000 acres
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson announced on September 29. that the governor and Cabinet had approved the preservation of more than 4,500 acres of agricultural land through the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program.
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governor → protect → Program
Established in 2001 under the Rural and Family Lands Protection Act, the programme works with farmers and ranchers to keep agricultural properties in production while protecting natural resources.
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programme → establish → resources
Simpson said the arrangement allows Florida to conserve working land without removing it from private ownership or creating the long-term maintenance costs associated with state-owned conservation properties.
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Florida → say → properties
Since the programme began, more than 251,000 acres of working agricultural land have been permanently preserved, including nearly 186,000 acres during Simpson’s tenure, according to the department.
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acres → begin → department
Other properties approved for protection include Blandford Farm & Ranch, a 349-acre sod and hay farm in Lake County, and Encore Farms, a 194-acre horse and cattle operation in the same county.
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properties → approve → county
Fair Bluff Ranch, a 618-acre cattle property in Martin County, was also included in the approvals.
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Ranch → include → approvals
The agreements are intended to keep agricultural operations viable while limiting the conversion of working land to other uses.
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agreements → intend → uses
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