Carson County, TX — Ag Exemption Requirements (2026)

Grazing Intensity Standards

Beekeeping Intensity Standards

Animal Unit Equivalencies

An animal unit (AU) is a standardized measure used to compare livestock of different sizes. One AU = one 1,000-lb cow. Your total stocking rate is calculated in AUs, then multiplied by the acres-per-AU standard for your pasture type. These values are published by the county.

Wildlife Management Option

Carson County allows wildlife management as a qualifying use. Landowners must implement at least 3 of the seven recognized wildlife management practices defined by Texas Parks and Wildlife. An annual wildlife management plan report is required.

The property must already have a 1-d-1 agricultural valuation. Carson CAD follows the Texas Parks and Wildlife comprehensive wildlife-management guidelines, requires a written management plan on the TPWD form with a new 1-d-1 application, and requires an annual TPWD-form report with supporting documentation showing how the plan was implemented. For qualifying post-2001 subdivisions, the published minimums are 15 acres (or 93.33%), 12 acres (or 91.67%) in a qualifying wildlife property association, or 11 acres (or 90.9%) for designated endangered-, threatened-, or candidate-species habitat.

Required Documents

• Form 50-129, Application for 1-d-1 (Open-Space) Agricultural Use Appraisal
• Written wildlife management plan completed on the form prescribed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, if applying for wildlife management
• Annual report on the form prescribed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department with supporting documentation showing how the wildlife management plan was implemented, if applying for wildlife management
• Copy of the governmental-program contract, if the land is idle under a governmental contract requiring idleness for two or more years

Discretionary Caveats

Frequently Asked Questions — Carson County

How much improved grass is needed for Carson County's minimum livestock herd? +

Carson CAD requires a typical herd size of at least 3 animal units. Its improved-grass rate is 1 animal unit per 10 acres, so 3 AUs × 10 acres per AU = 30 acres.

How many hives are needed on 12.5 acres in Carson County? +

Carson CAD starts with 6 colonies or hives on the first 5 acres and adds 1 for each additional 2.5 acres. The additional 7.5 acres require 7.5 ÷ 2.5 = 3 more hives, for a total of 9.

How much dry wheat pasture or corn is needed for three animal units? +

The dry wheat-pasture/corn standard is 1 animal unit per 4 acres. Three animal units require 3 × 4 = 12 acres, which meets Carson CAD's three-animal-unit herd-size test.

What must a Carson County property submit to move into wildlife management? +

The tract must already have 1-d-1 agricultural valuation and the owner must file a TPWD-form written management plan with a new 1-d-1 application. Each year, the owner must also submit the TPWD-form annual report and supporting documentation showing implementation of the plan.

Nearby Counties

• Potter County Ag Exemption Requirements →

See all documented counties →

Learn the Basics

• Texas Ag Exemption Explained: 1-d-1 Open Space Valuation for Small Landowners →
• Rollback Taxes: What Happens If You Lose Your Ag Exemption →