There are approximately 5.5 million acres of range-pastureland in Florida, roughly 4.8 million of which exist in native range and 1 million in improved pasture. Although cattle ranching and citrus production are a major land-use in Florida, the cumulative magnitude of the ecological effects of grazing and citrus on nutrient dynamics and patterns of species diversity is still largely unknown. These factors can be integrated because they share the common spatial setting of the Ranch. The physical characteristics of the Ranch landscape provide the underlying infrastructure for ecological patterns and processes, and the economic performance of the Ranch. Climatic conditions at the Ranch are currently being monitored by four weather stations that collect continuous data on temperature, rainfall, wind speed and direction, and solar radiation.
Soils are poorly drained sands or very poorly drained organic soils with low to moderate fertility.
Adequate moisture, high temperatures, and a long growing season allow for significant pasture productivity. These dominant landscape types are the basis of an extensive seasonal rotation in which the cattle are stocked more heavily on the Bahia pastures in the summer and are moved to the semi-native marshes in the winter. Landscape depressions due to cavities in deep limestone formations have resulted in the development of over 500 isolated wetlands, which are critical resources for wildlife. In addition to natural wetlands, there is an extensive network of over 400 miles of drainage ditches to facilitate draining of surface water and ameliorate flooding during the rainy season. The cattle stocking treatments were begun in autumn 1998.