Florida
See how Florida beef farmers and ranchers are rethinking the ranch to raise sustainable beef through land-saving, wildlife-preserving, and award-winning environmental efforts.
MEET THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE BEEF
Florida ranch honored for outstanding environmental stewardship
JB Ranch is a third-generation cow-calf operation, owned and operated by Liesa and Russell Priddy. The ranch provides important habitat for more than 20 protected animal species including panthers, the Florida state animal. Resource management goals are intertwined and inseparable, and the removal of invasive species as well as ensuring water integrity are priorities. The Priddy’s have reduced invasive plant species by 90% utilizing various methods, including mechanical removal, prescribed burning and rotational grazing. Water quality has improved with the use of control structures and solar wells. As development encroaches, JB Ranch remains an oasis, and the Priddy’s have diversified their operation by harvesting cabbage palms and sod for landscaping as well as offering guided hunts.
"Our goal is quite simple: to ensure that the natural resources under our care are improved and maintained for the benefit of all living things that depend on the land for survival in an economically viable way. We utilized a variety of practices to make that happen." - Liesa Priddy, JB Ranch
Meet More Members of the Beef Community:
steven "Beaver" Yoder
Meet Steven "Beaver" Yoder of Altha, Florida. A third generation beef rancher, the Yoder family has tended the same land in Florida since 1952. After many years also growing peanuts and cotton on their land, the Yoder's now focus their efforts on their diverse cattle operation, which includes cow-calf, stocker, and feedlot sectors. Their location in the Florida panhandle, an area with a unique pine plains landscape is much different from the coastal plains and flat woods of peninsular Florida. This provides the Yoder family an opportunity to partner with area crop farmers whose rich forage-growing soils provide an ideal location for grazing cattle. This provides cattle farmers an opportunity to rotate the use of their land in the off-season, and the Yoder's use this as an opportunity to graze and grow their calves under the Florida sunshine for several months longer.
raising beef in florida
Raising beef is a complex process, but throughout the entire journey, one thing remains constant – the shared commitment to raising cattle in a safe, humane and environmentally sustainable way by using the latest technology and resources. Today, there are more than 886,000 cattle and 15,000 beef farmers and ranchers throughout Florida. Learn more about Florida beef farmers and ranchers and how they're raising beef from the pasture to the plate.
popular Florida-inspired recipes
Cuban crispy shredded beef
A few simple ingredients can take leftover Pot Roast to the next level. Traditionally known as Vaca Frita, sautéed beef with bell pepper, onion and lime juice, commonly served with rice and black beans. Delicious!
grilled steak with mango salsa
Marinated beef Top Round Steak is grilled and served with a fresh and spicy mango salsa.
Florida fact
Raising cattle in Florida dates back to 1521 when Juan Ponce DeLeon first brought cattle and horses to North America. However, Florida is most well-known for its expansive citrus groves that total 74 million citrus trees.
Discover More State Stories
See how beef farmers and ranchers around the country are implementing land-saving, wildlife-preserving, and award-winning environmental efforts.
beef sustainability
cattlemen and the environment
Today beef is produced using fewer resources than ever before. But conservation is never complete; ranchers work hard to feed a growing population, while, at the same time, reduce water use, care for the land, and protect the environment.
florida beef council
Learn more about the Florida Beef Council and the work they do within the state.