Central Florida Lands & Timber Nursery, Lafayette County
Matt Buchanan and his family own and operate Central Florida Lands & Timber Nursery in Lafayette, Florida. The land has been in the Buchanan family for more than 150 years when Mr. Buchanan’s great grandparents started growing and raising cotton, corn, tobacco and cattle. They proudly produce beef cattle and more than 100 species of Florida native trees and shrubs. Central Florida Lands & Timber Nursery has been implementing Best Management Practices (BMPs) on the land since the early 1990s. BMPs are a set of guidelines that advise producers on how to manage the water, nutrient and pesticides they are using to reduce agriculture’s impact on the state’s natural resources. Central Florida Lands & Timber uses a low volume water applicator through the pivot irrigation system that reduces the amount of runoff to nearby water sources. Time release fertilizers are also used to ensure the plants are getting all the nutrients from the fertilizer instead of it washing away. Mr. Buchanan is actively involved in his local community. He is a member of the Florida Farm Bureau and a coach for various youth sports in Lafayette County. He and his family attend Brewer Lake Baptist Church in Day where he also serves as a deacon. When asked why he is a farmer who CARES, Mr. Buchanan responded, “we depend on the environment for everything and if we abuse it our children will have to repair our mistakes.”
