More Information about Osceola County Agricultural Lands

Cattle

Ranching is the main agriculture enterprise in the county. The state of Florida is the sixth leading producer of beef cattle in the United States, and Osceola County is the leading producing county in Florida. Of the 518,180 acres of agriculture, 492,362 acres are used for ranching. Osceola County is also home to the largest ranch east of the Mississippi River. The Deseret Ranch has approximately 300,000 acres, with 180,057 in Osceola County. The climate and the topography make ranching possible here. The warm climate and abundant rainfall help grasses grow most of the year. The topography consists of many lakes, marshes, piney flatwoods, and prairies along the Kissimmee River, which are ideal conditions for raising cattle. The county has a vivid history of the ranching families settling in Osceola County in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Citrus

Citrus has also played an important role in agriculture, with approximately 8,066 acres in the county. As the state grew around the turn of the century, oranges became the main cash crop for the farmers of the state. The topography also helped the citrus industry here. Citrus grows best in sandy, well-draining soil. The western part of the county is part of the Lake Wales Ridge. This area is comprised of hilly, sandy soils ideal for citrus trees. The county’s mid and southern parts also have sandy soil areas where groves are planted. The citrus industry peaked in the late 60s and early 70s in Osceola County. Several bad freezes and the impact of tourism in the Ridge area have caused citrus to decline here.

Commercial Sod

The commercial sod industry is a relatively new agricultural industry in Osceola County. It started as a way for ranchers to supplement income when the cattle prices declined. When central Florida began to grow, there was a need for sod in the new developments. Since most of the Bahia grasses used for grazing were the same as those used for yards, it was logical for the large ranches to cut sod. In the past several decades, there have been several improvements in grasses for sod purposes. The introduction of St. Augustine and Floratam grasses has allowed some ranches to grow fields of commercial sod.

Various other agriculture enterprises exist in the county. These include tropical fish, winter vegetables, ornamental plants, and timber. Although these are usually small enterprises, they do provide agricultural income and jobs for the county.

Protected Land

Osceola County’s environment has biological diversity only found in our state. Sub-species of animals are common to this area, such as the Osceola Turkey, gopher tortoise, and scrub jay. Osceola County also has the largest population of nesting bald eagles in the eastern United States. Other animals include white-tailed deer, armadillos, otters, raccoons, opossums, and numerous types of birds. Because of the biological diversity in the county, the State of Florida has acquired 102,500 acres through several land preservation programs. Most of the land is found in three wildlife management areas. These are Bull Creek, Triple N Ranch, and Three Lakes. There are also 5,141 acres that the Nature Conservancy maintains to protect the environment.

Our county’s lakes are among the best bass fishing lakes in the world. Many tourists come to our county hoping to catch the “Big One.” The Water Management Districts in our county have also acquired land around several of these lakes to maintain the fragile native habitat and ensure future water quality.

Pasture Land

  • The recommended size for pasture or grazing land is 20 acres or more, or it can be used in conjunction with contiguous parcels.
  • The property must be fenced.
  • An indicated effort must be made to maintain and care sufficiently and adequately for this type of land. (i.e., fertilizing, liming, tilling, disking, mowing, and other accepted agricultural practices).
  • Regarding livestock in relation to the size of the parcel. The capability of soil and available forage is considered as to the carrying capacity for livestock for individual parcels. Each stands on its own merit.
  • If the property is leased, the lease must be effective as of January 1st. Please furnish the Property Appraiser’s Office with a copy of the lease.

Hay

  • The recommended size is 10 acres or used in conjunction with other contiguous parcels.
  • Property must be used exclusively for production and harvesting.
  • If the property is leased, the lease must be effective as of January 1st. Please provide the Property Appraiser’s Office with a copy of the lease.

Citrus Lands

  • The recommended size is 10 acres of planted trees or used in conjunction with other parcels.
  • Land must be planted by January 1st.
  • An indicated effort must have been made to maintain and care sufficiently and adequately for this type of land, i.e., fertilizing, disking, herbicide, mowing, and other accepted agricultural practices.
  • Please provide the Property Appraiser’s Office with the number of trees per acre, the variety of citrus, the effective age of the grove, and the average yield per year.
  • If irrigated, please provide the Property Appraiser’s Office with a description of the type of irrigation.
  • If the property is leased, the lease must be effective as of January 1st. Please provide the Property Appraiser’s Office with a copy of the lease.

 

*All recommendations are used as a general guideline only: All parcels in which proper application has been made will be evaluated per Florida Statute 193.461 and all other applicable legislation in determining if they meet the criteria to qualify for Agricultural assessment.