My Florida Marketplace #26/27 Grazing Lease

Florida grazing lease for 616 acres at Joshua Creek West

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is seeking a qualified beef producer to operate a cattle-grazing lease at Joshua Creek West in Charles H. Bronson State Forest. - Government buyer: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), through the Florida Forest Service; the bid materials also identify the State Lands Contract Facilitator. - Opportunity: Lease approximately 616 acres in Orange County, Florida, for cattle grazing only. The current allowable stocking rate is 75 animal units, reviewed annually; the lessee must maintain at least 85% of the maximum allowable stocking rate. - Price and term: Bidders propose a firm fixed price per allowable animal unit per year. The initial term is five years, with one optional five-year renewal at the Department’s discretion. - Required grazing and stewardship services include pasture and herd management, invasive-plant control, wildfire protection, fence and infrastructure maintenance, and compliance with applicable agricultural and environmental requirements. The area is closed to the public, and cattle are excluded from the mapped “No Cattle” area. - Fencing work identified for the lease area: repair 7,351 feet; replace 3,895 feet of boundary fencing; construct 391 feet of new fencing; and replace 10,560 feet of interior fencing. - Lessee requirements include a five-year grazing and land-stewardship plan, at least two management meetings each year, insurance, and ongoing enrollment in FDACS’s Cow/Calf Best Management Practices program. Bidders must also have qualifying Florida beef-operation experience, a successful industry track record with verifiable references, and Florida Cattlemen’s Association membership in good standing. - No OEMs, commercial vendors, or product purchases are named. The opportunity is for grazing and land-stewardship services provided by a qualified beef producer.

Description

The Florida Forest Service is seeking a qualified beef producer to lease 616 acres in Charles H. Bronson State Forest in Christmas, Florida, for cattle grazing. The lease has a current stocking rate of 75 animal units, which will be reviewed and adjusted annually before payments. The agreement term is five years, with an optional five-year renewal, and bidders must attend the mandatory site visit to submit a bid. Bids must include a firm fixed price per animal unit and are due November 25, 2026, at 5:00 PM Eastern Time.

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