Commissioner Putnam Invites Florida Agricultural Land Owners to Apply for the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program

From: Commissioner Adam Putnam's Communications Office
Sent: Wednesday, April 15, 2015 10:16 AM
To: Commissioner Adam Putnam's Communications Office
Subject: Commissioner Putnam Invites Florida Agricultural Land Owners to Apply for the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program

[cid:image005.jpg@01D07765.199DD240]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Erin Gillespie<mailto:erin.gillespie@freshfromflorida.com>

April 15, 2015

(850) 617-7737
Twitter: @FDACSNews<http://www.twitter.com/fdacsnews>


Commissioner Putnam Invites Florida Agricultural Land Owners to Apply for the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam is urging Florida's agricultural land owners to participate in the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program by applying between now and May 30. The goal of the program is to ensure lands will be preserved for agricultural use while providing for the protection of natural resources through agricultural conservation easements.

"The Rural and Family Lands Protection Program offers a unique opportunity for Florida's land owners to preserve agricultural land use while helping to protect our state's precious natural resources," said Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam.

The Rural and Family Lands Protection Program recognizes that a thriving rural economy with a strong agricultural base is essential to Florida's future. Easements of this type work together with agricultural production to ensure sustainable agricultural practices and reasonable protection of Florida's natural resources.

Since its inception, the program has acquired perpetual easements on 8,765 acres of Florida ranches and farms to protect rural and working agricultural lands threatened by other uses such as residential and commercial development.

The goals of the program include:

* Protecting valuable agricultural lands.
* Creating conservation easements that ensure sustainable agricultural practices.
* Preventing conversion to non-agricultural land uses in the rural base of Florida.
* Helping to protect natural resources in conjunction with these agricultural operations.

Florida agriculture has an overall economic impact estimated at $120 billion annually, making it the state's second largest industry, and employs more than 2 million. More information on the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program is available here<http://www.freshfromflorida.com/Forests-Wildfire2/For-Landowners/Programs/Rural-and-Family-Lands-Protection-Program.>.



For more information about the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, visit FreshFromFlorida.com<http://www.FreshFromFlorida.com/>.

###


[cid:image006.jpg@01D07765.199DD240]