Cattle operations have historically been a common agricultural land use in Florida for more than a century and remain an important management tool on many District-owned properties. Many conservation lands acquired by the District have supported cattle operations for years. The District encourages the continuation of this historic use where it is compatible with land management goals and water resource protection.
Through its grazing lease program, the District aims to:
- Provide on-site management and security for District-owned lands at minimal cost.
- Activities conducted in accordance with Water Quality Best Management Practices established by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
- Prescribed burns and control of exotic species on the property
- Payment of ad valorem and local assessments
- Revenue generation, which is spent to manage other lands under the District’s stewardship
- Help minimize impacts to the local agricultural economy by keeping viable agricultural lands in active production.
Competitive bid process
New properties suitable for cattle grazing leases are offered through a competitive bid process in accordance with Section 373.093, Florida Statutes. An Invitation to Submit Offer (ITO) is advertised on the District’s website and published in a newspaper in the county where the property is located.
Leases are awarded to the responsive and responsible bidder with the highest offer per animal unit who can fully perform the lease requirements. Properties already under lease will be reviewed at the end of the lease term to determine whether they should be opened for new bids, unless conditions such as lack of access restrict potential leasing.
Each ITO includes a property map identifying the location and other relevant details. Persons or firms who obtain solicitation documents from the website are responsible for checking the page for any changes, delays or addenda related to the ITO.
Stay informed
Individuals or firms interested in receiving email notifications when new grazing lease opportunities are advertised can complete a Contact Form and email it to RealEstateServices@sjrwmd.com.
| Broadcast Date | Identifier LRS # | Date Offer Due | Property Name/Description of Potential Lease |
Documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 4, 2025 | LRS 2619 | May 29, 2025 | Fort Drum Conservation Area – North Tract 1,310 acres and South Tract 1,928 acres. Lease awarded | |
| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |