Undeveloped land in Putnam County. | North Florida Land Trust
Published on April 2, 2026 at 3:57 pm
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Florida paid $2.3 million to conserve 1,446 acres of cattle and timber land in Putnam and Madison counties.
Three conservation easement deals will prevent development on the 626-acre MAS Pines timber operation in Madison County, the 430-acre Palustris Partners timber land in Madison County and the 390-acre Etoniah Creek Tract cattle and timber operation in Putnam County.
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The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services uses conservation easement deals under the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, which allow existing agricultural operations to continue in exchange for restricting future land development.
The department spent $1.13 million for the Putnam County land, which is 2 miles east of Etoniah Creek State Forest.
The MAS Pines land had a $589,000 price tag. The state anticipates the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program will cover $294,500 of that cost.
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The federal program is also expected to cover $290,000 of the $583,000 cost for the Palustris Partners easement.
