Under the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, the easement buys out development rights, allowing the family to keep running the dairy while the land stays in private hands.
The agreement, signed by Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, sees Martin County contribute $3.74 million toward the easement, a 50‑50 split that underscores the state’s commitment to rural preservation.
Turnpike Dairy sits in the Florida Wildlife Corridor and borders land managed by the South Florida Water Management District, meaning the easement not only protects a working farm but also stitches together critical wetlands, bayheads and wildlife habitat.
The program has already preserved more than 251,000 acres across the state, with 4,500 acres added in Simpson’s first year, and the state plans to review additional applications next month as developers look to upgrade neighboring parcels.