Cattle lease information

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