[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6340338,"mediaKeyId","2259591-da9c056bed64118bb6398dce08ffd343","parentId",2259591,"title","DOACS reports surge in agricultural-easement acquisitions, requests funding to close more projects","audioSeconds",632,"startMs",3604000,"endMs",4236000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2259591-da9c056bed64118bb6398dce08ffd343&start=3604&end=4236","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2259591-da9c056bed64118bb6398dce08ffd343/thumbnail_3604000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6340338/Florida/DOACS-reports-surge-in-agricultural-easement-acquisitions-requests-funding-to-close-more-projects","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6340338-0607bb6f60586a696580cdf4564eb93e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771143753&Signature=JI-ky3vgmkM6730v3qBeZAL~OI8Cun2US1BLQDh8ROChYolSX2Bf0QBWDnCAkzcciGTdERbZtIKqW4CXaLM9o1VqyWiguuNibKuhnIY6F7u4HOBRpf~pTWcaSjoZcKFMsrIsVERK8diWzp8lC-uKS89MF7SqcM0nLfO4h2TPm-Dn2qS-~0QCW6vV40G8ThEciG9u-BV8Un9s1ZSxeQyH4eM7ZGdpI4cDkBuGXU0DYKVHW6rDwdrQOUVAQd9ZTx9FW8q2dJ4OZk0ixcytYEIdUoqVE~Kg--Vym1uVc2rO7uOxevlTcoCA5JlXHIWwVuwwMWe~OLrSDZkjYPyWrE7Klw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Florida State Legislature","date","2025-02-11T00:00:00Z","article","The Committee on Agriculture heard an update from JP Freitas, assistant director of the Office of Ag Water Policy at the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), about the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, a voluntary easement program that buys development rights to keep agricultural land working.

Freitas said the program’s acreage has grown substantially in recent years. \"From 02/2001 when the program was created to 2022, we have 66,000 acres...In just 2 years, we have 144,000 acres,\" Freitas said. He described online-application improvements, a monitoring protocol and procedural changes that speed smaller closings by keeping properties under $5 million out of an additional Board of Trustees review step; properties valued above $5 million go to the Board of Trustees (the Florida Cabinet) for review.

Freitas described program criteria that applicants must meet (examples include improving wildlife habitat, protecting water bodies or protecting agricultural lands threatened by conversion) and said landowners must enroll in agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs) before a property closes. The office conducts desk reviews and site visits and monitors properties roughly every 18 months to confirm easement terms are met.

Freitas said the program is pursuing partnerships with federal agencies, including NRCS and the Department of Defense’s Sentinel Landscapes Program, and is encouraging landowners near military installations to apply. He summarized current funding requests: a legislative budget request for $200 million in nonrecurring funds on top of $100 million in recurring funding already in place. Freitas said the program has roughly 200 active projects and received 224 new applications in the most recent cycle, totaling nearly $2 billion in project value across existing and new applications.

Committee members asked about long-term maintenance and whether landowners could default on monitoring and upkeep. Freitas said the program has not encountered a situation in which a landowner could not meet maintenance requirements; easement payments and BMP enrollment are intended to support ongoing stewardship. When asked about the Board of Trustees, Freitas confirmed that the Board refers to the Florida Cabinet.

The committee took no formal action on the presentation; the meeting ended later by unanimous procedural adjournment.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Committee on Agriculture 2/11/2025","oneSentenceSummary","JP Freitas of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services told the Committee on Agriculture the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program has increased its acreage rapidly, improved application processing and is seeking additional funding and federal partnerships to accelerate conservation easements.","taxTitle","Agriculture , Standing Committees, Senate, Legislative, Florida","taxId",25570,"location","Florida","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6340343,"UF/IFAS lays out extension strategy to meet Suwannee Valley nitrogen-reduction targets",1276,1768000,3044000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2259591-da9c056bed64118bb6398dce08ffd343&start=1768&end=3044","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2259591-da9c056bed64118bb6398dce08ffd343/thumbnail_1768000.jpg","/articles/6340343/Florida/UFIFAS-lays-out-extension-strategy-to-meet-Suwannee-Valley-nitrogen-reduction-targets","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6340343-e6494dc715d31b19efb95065615c6dfe/orig.mp4?Expires=1771143753&Signature=JCcx9Dxqw00OlVQDQStBHB06Ij9q81Z6H5NayD30UENYC0JZc2QPfRxI0JttK4xnkgIf5gH3ynKvLgc-Pf5HKXYBrsOpuZ41m6ksStHqzd8kgc-znX4oSg1hOvj0-nZHssFtcNIQy2yeVv1~7XqgNj70zFnQA001J7FWCCVa~TTLUhoUOO2gVs-xYFyBX9Xdov3Y2KAtgd7EZVPethufy9XMDTUxlwvI0emVxGdlRZklugwgRGMDGr0v9DDVs4HY3HtvclxaQPfZBmQTR-1leSn6AvrbtFrsJlGHxzxAjWjgh9UOlRSvJkUp2k8azrFh0uVuxhhROy7lFlJfSTk~EQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Committee on Agriculture heard a presentation from University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Regional Extension Agent Bob Hockmuth about steps to reduce nitrogen loads in the Suwannee Valley to meet state Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP) targets.

Hockmuth said the agriculture portion of the Suwannee BMAP recently rose from about 4.2 million pounds of required nitrogen reduction to roughly 5.8 million pounds, and called the target \"an urgent situation\" for the region. He described an extension strategy that moves research from small plots to farm-scale demonstrations, paired with cost-share incentives, soil moisture sensors, precision nutrient placement and crop-specific measures such as controlled-release fertilizer and petiole sap testing for watermelons.

Hockmuth laid out a stepped approach: replicated research at UF centers; larger plot and farm-scale trials; field days for growers; pilot cost-share projects; and wider adoption through incentive programs. He cited a corn demonstration where precision placement and soil moisture management reportedly reduced nitrogen use on a single farm by 250,000 pounds and saved about 200,000,000 gallons of water after adoption of the practices.

For watermelons and other vegetables, Hockmuth described a blue-dye irrigation demonstration and petiole sap testing used on roughly 100 farms in the Suwannee Valley to calibrate in-season nutrient needs. He said soil moisture sensors are among the most widely adopted best management practices (BMPs) because they help farmers avoid over-irrigation that would carry nitrogen below the root zone.

Hockmuth identified the Suwannee River Partnership, FDACS Office of Ag Water Policy, the Suwannee River Water Management District, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, commodity groups such as the Watermelon Growers Association, and industry partners as key collaborators in funding and scaling these efforts. When asked about farmer willingness and economics, Hockmuth said growers generally want to participate but that adoption at scale requires incentive funding because equipment and technology investments are expensive.

Hockmuth said the team's current plan emphasizes reductions in corn and intensive hay acreage next, with the expectation that modest per-acre reductions across large acreages could meet the new 5.8-million-pound target. He told the committee some current assessments show the region may be ahead of earlier targets but that additional funding and regional-scale projects will be needed to meet the higher goal.

No formal committee vote or regulatory action was taken during the presentation.","UF/IFAS Regional Extension Agent Bob Hockmuth told the Committee on Agriculture how research, field demonstrations and targeted cost-share programs aim to cut nitrogen loads in the Suwannee Valley to meet Basin Management Action Plan goals.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6340348,"Florida clam and oyster producers describe storm damage, ask lawmakers to broaden aid and infrastructure support",1111,125000,1236000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2259591-da9c056bed64118bb6398dce08ffd343&start=125&end=1236","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2259591-da9c056bed64118bb6398dce08ffd343/thumbnail_125000.jpg","/articles/6340348/Florida/Florida-clam-and-oyster-producers-describe-storm-damage-ask-lawmakers-to-broaden-aid-and-infrastructure-support","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6340348-8117a032b46a19d08762d7a49798ea75/orig.mp4?Expires=1771143753&Signature=C5A5z8PWw9XTHvflE8z95cLUVTg6BQHicjgvFwY~8u5ut59nvt78Dl4xfstvkzv7jHg859wyq0hGl5yYTm~ZuiltU6YxaNuIMQ7DS~uUCTsQyFMl1NNvUfVzcalSvVXNulmdJUcOZ1G7X-w6XlVDeRnE~wJrlCkxdd2fT1Za4MLnudnhS43SMQDjW2MF~GrRzoU5JkXjzLe3Qhpq9zUywspOuJWV~fG7HSrBScY8ZWZfiOgtA0TqJd8eudOTuw2joF3ijfZlD6cz0WT8c9GB-3QagyVcD0GBxMtGHfuFYN1UNZZMGue3Re5UV5MemrP~ksn4GzRIdxyqFNJvj-ptsg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Committee on Agriculture on an unspecified date heard from clam and oyster producers who described major storm damage to gear and stock, steady market growth, and difficulty accessing some existing agricultural recovery programs.

Timothy Solano, a second-generation clam farmer and secretary of the Cedar Key Aquaculture Association, told the committee that clam farming supports a wide regional supply chain and that Cedar Key accounts for the vast majority of the state’s production. \"We service 60%...of the Costco stores, nationwide here in The United States with clams,\" Solano said. He told lawmakers the sector reported $33,000,000 in sales in 2023 and shipped more than 200 million clams that year, with roughly 90% of that production coming from Cedar Key.

Solano described repeated storm damage since 2023 that lengthened production cycles and destroyed equipment and product. He said storm tides exceeded what his facilities normally experience, and that Hurricane Adalia and other storms carried dock and building debris across clam leases, sweeping away clam bags that cost about $10 each. \"We lost about 6,000 in Adalia...We're at about 8,000 bags we're missing. So in a total, we have over a hundred thousand dollars just in material that we've lost from the 2 storms,\" Solano said. He also credited a February 2024 dislocated workers program with helping farmers pay crews to clean and repair farms.

Kane Grama, owner-operator of Pelican Oyster Company in Wakulla County, described a similar pattern for oyster growers: severe losses to Hurricane Michael and later storms, limited access to traditional agricultural compensation, and financial barriers to recovery and infrastructure upgrades. Grama said he holds five state leases totaling about 7.5 acres and that local leases are generally about 1.5 acres each. He described investing in more resilient gear after Hurricane Michael and said the investment paid off during later storms. \"For the first time, I had access to low interest funding opportunity...which has always been a significant barrier,\" Grama said, and he called for state support for business-recovery and low-interest loan programs tailored to aquaculture.

Both producers asked lawmakers to make existing agricultural aid and cost-share programs more clearly available to aquaculture operations (clams, oysters and other shellfish) and to expand in-state seed and nursery capacity. Grama said establishing an oyster seed nursery in Florida would reduce dependence on out-of-state supply and help sustain future production and restoration efforts. He also urged incentives for student internships and workforce training so farms can hire locally.

Committee members thanked the presenters and asked questions about lease sizes, the number of farms and typical production cycles. Senators noted the industry’s resilience and signaled support for adapting state programs to include aquaculture where eligible.

The committee did not take formal legislative action on the presentations; the session concluded later with a procedural adjournment.","Producers from Cedar Key and Wakulla County told the Committee on Agriculture about Hurricane damage, storm-driven production losses and limits in existing farm recovery programs, and asked the Legislature to adapt programs and support local nursery and workforce development.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

DOACS reports surge in agricultural-easement acquisitions, requests funding to close more projects

UF/IFAS lays out extension strategy to meet Suwannee Valley nitrogen-reduction targets

Florida clam and oyster producers describe storm damage, ask lawmakers to broaden aid and infrastructure support