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April 21, 2008

ISSUE 1215

BABCOCK RANCH CONTROVERSY FUELS MOVEMENT TO PURCHASE DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS

Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson told the governors’ Cabinet this week that Babcock Ranch should be managed as a “working ranch.” The state purchased the 73,000 acre ranch in 2006, and agreed to allow the ranch operators to continue to manage the property for 10 years.

Last year the ranch lost $1.2 million in revenue when the state stopped the ranch from cutting cypress trees and leasing property to private hunting groups. State agencies are now developing a management plan that could further restrict activities on the property that produce revenue to support the management of the property. According to Bronson, the limitations imposed have already resulted in an explosion in the population of wild hogs and invasive plant species.

Land purchasing programs including the Florida Forever Program, which expires in 2010 unless it is reauthorized by the legislature, have resulted in 5.5 million acres being owned by local and state agencies in Florida. This, added to the 3 million acres owned by the Federal Government, means that approximately 8.5 million acres of Florida are off the tax roles, and county budgets across the state are feeling the pain. Bronson believes strongly that wildlife habitat, water quality, and other natural resources must be protected from the pressures of development, but current programs need to be modified to improve land management.

Bronson also believes that this can be accomplished by setting aside a portion of the Florida Forever Funding, currently set at $300 million per year, for the purchase of development rights rather than land. In this way, land can remain on the tax roles, land management can continue to be the responsibility of the private land owner, and the property will be protected from development.

The House and Senate agreed this week to include $300 million for the Florida Forever Program in the state budget.
 

ALSO IN THIS WEEK'S RAP-UP

(Members-Only articles are indicated in bold.)

TOMATO EXCHANGE’S REGGIE BROWN REBUTS SLAVERY CHARGES

FARM BILL FUNDING STILL UP IN THE AIR

BABCOCK RANCH CONTROVERSY FUELS MOVEMENT TO PURCHASE DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS

DADE COUNTY FARM BUREAU SEEKS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

SPECIALTY CROP GRANT FUNDS PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN FDACS AND FNGLA

PRODUCER MEMBERS - PLEASE HELP FFVA’S FUTURE EFFORTS BY RETURNING SURVEY
   
  

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