How much native pasture is needed for three cow/calf animal units in Potter County?

Potter-Randall's cow/calf standard is one animal unit for 20 to 23 acres. Three animal units therefore require 3 × 20 to 3 × 23 acres, or 60 to 69 acres of native pasture.

How much native pasture is needed for three stocker animal units in spring and summer?

The published stocker rate is one unit per 10 to 15 acres on native pasture during spring and summer. Three stocker units therefore need 3 × 10 to 3 × 15 acres, or 30 to 45 acres.

What are Potter-Randall's published bee-hive thresholds?

Beekeeping is an exception to the general 20-acre rule: the district requires at least 6 hives on 5 acres and 12 hives on 20 acres. The guidelines do not give an intermediate-acreage formula, so a landowner with, for example, 12 acres should confirm the required hive count with the district.

Can a 15-acre Potter County tract qualify for ordinary agricultural use?

The district's general minimum is 20 acres, so a 15-acre tract is 5 acres below that threshold. The published guidelines say parcel-size requirements can vary by use and classification, with exceptions at the Senior Appraiser's discretion; beekeeping is expressly allowed from 5 to 20 acres.

Potter County, TX — Ag Exemption Requirements (2026)

Last verified 2026-07-13 · Source: Potter-Randall Appraisal District official guidelines

Potter County includes the northern half of Amarillo in the Texas Panhandle, where native rangeland, cattle operations, and wheat- and cotton-based farming remain important outside the urban core. Potter-Randall Appraisal District's guidelines are particularly useful because they pair a general 20-acre threshold with native-pasture stocking ranges and a separate 5-to-20-acre route for commercial beekeeping.

Min. Acreage

20 ac

History Requirement

Land outside the city limits has to be used five of the last seven years to be considered for agriculture valuation. Land inside the city limits must be used continually for five years.

Application Window

January 1 – April 30

CAD Phone

806-358-1601

Grazing Intensity Standards

Pasture Type	Acres per Animal Unit	Confidence
native pasture (cattle cow/calf)	20 acres / AU	✓ Verified
native pasture (cattle – stocker, spring and summer)	10 acres / AU	✓ Verified
native grass (cattle – stocker, spring through summer)	8 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 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

Potter County allows wildlife management as a qualifying use. Landowners must implement at least 0 of the seven recognized wildlife management practices defined by Texas Parks and Wildlife.

The guidelines list "Wildlife Management (as defined under Tax Code Section 23.51(7))." as an agricultural use. They do not state a wildlife-management acreage threshold, minimum practice count, plan requirement, or annual-report requirement.