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Ag Tax Exemption Question #745494

Asked April 21, 2021, 12:44 PM EDT

Hello! We are the new owners of 21.5 acres that was previously used as crop land. We would like to keep the ag exemption that was on the land but I'm not sure what is involved in doing so. We don't want to grow crops, but we have plans to put bees on the land this year, and to turn it into pasture for grazing cattle. We also want to restore part of it to it's original black land prairie and encourage native plants, birds, insects, and wildlife to return. We plan on doing some collaboration with a local conservation organization to provide education and opportunities for environmental projects, so we are also interested in transferring the exemption to a wildlife exemption if possible. But none of this is actually happening yet, it's just in the planning stage. I'd like to find out more about what we need to do to make sure we are ok with either exemption before the May 1st deadline. We are new to owning land so we are not sure how this process works. Thanks! Phaedra Taylor

Travis County Texas

Expert Response

Good afternoon Ms Taylor,

Open-land valuation for property allows for a minimum of five (5) acres (six acres if there is a homesite or future homesite) up to a maximum of 20 acres, for beekeeping.  The minumum acreage requires six (6) beehives;p nineteen (19) acres requires 13 beehives.  If you wish to maintain the "ag exemption," the bees would be the route to take this year.  That will allow you time to implement your wildlife plan.  I would suggest that you consider enlisting the services of a professional beekeeper because the bees could be deployed quickly - probably within a month or two.  Also, costs will probably approach $600 per hive by the time one purchases the nucs, the beehives, beekeepers suit and other ancillary equipment.  It is late for this year to try to get into the beekeeping business unless one can buy out a beekeeper who would like to close. For a wildlife exemption, one must have an approved wildlife management plan and conduct and document at last three of seven approved wildlife management practices each year. 

I would like to visit with you a little more about your intended use with respect to cattle, wildlife and restoring some of the land to native blackland prairie.

There also is another, lesser-known, option and that is an ecological laboratory.  Basically, one would enter into an agreement with a university researcher to conduct studies under a written and approved plan and reports would be filed annually. 

I you wish to share your E-Mail address, I would be happy to send you a pdf file with the "Guidelines for the Appraisal of Open-space Land." This document covers the guidelines for agricultural land, Wildlife Management, Beekeeping, and Ecological Laboratory.  Please feel free to contact me directly if you wish.  I wish you much success in achieving your desires to optimize the use of your land.

All the best,

Noel Troxclair

County Extension Agent-Ag/Natural Resources

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Travis County

1600B Smith Road, Austin, Texas 78721

Office: <personal data hidden>

Mobile: <personal data hidden>

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An Ask Extension Expert Replied April 21, 2021, 3:48 PM EDT

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