How many animal units are required on 40 acres of native pasture in Fort Bend County?

Fort Bend CAD’s native-pasture standard is 1 animal unit per 8 acres, so 40 acres must support 5 animal units. That is also the district’s stated minimum production for native pasture.

How many active hives do I need on 12.5 acres in Fort Bend County?

Fort Bend CAD’s beekeeping schedule requires 9 hives on 12.5–14.9 acres. This follows its 6-hive base at 5 acres plus one hive for each additional 2.5 acres.

Can a Fort Bend County tract switch directly from regular use to wildlife management?

No. The property must already be actively qualified under 1-D or 1-D-1, must maintain the minimum acreage of its prior agricultural use, and must carry out at least 3 wildlife-management practices. A qualifying plan and an annual report are required.

Fort Bend County, TX — Ag Exemption Requirements (2026)

Last verified 2026-07-12 · Source: Fort Bend Central Appraisal District official guidelines

Fort Bend County extends southwest from Houston across the Brazos River prairie, where cattle pasture, hay production, rice, and row crops remain important alongside fast suburban growth. Fort Bend Central Appraisal District’s standards are especially useful to smaller rural landowners because they state five-animal-unit pasture thresholds and a detailed hive schedule for the county’s 5-to-20-acre beekeeping tracts.

Min. Acreage

5 ac

History Requirement

Land must have been in qualifying agricultural use for at least five (5) of the last seven (7) years.

Application Window

January 1 – April 30

CAD Phone

281-344-8623

Grazing Intensity Standards

Pasture Type	Acres per Animal Unit	Confidence
Native Pasture	8 acres / AU	✓ Verified
Improved Pasture	5 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

Fort Bend 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 be actively qualified under 1-D or 1-D-1 before transitioning to wildlife management and must continue to meet the prior use’s minimum acreage. A Texas Parks and Wildlife Department or qualified-biologist wildlife management plan must accompany the application, and a Wildlife Management Annual Report must be filed each year thereafter.

Required Documents

Form 50-129, Application for 1-d-1 (Open-Space) Agricultural Use Appraisal
Wildlife Management Plan, promulgated by the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife or qualified biologist, if applying for wildlife management
Wildlife Management Annual Report, for wildlife management use after the initial application
Copy of the lease agreement, or an Affidavit from the lessee for a verbal lease, if applicable

Discretionary Caveats

⚠ Not a fixed rule — confirm with the CAD.

"Tracts less than the minimum acres may qualify if used/leased in conjunction with adjacent or nearby acreage of same agricultural use to meet the minimum acreage requirements."

⚠ Not a fixed rule — confirm with the CAD.

"As part of the review process, FBCAD may request additional supporting documentation to verify eligibility."

⚠ Not a fixed rule — confirm with the CAD.

"The chief appraiser may extend this deadline for a single period not to exceed 15 days for good cause shown."

Frequently Asked Questions — Fort Bend County

: Fort Bend CAD’s native-pasture standard is 1 animal unit per 8 acres, so 40 acres must support 5 animal units. That is also the district’s stated minimum production for native pasture.
: Fort Bend CAD’s beekeeping schedule requires 9 hives on 12.5–14.9 acres. This follows its 6-hive base at 5 acres plus one hive for each additional 2.5 acres.
: No. The property must already be actively qualified under 1-D or 1-D-1, must maintain the minimum acreage of its prior agricultural use, and must carry out at least 3 wildlife-management practices. A qualifying plan and an annual report are required.

Fort Bend Central Appraisal District

Phone: 281-344-8623
Email: info@fbcad.org
Address: 2801 B.F. Terry Blvd. Rosenberg, TX 77471-5600
Website: https://www.fbcad.org

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LandTally is an informational and record-keeping tool. It does not provide tax, legal, or appraisal advice, and is not affiliated with any county appraisal district. Requirements are set by your county and may change — always confirm details with your county appraisal district before acting.

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