Dimmit County, TX — Ag Exemption Requirements (2026)
Dimmit County sits in the Winter Garden region of South Texas, southwest of San Antonio and centered on Carrizo Springs. Cattle grazing, irrigated and dry cropland, orchards, vineyards, and wildlife management are all addressed in Dimmit CAD's published policies; its unusually large native-pasture stocking rate gives ranch landowners a concrete carrying-capacity benchmark.
Grazing Intensity Standards
| Pasture Type | Acres per Animal Unit | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| NATP | 90 acres / AU | ✓ Verified |
| IMPR | 15 acres / AU | ✓ 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 values are published by the county.
| Animal | Animal Units | Source |
|---|---|---|
| cow or cow and unweaned calf | 1 | County-published |
| mature bull | 1.25 | County-published |
| weaned calf to one year | 0.6 | County-published |
| steer one year old | 0.7 | County-published |
| steer two year old | 0.9 | County-published |
| horse | 1.25 | County-published |
| miniature horse | 0.5 | County-published |
| mule | 1.25 | County-published |
| donkey | 0.75 | County-published |
| ewe with or without lambs | 0.2 | County-published |
| ram | 0.25 | County-published |
| lamb weaned to one year | 0.125 | County-published |
| nanny goat or doe with kids | 0.1666666667 | County-published |
| buck goat | 0.2 | County-published |
| kid goat weaned to one year | 0.1 | County-published |
| mature mutton goat | 0.1666666667 | County-published |
| llama | 0.3333333333 | County-published |
| white tailed deer | 0.1428571429 | County-published |
| axis aoudad fallow or mouflon | 0.2 | County-published |
| blackbuck antelope | 0.1111111111 | County-published |
| sika deer | 0.1428571429 | County-published |
| red deer elk | 0.4 | County-published |
| eland | 1 | County-published |
| bison buffalo | 1.1 | County-published |
| ostrich | 0.5 | County-published |
Wildlife Management Option
Dimmit 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 currently be under agricultural-use valuation before wildlife management begins. Dimmit CAD adopted a 98% wildlife-use requirement, for which the smallest qualifying acreage is 50 acres; a state Form PWD 885-W7000 wildlife management plan must accompany the 1-d-1 application, and the owner must apply at least three of seven practices. The policy says an appraisal district may require an annual report, but does not state that Dimmit CAD requires one.
Required Documents
- Form 50-129, Application for 1-d-1 (Open-Space) Agricultural Use Appraisal
- Sworn statements from lessors of subject property, owners of surrounding properties, or other person's knowledge of ag use
- Invoices for feed, veterinarian services, seed, fertilizer, etc.
- Receipts for sale of livestock, hay or farm products.
- Income tax return showing farm income – Schedule F
- Current active lease
- Wildlife management plan (state form PWD 885-W7000), if applying for wildlife management
Discretionary Caveats
"Properties with a result of less than two (2) animal units will be required to maintain a minimum of 2 animal unit."
"The degree of intensity standards are guidelines to serve as a tool to assist the Appraisal District in determining general qualifications for qualifying land for agricultural valuation. Each application should be considered on its own merit, as there may be other circumstances in an operation which would allow a tract of land to qualify for an open space use appraisal."
"Beekeeping intensity standards not found in published document — confirm with CAD."
Frequently Asked Questions — Dimmit County
- Dimmit CAD's NATP rate is 90 acres per animal-unit year. Dividing 180 acres by 90 gives 2 animal units, which meets the district's two-animal-unit minimum.
- The IMPR rate is 15 acres per animal-unit year. At 15 acres per AU, 2 animal units require 30 acres of improved pasture.
- Yes, if it already has agricultural-use valuation and meets the wildlife requirements. Dimmit CAD states that 50 acres is the smallest tract that qualifies under its adopted 98% test, calculated as (50 − 1) ÷ 50 = 0.98; the owner must also carry out at least 3 of 7 practices and submit Form PWD 885-W7000.
Dimmit Central Appraisal District
- Phone
- (830) 876-3420
- carrillo@dimmit-cad.org
- Address
- 203 W Houston St., Carrizo Springs, TX 78834
- Website
- https://dimmit-cad.org
Nearby Counties
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