Best resource to explore Ag exemption for my property

[Mike D]

I bought 9 acres in Parker county last year. I'm estimating that if my wife & I are able to build our dream home in a couple of years that our property taxes will be around $1k per month! So needless to say I need to find whatever exemptions I can.

I've been to the county tax office and they weren't much help other than to give me a piece of paper.

One thing I had considered is planting coastal hay and leasing the hay rights to someone. I just don't know if anyone would be interested in a place that small. I also have no idea what's involved in doing that.

I've also read up a little on wildlife exemptions but I'm more confused than ever.

[BTLowry]

I would say do your research and see what the minimum acreage is for ag valuation in your county and go from there

It varies from county to county

The wildlife valuation has to be done after you have the property in ag for at least a year in Smith county and I am not sure the minimum acreage but think it is 10ac

[Draco]

You should look into bees for your ag exemption. A neighbor has it and it's the best deal going. Bees are slowing going away in the wild and the government is trying to help out as they pollinate about 60% of our food. He tells me they drilled a well for him for nothing, planted his pastures in wild flowers and bought his bees but not the boxes. All you have to do is try to sell some honey. He lets another guy harvest the honey as he doesn't want to mess with it.

Might be some thing to check out.

[Mike D]

I would say do your research and see what the minimum acreage is for ag valuation in your county and go from there

It varies from county to county

The wildlife valuation has to be done after you have the property in ag for at least a year in Smith county and I am not sure the minimum acreage but think it is 10ac

I already know my land qualifies, but it's vague as to what is allowed and what isn't.

[NelsonV]

In Fannin county you have at least 10 acres to claim Ag. We bought 11acs and deeded ourselves 1 and put the rest in Ag

[kry226]

The best bet is to speak with the county office and ask them your questions. They'll let you know how it all works and help you figure out which is best for you.

[oldag1986]

Go your county appraisal district. In smith co 10 plus acres can be timber exempt. Less than 10 is some form of ag productio for sale. Have to show some proof. Went through this last year myself. Pm for info

[Mike D]

I guess I'll have to visit with my tax office again. They were quite unhelpful the first time I went.

What about the Ag extension office?

[dpg481]

I know a state wildlife biologist who assist people in her county to get a wildlife exemption, it work out basically the same as an ag exemption. You may try that route.

[friscopaint]

I qualify in Grayson with 3 mares of breeding age, we have more and do breed and sell our own horses. Provided tax office with registration papers and website information. Have to have 10 acres not including the house. For hay you had to prove X amount of tons per acre. Some are different, neighbor has less but was grandfathered in. Doubt his will transfer with sale.

[texansfan]

I guess I'll have to visit with my tax office again. They were quite unhelpful the first time I went.

What about the Ag extension office?

Unless they are really nice they won't give you any information.
Because if they do, and it is wrong, you can sue them.
I'm going through this myself with an exemption (wanted Ag but they told me I only qualify for timber)
But also with the Probate court office
I constantly kept hearing "Get a lawyer."
They don't even have probate "applications" in that place.
But a sweet old lady whispered to me how I could find what I needed online.

[Tmag]

This site is helpful and you can register there too.

http://comptroller.texas.gov/taxinfo...ady_texas.html

There are a lot of various ways you can qualify.

[CADDOKILLER]

You should look into bees for your ag exemption. A neighbor has it and it's the best deal going. Bees are slowing going away in the wild and the government is trying to help out as they pollinate about 60% of our food. He tells me they drilled a well for him for nothing, planted his pastures in wild flowers and bought his bees but not the boxes. All you have to do is try to sell some honey. He lets another guy harvest the honey as he doesn't want to mess with it.

Might be some thing to check out.

This!!! The bees going away are a bigger deal than most people believe and the gubment is doing everything they can to get people to raising them. My buddy had 7 acres in Louisiana and got all kinds of exemptions.

[CADDOKILLER]

http://www.texaswildlifeguy.com/ag-requriements/to-bee-or-not-to-bee/

Looks like you can get a ag exemption from bees in texas with as little as 5 acres up to 20.

Plus you can probably get someone else to tend the bees on a 50/50 deal and you don't have to mess with them.

[glen]

Check the min acreage for you county. Many have changed to 20 acres or more. WILCO has on the West side of I-35. The easiest is doing a wildlife exemption with your focus on song birds. It is watering stations, feed stations, small seed plots, and nesting boxes. I'm not a big bird watcher unless it's waterfowl cupped into my spread but I learned to be.