Jones County, TX — Ag Exemption Requirements (2026)
Jones County lies in the Rolling Plains immediately north of Abilene, where native rangeland, cattle and small-ruminant production, hay, and dryland cotton and wheat are common agricultural uses. Jones CAD’s policy is particularly useful because it pairs a 25-acre category guideline with subclass-based pasture stocking rates, a two-animal-unit floor, and a detailed county animal-unit table.
Grazing Intensity Standards
| Pasture Type | Acres per Animal Unit | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| native pasture (subclass 1) | 30 acres / AU | ✓ Verified |
| improved pasture (subclass 1) | 15 acres / AU | ✓ Verified |
Beekeeping Intensity Standards
| Acreage Range | Base Hives | Extra Hives/Acre (above base) | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5–20 acres | 6 | 0.5 | ✓ 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 |
| cows over 1000 lbs per 1000 lbs | 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 or elk | 0.4 | County-published |
| eland | 1 | County-published |
| emu | 0.3333333333 | County-published |
| ostrich | 0.5 | County-published |
Wildlife Management Option
Jones 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.
The land must currently be under agricultural use valuation to be eligible for wildlife management use. Jones CAD adopted a 96% wildlife-use value; the smallest acreage that qualifies under that test is 25 acres. A wildlife management plan (state form PWD 885-W7000) must be submitted in addition to the 1-d-1 application, and each owner must apply at least 3 of the 7 listed activities. The policy says an appraisal district may require an annual implementation report, but does not state that Jones CAD requires one.
Required Documents
- Form 50-129, Application for 1-d-1 (Open-Space) Agricultural Use Appraisal
- Income tax return showing farm income – Schedule F, if requested
- Current active lease, if requested
- 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 ONLY 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."
"An appraisal district may require, for each tract of land qualified for agricultural appraisal based on wildlife management use, that an annual report be filed showing how the wildlife management plan was implemented in any given year."
Frequently Asked Questions — Jones County
- Jones CAD’s subclass-1 native-pasture rate is 30 acres per animal-unit year. Sixty acres ÷ 30 acres per AUY = 2 animal units, which also meets the policy’s minimum two-animal-unit requirement.
- The district’s subclass-1 improved-pasture rate is 15 acres per animal-unit year. Thirty acres ÷ 15 acres per AUY = 2 animal units, meeting the stated two-animal-unit floor.
- Jones CAD starts with 6 colonies on the first 5 acres and requires one more colony per additional 2 acres. The additional 10 acres require 5 more colonies, so 15 acres requires 11 colonies.
- Twenty-five acres is the smallest tract that meets Jones CAD’s adopted 96% wildlife-use test: (25 − 1) ÷ 25 = 96%. The tract must already have agricultural valuation, use at least 3 of 7 wildlife practices, and include state form PWD 885-W7000 with the application.
Jones County Appraisal District
- Phone
- 325-823-2422
- jonescad@jonescad.org
- Address
- P.O. Box 348 Anson, TX 79501-0348
- Website
- https://www.jonescad.org
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