State Invests Millions to Save Rural Farms | Panama City Beach News

The state is pouring nearly $7 million into a bold land protection effort across four counties—Jefferson, Putnam, Calhoun, and Hardee—to shield prime farmland from development into strip malls and condos. Through the Rural and Family Land Protection Program, farms like Bishop Family Farms in Jefferson County ($1.3M for 228 acres) and Meetinghouse Groves in Putnam County ($2.7M for 816 acres) are receiving major federal and state investments, with USDA adding over $650K to some deals. The state has allocated more than $425 million this fiscal year, prioritizing large-scale projects over 6,000 acres—showing a serious commitment to preserving Florida’s agricultural heartland. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/3ca4895167fd6be8