What intensity standards are, how they vary by county, and how to ensure your agricultural operation meets the minimum requirements.
Intensity standards (also called "degree of intensity" requirements) are the minimum levels of agricultural activity that your county appraisal district requires to maintain a 1-D-1 agricultural valuation. Think of them as the threshold your operation must meet to prove the land is "primarily devoted to agricultural use" as required by Texas Tax Code §23.51.
Each county appraisal district sets its own intensity standards based on what is "generally accepted in the area." This means standards vary significantly across Texas — a stocking rate that qualifies in a high-rainfall East Texas county might not qualify in an arid West Texas county. Standards are influenced by soil type and productivity, average rainfall and climate, prevailing agricultural practices in the area, and historical stocking rates and production levels.
Livestock Grazing: Expressed as animal units (AU) per acre. Improved pasture typically requires 1 AU per 5-8 acres. Native pasture requires 1 AU per 8-15 acres. Desert rangeland may require 1 AU per 25-100+ acres.
Hay Production: Must demonstrate active production, harvest, and sale or use. Typically requires 1-3 cuttings per year with documented bale counts and disposition.
Crop Production: Must show active cultivation of a minimum acreage with documentation of planting, inputs, and harvest.
Beekeeping: Minimum 6 hives on 5-20 acres in most counties, with documentation of active management and production.
If your operation falls below your county's intensity standard, the CAD may request additional documentation or schedule a field inspection, place your property on probationary status, reduce the qualifying acreage, or ultimately deny the agricultural valuation and assess rollback taxes. LandComply tracks your stocking rate and activity levels against your county's specific standards, showing you exactly where you stand at any point during the year.
Stop worrying about whether your documentation is complete. LandComply tracks your activities year-round and tells you exactly where you stand.
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