Florida Protects 375-Acre Polk County Farm Through State Conservation Program

Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced Thursday the permanent protection of Walter Farms, a nearly 375-acre cattle operation in Polk County, through the state's Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. The conservation easement, valued at $3 million with $750,000 contributed by Polk County, prevents future development of the working farm while allowing agricultural operations to continue.

Walter Farms sits on the northern shore of Gator Lake, with portions dedicated to pasture, agriculture, and nursery plants alongside forested areas. According to the announcement from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the property's surrounding landscape has largely been converted to agricultural or improved pasture use.

Since its creation in 2001, the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program has preserved more than 251,000 acres of working farmland statewide. Under Simpson's leadership since 2022, the program has protected nearly 186,000 of those acres. The state has secured $1.1 billion in funding for the initiative since 2022, including $425 million allocated in the current budget cycle. The program works by purchasing development rights through easements, allowing farmers to maintain operations while preventing sprawl—and avoiding the higher costs of state-owned conservation land management.