By The News Service of Florida
More than $7 million is being used to prevent the commercial or residential development of three working ranches and farmlands in Polk and Putnam counties.
The deals involve conservation easements, which the Rural and Family Land Protection Program uses to allow existing agricultural operations to continue in exchange for restricting future land development.
The largest parcel, the 916-acre G-3 Ranch Addition in Polk County, has a price of $6.45 million. The pasture and row crop land includes creeks that flow into the Peace River. Polk County is expected to cover about $500,000 of the deal.
Another $750,000 is directed at the 75-acre David & Elizabeth Hunt cow/calf ranch in Polk County. The land runs along a stream that links Gator Lake to Lake Pembroke. Polk County is expected to cover $250,000 of the deal’s cost.
The conservation easement deal in Putnam County involves the Young Family Farm, an 85-acre timber tract that touches the northeastern corner of Putnam Lakes Preserve. The department lists the deal at $160,000.
The department noted that each property is located within either the Florida Ecological Greenways Network or the Florida Wildlife Corridor.
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