Orange County, TX — Ag Exemption Requirements (2026)
Orange County occupies Texas's far southeastern corner on the Sabine River and Louisiana border, east of Beaumont. Its working uses include cattle pasture, goats, hay, dry crops, orchards, timber, and beekeeping; Orange CAD's standards are especially useful because they set different native- and improved-pasture stocking rates alongside a clear hive formula and wildlife acreage threshold.
Grazing Intensity Standards
| Pasture Type | Acres per Animal Unit | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Native | 5 acres / AU | ✓ Verified |
| Improved | 3 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 |
|---|---|---|
| cow | 1 | County-published |
| brood mare | 1 | County-published |
Wildlife Management Option
Orange 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.
Wildlife management has a 50-acre standard. The tract must have qualified for agricultural use in the year before conversion and have a Wildlife Management plan. The owner must perform three (3) of seven activities: habitat control, erosion control, predator control, supplemental water, shelter, census counts, or supplemental food. The published guidelines do not state an annual-report requirement.
Required Documents
- Form 50-129, Application for 1-d-1 (Open-Space) Agricultural Use Appraisal
- Cost and expense information
- Wildlife Management plan, if applying for wildlife management
Discretionary Caveats
"Variances in intensity will be considered on a case-by-case basis."
"These guidelines are to be used as reasons for further investigation as to whether a property qualifies for the special valuation. Variations from these guidelines will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis."
"Minimum acreage varies by agricultural activity; the published two-acre minimum applies to orchards."
Frequently Asked Questions — Orange County
- Orange CAD requires 1 animal unit per 5 acres of native pasture and a minimum of 3 animal units. 3 animal units × 5 acres per animal unit = 15 acres of native pasture.
- Orange CAD's improved-pasture rate is 1 animal per 3 acres. 15 acres ÷ 3 acres per animal = 5 animals, which exceeds the stated three-animal-unit minimum for the native-pasture standard that improved pasture otherwise follows.
- The standard starts with 6 hives on 5 acres and adds 1 hive for each additional 2.5 acres. The additional 7.5 acres require 3 more hives, so 12.5 acres requires 9 hives.
- Fifty acres meets Orange CAD's published wildlife-management acreage standard. The tract must also have qualified for agricultural use in the prior year, have a Wildlife Management plan, and carry out 3 of the 7 listed practices.
Orange County Appraisal District
- Phone
- 409-745-4777
- info@orangecad.net
- Address
- P.O. Box 457, Orange, TX 77631
- Website
- https://www.orangecad.net
Nearby Counties
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