Florida seals a $2.6 million agreement to preserve 386 acres of Osceola County ranchland

Published on September 5, 2024

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services announced a $2.6 million conservation deal on Wednesday to protect 386 acres of ranchland in Osceola County.

This move follows a March decision by Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state Cabinet to shield 3,080 acres of the Heart Bar Ranch from potential development.

The department secured a conservation easement on the property through the state’s Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, allowing agricultural activities to continue while restricting future development.

In March, DeSantis and the Cabinet—comprising Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, Attorney General Ashley Moody, and Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis—approved $12.65 million to preserve the larger portion of the ranch.

According to department records, the land is part of the designated Florida Wildlife Corridor, which aims to connect 18 million acres of land from Monroe County to the Panhandle.

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