Newton County, TX — Ag Exemption Requirements (2026)
Newton County sits in the East Texas Pineywoods along the Louisiana line, southeast of Lufkin and within the Sabine River basin. Livestock grazing accounts for more than ninety percent of the county's agricultural use, while timber is its main industry; Newton CAD's standards are especially useful because they give pasture stocking ranges, a precise apiary table, and wildlife acreage and annual-plan thresholds.
Grazing Intensity Standards
| Pasture Type | Acres per Animal Unit | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Improved Pasture | 5 acres / AU | ✓ Verified |
| Native Pasture | 7 acres / AU | ✓ Verified |
Beekeeping Intensity Standards
| Acreage Range | Base Hives | Extra Hives/Acre (above base) | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5–20 acres | 6 | 0 | ✓ 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 |
|---|---|---|
| beef cattle cow | 1 | County-published |
| horse | 1 | County-published |
| domestic sheep ewe | 0.1666666667 | County-published |
| spanish goat nanny | 0.1666666667 | County-published |
| boer x spanish goat nanny | 0.2 | County-published |
| angora goat nanny | 0.125 | County-published |
| white tailed deer | 0.1428571429 | County-published |
| mule deer | 0.1666666667 | County-published |
| pronghorn antelope | 0.1428571429 | County-published |
| axis deer | 0.2 | County-published |
| sika deer | 0.2 | County-published |
| fallow deer | 0.1666666667 | County-published |
| elk | 1 | County-published |
| red deer | 0.5 | County-published |
| barasingha deer | 0.5 | County-published |
| sambar deer | 0.5 | County-published |
| pere davids deer | 0.5 | County-published |
| sable antelope | 0.5 | County-published |
| blackbuck antelope | 0.1111111111 | County-published |
| nilgai antelope | 0.5 | County-published |
| scimitar horned oryx | 0.5 | County-published |
| gemsbok oryx | 0.5 | County-published |
| arabian oryx | 0.2 | County-published |
| addax | 0.3333333333 | County-published |
| ibex x boer goat | 0.2 | County-published |
| impala | 0.1666666667 | County-published |
| common eland | 1 | County-published |
| greater kudu | 0.5 | County-published |
| sitatunga | 0.25 | County-published |
| waterbuck | 0.5 | County-published |
| thompsons gazelle | 0.125 | County-published |
| mouflon barbado sheep | 0.1666666667 | County-published |
| aoudad sheep | 0.25 | County-published |
| llama | 0.3333333333 | County-published |
Wildlife Management Option
Newton 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.
Newton CAD adopts Texas Parks & Wildlife practices and intensity standards for the Pineywoods Wildlife District. Owners must actively perform at least 3 of 7 activities, prove management practices annually, and submit annual updates of their Wildlife Management Plan. Stand-alone tracts need at least 12.5 acres and a 92% usage ratio; a wildlife-management coop or association may use a 10-acre minimum and 90% usage ratio.
Required Documents
- Form 50-129, Application for 1-d-1 (Open-Space) Agricultural Use Appraisal
- Timber Management Plan, for timber management
- Restricted Use Application, for restricted-use timber land
- Annual updates of the Wildlife Management Plan, for wildlife management
Discretionary Caveats
"Minimum acreage not stated in published document — confirm with CAD."
"Stocking rates can vary due to a property’s ability to support livestock based upon its pasture type and its soil productivity capabilities."
"Drought Year Exception: Stocking rates may vary due to climate conditions. Reductions in herd size (and total temporary liquidation of a herd) may be considered typical during drought periods."
"Timber: (1) Smaller size tracts will be reviewed on a case by case basis."
Frequently Asked Questions — Newton County
- Newton CAD publishes an improved-pasture range of 5–7 acres per animal unit. Thirty-five acres ÷ 7 acres per AU = 5 AUs at the conservative end, while 35 ÷ 5 = 7 AUs at the other end of the published range; soil productivity and pasture condition determine the applicable rate.
- Newton CAD’s tract-size table requires 9 colonies for a tract up to 12.5 acres. The table starts at 6 colonies on 5 acres and reaches 12 colonies at 20 acres.
- A 12.5-acre stand-alone tract meets Newton CAD’s stated acreage minimum, but it must have at least 92% wildlife use and the owner must perform at least 3 of 7 wildlife-management activities. Management practices must be proven annually with an annual Wildlife Management Plan update.
- Newton CAD lists 5 acres for irrigated peaches and irrigated grapes, 10 acres for dry-land peaches and pecans, and 3 acres for dry-land grapes. For example, an irrigated 5-acre grape operation must meet the table’s 3,500 trees-per-acre and 50–70-bushel yield expectations.
Newton Central Appraisal District
- Phone
- 409-379-3710
- ckelley@newtoncad.org
- Address
- 109 Court St. Newton, TX 75966-3202
- Website
- https://www.newtoncad.org
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