"WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- South Florida water managers have approved Gov. Charlie Crist's deal to buy farmland from U.S. Sugar Corp. for use in Everglades restoration.

The South Florida Water Management District voted 6-1 Wednesday to pay $536 million bill for 73,000 acres of land from the company, in the final step to approve the deal.

U.S. Sugar is the nation's largest cane sugar producer. The size of the purchase has been trimmed since it was announced last year to trim the cost.

The plan is to convert farm land into conservation land, allowing water to be naturally cleaned and stored before flowing south into the Everglades."

The Associated Press moved the story May 13, 2009. [2]

See Also:

Sugar Land Deal Downsized (Reuters) [3]