Alico Lands Big Deal With USDA

By Growing Produce Staff|September 12, 2013

Ft. Myers, FL-based Alico Inc. an agriculture and rural land management company, announced it has reached an agreement with USDA, through its administering agency, The Natural Resources Conservation Service, to grant a conservation easement on approximately 11,600 acres in Hendry County, FL for approximately $20.7 million. The easement agreement states the property will be enrolled in perpetuity in the Wetlands Reserve Program designed to restore, protect, and enhance the values of the wetlands and for the conservation of natural resources.

Alico will retain title to the property and the right to various recreational uses including hunting, fishing and leasing of such rights. Additionally, the company reserves the right to subsurface resources including oil, gas, minerals, and geothermal resources underlying the easement area and the right to water uses and water rights identified as reserved to the company.

Alico owns roughly 130,300 acres of land located in Collier, Glades, Hendry, Lee, and Polk counties, FL. Alico is involved in citrus, sugarcane, cattle, and other agricultural operations and real estate activities.

The company expects to close the agreement in fiscal year 2013.