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Deseret Ranches () refers to the ranching operations of the
This ranch, owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), spreads over the three central Florida counties of Osceola, Orange, and Brevard. Covering almost of land, 90 ranchers and their families live on the ranch. The ranch maintains 44,000 head of beef cattle. It is a for profit operation and is not a normal part of the humanitarian efforts of the LDS Church. Gordon B. Hinckley, former president of the church has said, "We have felt that good farms, over a long period of time, represent a safe investment where the assets of the Church may be preserved and enhanced, while at the same time they are available as an agricultural resource to feed people should there come a time of need."
"From book to boom: how the Mormons plan a city for 500,000 in Florida"
– ''The Guardian''
Deseret Ranches
official site {{Coord, 28.186097, -80.878533, display=title 1950 establishments in Florida Brevard County, Florida Deseret Management Corporation Landmarks in Florida Orange County, Florida Osceola County, Florida Properties of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Ranches in Florida The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the United States
Deseret Ranches () refers to the ranching operations of the Corporation of the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, informally known as the LDS Church or Mormon Church, is a nontrinitarian Christian church that considers itself to be the restoration of the original church founded by Jesus Christ. The c ...
in Central Florida. The Ranches include several organizations, including Deseret Ranches of Florida, Deseret Cattle and Citrus, Taylor Creek Management, East Central Florida Services, AgReserves
AgReserves, Inc. (AgReserves) is a diversified, multinational agriculture for-profit and private company ultimately owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and based in Salt Lake City, Utah. It is speculated that AgRes ...
, and Farmland Reserve. Located southeast of the Orlando International Airport and west of Cape Canaveral
, image = cape canaveral.jpg
, image_size = 300
, caption = View of Cape Canaveral from space in 1991
, map = Florida#USA
, map_width = 300
, type =Cape
, map_caption = Location in Florida
, location ...
, Florida. Currently, Deseret Ranches is the most productive cow-calf ranch in the United States.
Geography
This ranch, owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), spreads over the three central Florida counties of Osceola, Orange, and Brevard. Covering almost of land, 90 ranchers and their families live on the ranch. The ranch maintains 44,000 head of beef cattle. It is a for profit operation and is not a normal part of the humanitarian efforts of the LDS Church. Gordon B. Hinckley, former president of the church has said, "We have felt that good farms, over a long period of time, represent a safe investment where the assets of the Church may be preserved and enhanced, while at the same time they are available as an agricultural resource to feed people should there come a time of need."
History
The earliest plans for this ranch were made in 1949, and in 1950 the original were purchased. Deseret Ranch now covers an area , with a separate section surrounding Kenansville in Osceola County. The church bought the original tract in 1950, and over 50 years, the ranch grew to more than . In 1997 it was the world's largest beef ranch, and the land was worth an estimated $858 million.Operations
The LDS Church does not disclose the revenue of the ranch, but it is known that in year 2000 they moved 16 million pounds (7300 t) of calves, which at the time translated to about $16 million in revenue. In 2008, Deseret Ranch discussed selling part of the property for a development nearOrlando, Florida
Orlando () is a city in the U.S. state of Florida and is the county seat of Orange County, Florida, Orange County. In Central Florida, it is the center of the Greater Orlando, Orlando metropolitan area, which had a population of 2,509,831, acco ...
, but the proposed rezoning was withdrawn prior to approval.
The Deseret Ranch also brings in revenue from the mining of native shell beds (which is used throughout Florida to pave roads), orange groves, hunting permits, and sales of ornamental palm trees.
In 2011, having won control of some of its water from the St. Johns River Water Management District
The St. Johns River Water Management District ("SJRWMD") is one of five Florida water management districts that is responsible for managing groundwater and surface water resources in Florida. SJRWMD covers an 18-county region in northeast and eas ...
, it was planning on selling some to Cocoa, Florida.
See also
*Henry D. Moyle
Henry Dinwoodey Moyle (April 22, 1889 – September 18, 1963) was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).
Early life
Moyle was born in Salt L ...
Notes
Further reading
*"From book to boom: how the Mormons plan a city for 500,000 in Florida"
– ''The Guardian''
External links
Deseret Ranches
official site {{Coord, 28.186097, -80.878533, display=title 1950 establishments in Florida Brevard County, Florida Deseret Management Corporation Landmarks in Florida Orange County, Florida Osceola County, Florida Properties of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Ranches in Florida The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the United States