Lavaca County, TX — Ag Exemption Requirements (2026)
Lavaca County sits in south-central Texas between San Antonio and the Gulf Coast, with working cattle, sheep, goat, horse, hay, crop, orchard, vineyard, and apiary operations represented in the CAD's guidelines. Lavaca CAD is especially useful for landowners because it publishes production-class stocking ranges and distinct livestock minimums rather than relying solely on a general degree-of-intensity test.
Grazing Intensity Standards
| Pasture Type | Acres per Animal Unit | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| cattle — Good Production | 3 acres / AU | ✓ Verified |
| cattle — Average Production | 7 acres / AU | ✓ Verified |
| cattle — Poor Production | 21 acres / AU | ✓ Verified |
| sheep — Good Production | 3 acres / AU | ✓ Verified |
| sheep — Average Production | 5 acres / AU | ✓ Verified |
| sheep — Poor Production | 20 acres / AU | ✓ Verified |
| goats — Good Production | 3 acres / AU | ✓ Verified |
| goats — Average Production | 5 acres / AU | ✓ Verified |
| goats — Poor Production | 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 values are published by the county.
| Animal | Animal Units | Source |
|---|---|---|
| cattle weaned calves to yearlings | 0.6 | County-published |
| cattle steers and heifers 1 to 2 years | 1 | County-published |
| cattle mature cows with or without unweaned calves | 1 | County-published |
| cattle bulls 2 years and over | 1.3 | County-published |
| sheep 5 weaned lambs to yearlings | 0.6 | County-published |
| sheep 5 mutton or ewes 1 to 2 years | 1 | County-published |
| sheep 5 mature ewes with or without unweaned lambs | 1 | County-published |
| sheep 5 rams | 1.3 | County-published |
| goats 6 weaned kids to yearlings | 0.6 | County-published |
| goats 6 mutton or does 1 to 2 years | 1 | County-published |
| goats 6 does with or without unweaned kids | 1 | County-published |
| goats 6 bucks or muttons over 2 years | 1.3 | County-published |
| horse yearling or adult donkey | 0.78 | County-published |
| horse over 2 years | 1 | County-published |
| horse over 3 years | 1.25 | County-published |
Wildlife Management Option
Lavaca 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 appraised as qualified open-space land when the wildlife-management use began. A Wildlife Management Plan must be prepared for the property, and at least 3 of 7 acceptable management activities must be implemented each year. The CAD's published guide describes annual reports as a practice some appraisal districts prefer, not as a Lavaca-specific requirement.
Required Documents
- Form 50-129, Application for 1-d-1 (Open-Space) Agricultural Use Appraisal
- HISTORY INFORMATION SHEET I-D-I (OPEN·SPACE) AGRICULTURAL APPRAISAL
- Wildlife Management Plan (WMP), if applying for wildlife management
Discretionary Caveats
"It should be noted that these guidelines are to be used as a general guide for qualifying agricultural land. Exceptions to the general rule will be handled on a case by case basis."
"The operator may be asked to provide documentation or management practices, expenses and sales, if necessary. (Feed, fertilizer, equipment invoices, sales receipts, labor expenses, IRS Schedule F, etc)"
"The operator may be asked to show evidence that he is not engaged in a hobby according to the guidelines set out in Reference Section 183 of the IRS Regulations. (see attached)"
"Cattle, sheep, goat, hay, cropland, pecan, peach, vineyard, and apiary operations have type-specific acreage thresholds; the published document does not state one universal minimum acreage for every agricultural use."
"Livestock stocking standards are published as ranges: cattle—3-6, 7-20, and 21-50 acres per animal unit for good, average, and poor production; sheep and goats—3, 5-10, and 20 acres per animal unit. The numeric grazing fields use the lower bound of each published range; consult the CAD for the applicable rate."
Frequently Asked Questions — Lavaca County
- Lavaca CAD requires 2 animal units and typically not less than 10 acres in agricultural use for cattle. Its published cattle stocking ranges are 3–6 acres per AU on good production, 7–20 on average production, and 21–50 on poor production; two AUs therefore correspond to 6–12, 14–40, or 42–100 acres respectively, subject to the 10-acre typical minimum.
- Lavaca CAD's example answers this directly: the first 5 acres require 6 hives, the additional 7.5 acres require 3 more, and the remaining 2 acres require none, for a total of 9 mainframe hives.
- The published guideline says hay and cropland operations are typically not less than 5 acres in agricultural use and require an on-site inspection. Hay must also be cut and baled a minimum of 2 times per year.
- Yes, if it was already appraised as qualified open-space land when the wildlife use began. The owner must prepare a wildlife management plan and implement at least 3 of the 7 acceptable management activities each year.
Lavaca County Central Appraisal District
- Phone
- (361) 798-4396
- lavacacad@lccad.net
- Address
- P.O. Box 386, Hallettsville, TX 77964-0386
- Website
- https://lavacacad.com
Nearby Counties
Learn the Basics
Get a free reminder before Lavaca County's next ag exemption deadline
Join the waitlist — we'll email you before the dates that matter, and you'll get first access to the app when it's ready.
Join the waitlistSpotted an error or outdated information? Let us know →