How many bee colonies are required on 15 acres in Concho County?

CCAD requires 6 colonies on the first 5 acres and one additional hive for every 2.5 acres. The additional 10 acres require 10 ÷ 2.5 = 4 more hives, so 15 acres require 10 colonies.

What cattle stocking range does Concho CAD publish for a 70-acre pasture?

CCAD's published range is one cow per 20 to 35 acres on larger tracts. Seventy acres ÷ 35 acres per cow = 2 cows at the conservative end, while 70 ÷ 20 = 3.5 cows at the other end; the applicable rate depends on the tract's actual carrying capacity.

Can a 15-acre hay field meet Concho CAD's published size threshold?

No. CCAD lists a minimum of approximately 20 acres for a hay field, so 15 acres is about 5 acres below that stated threshold. In normal rainfall years, the guide also calls for proof of two cuttings.

What must an existing Concho County ag tract do to change to wildlife management?

It must already have qualified as open-space agricultural or timber land in the prior year, submit a TPWD 885-W7000 management plan, and carry out at least 3 of the 7 listed management practices each year.

Concho County, TX — Ag Exemption Requirements (2026)

Last verified 2026-07-13 · Source: Concho Central Appraisal District official guidelines

Concho County lies southeast of San Angelo in the Concho Valley, where cattle, sheep, goats, hay fields, and dry or irrigated crops are central rural uses. Concho Central Appraisal District's guidelines are particularly useful because they set activity-specific tract thresholds, a cattle stocking range, and a precise small-tract beekeeping formula.

Min. Acreage

0 ac

History Requirement

Land used primarily for agriculture for five (5) of the previous seven (7) years may qualify for agricultural productivity appraisal.

Application Window

January 1 – April 30

CAD Phone

325-732-4389

Grazing Intensity Standards

Pasture Type	Acres per Animal Unit	Confidence
Native/Imp Pasture	20 acres / AU	✓ Verified

Beekeeping Intensity Standards

Acreage Range	Base Hives	Extra Hives/Acre (above base)	Confidence
5–20 acres	6	0.4	✓ Verified

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 are statewide default values — confirm with your CAD.

Animal	Animal Units	Source
cow	1	Statewide default
cow calf	1	Statewide default
horse	1	Statewide default
sheep	0.2	Statewide default
goat	0.17	Statewide default
deer	0.2	Statewide default
turkey	0.018	Statewide default
chicken	0.01	Statewide default

Wildlife Management Option

Concho 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.

Land must have been qualified and appraised as open-space agriculture land or as timber land in the year before conversion to wildlife management use. The owner must submit an application and a TPWD 885-W7000 management plan, and must perform at least 3 of 7 management practices each year. For a tract reduced in acreage, CCAD uses 94% for individual landowners and 92% for Wildlife Property Management Associations to calculate the minimum acreage standard.