How to apply to lease property for cattle grazing
Cattle operations have historically been an agricultural land use over the last century in Florida and continues to be an important land use today. Many of the lands acquired by the district have had active cattle operations for years. The district encourages the continuation of this historic use where it can be used as a management tool and has developed a revenue producing lease program that provides many benefits, such as:
- On-site management and security for district-owned lands at a minimal cost to the district
- Minimizing district expenses by increasing revenue from non-governmental sources to off-set district management, maintenance and resource protection costs
- Minimizing impacts to the local agricultural economy by keeping viable agricultural lands in active production for as long as possible
- Reduction of fire fuel loads and maintenance of open habitat for the benefit of native wildlife
New properties suitable for cattle operations are competitively bid by the district pursuant to Florida Statute 373.093. An Invitation to Submit Offer (ITO) is advertised by the district on the district website for available properties. A Notice of Intent to lease will also be published in a newspaper in the county in which said land is situated. Leases will be awarded to the responsive and responsible bidder with the highest offer per animal unit. Properties already under lease will be reviewed by the district for consideration of opening the property up for bid at the end of the lease unless conditions such as lack of access restrict potential lessees. Current ITOs are identified below and will remain available through award. The table below displays the most recent “Invitations To Submit Offer” based upon “broadcast date” first. Persons/firms obtaining solicitation documents from this site shall be responsible to visit this web page for any changes, delays, or addenda related to the ITO. Each ITO will provide a map as an Exhibit identifying the location of the property.
Anyone interested in receiving an email notification of ITOs at time of broadcast should complete a Contact Form and forward that form to Diana Bankhardt at dbankhar@sjrwmd.com.
| Broadcast Date | Identifier LRS # | Date Offer Due | Property Name/Description of Potential Lease |
Documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 14, 2021 | LRS 2179 | June 8, 2021 | Property Name/Description: 532 acres in Three Forks Conservation Area in Brevard County. Lease awarded | |
| Sept. 21, 2020 | LRS 2068 | Oct. 13, 2020 | Property Name/Description: The area to be leased is approximately 134 + acres of the Lake George Conservation Area in Volusia County, Florida with an authorization for a maximum of 19 animal units. Lease awarded | |
| June 2, 2020 | LRS 1962 | July 15, 2020 | Property Name/Description: The area to be leased is approximately 690 + acres of the Heart Island Conservation Area District Parcel ID Number LA 1994-049-P1 in Flagler County, Florida. Lease awarded | |
| May 15, 2020 | LRS 1958 | June 10, 2020 | Property Name/Description: The area to be leased is approximately 193 + acres of the District Parcel ID Number Jack Eckerd LA 1992-003-PA, on the Canaveral Marshes Conservation Area – Great Outdoors in Brevard County, Florida. Lease awarded | |
| Feb. 20, 2020 | LRS 1815 | March 11, 2020 | Property Name/Description: Approximately 1310 acres +/- located in the Fort Drum Conservation Area , known as the Latt Maxy Parcel in Indian River County, Florida. District will authorize a maximum of 118 animal units for a 10-year term. Lease awarded | |
| Oct. 23, 2019 | LRS 1654 | February 12, 2020 | The area to be leased is approximately 4514 + acres of the Lee Ranch and Turkey Creek parcels (the Property), in the Charles H. Bronson State Forest in Seminole County, Florida, part of SJRWMD parcel no. 1991-020-PA and 1991-020-PB. Lease awarded | |
| June 19, 2019 | LRS 1377 | Aug. 6, 2019 | The area to be leased is approximately 1066 acres in the Little Big Econ State Forest area, in Seminole County, Florida. District will authorize a maximum of 116 animal units. Lease awarded | |
| June 13, 2019 | LRS 1545 | Aug. 6, 2019 | The area to be leased is approximately 425 acres of the Orange Creek South Restoration Area, in Marion County, Florida, SJRWMD parcel no. LA1996-103-P1 (the Property). Please review the requirements and specifications. District will authorize a maximum of 28 animal units grazing the Property. The lease term is for 10 years. Lease awarded | |
| April 19, 2019 | LRS 1612 | Not Applicable | Approximately 7695+ acres of property, located in the River Lakes Conservation Area, known as Moccasin Island, in Brevard County, Florida, to A. Duda & Sons, Inc. to be used for cattle grazing. The property is anticipated to be leased June 11, 2019 at approximately 10 a.m. at the District Headquarters, 4049 Reid Street, Palatka, FL, 32177. Lease awarded | |
| Nov. 19, 2018 | LRS 1523 | Dec. 10, 2018 | North Lake Jesup, Lake Jessup Partners parcel (a/k/a MarlBed Tract), in the Lake Jesup Conservation Area in Seminole County. 750+ acre site with authorization for a maximum of 26 animal units. Lease awarded | |
| July 26, 2018 | LRS 1448 | August 22, 2018 | Little Cameron Ranch and Futch Tracts, in the Lake Jesup Conservation Area in Seminole County. 2217-acre site with authorization for a maximum of 213 animal units. Lease awarded | |
| June 20, 2018 | LRS 1457 | July 25, 2018 | Osteen Ranch-Kratzert Tract, in Lake Monroe Conservation Area in Volusia County. 3095-acre site with authorization for a maximum of 100 animal units. Lease awarded | |
| Feb. 28, 2018 | LRS 1423 | April 5, 2018 | Sunnyhill Farm property, in Sunnyhill Restoration Area in Marion County. 425 acre site with authorization for a maximum of 90 animal units. Lease awarded | |
| Nov. 21, 2017 | LRS 1402 | Jan. 4, 2018 | Orange Creek North, in Orange Creek Restoration Area in Alachua county. 371-acre site with authorization for a maximum of 25 animal units. Lease awarded | |
| May 18, 2017 | LRS 1341 | June 27, 2017 | Seminole Ranch, in Seminole Ranch Conservation Area in Orange county. 1929-acre site with authorization for a maximum of 200 animal units. Lease awarded | |
| March 17, 2017 | LRS 1289 | May 3, 2017 | J. P. Hall Additions #2 property, in the Bayard Conservation Area in Clay County. 369-acre site with authorization for a maximum of 85 animal units. Lease awarded | |
| Feb. 27, 2017 | LRS 1320 | April 4, 2017 | Maytown Property in the Palm Bluff Conservation Area, Volusia County. 1,545-acre site with authorization for a maximum of 200 animal units. Lease awarded | |
| Dec. 15, 2016 | LRS 1297 | Jan. 31, 2017 | Lake Monroe Conservation Area. 1,216-acre site with authorization for a maximum of 100 animal units. Lease awarded | |
| Sept. 15, 2016 | LRS 1195 | Nov. 1, 2016 | Fly’n R Ranch Property, Sunnyhill Restoration Area. 952-acre site with authorization for a maximum of 200 animal units. Lease awarded | |
| July 28, 2016 | LRS 1256 | Sept. 20, 2016 | Fort Drum Conservation Area. 1,928-acre site with authorization for a maximum of 184 animal units. Lease awarded | |
| Sept. 3, 2015 | LRS1177 | Oct. 13, 2015 | Lake Norris Conservation Area. 463-acre site with authorization for a maximum of 60 animal units. Lease awarded |