Stephens County, TX — Ag Exemption Requirements (2026)
Stephens County is in north-central Texas around Breckenridge, between the Rolling Plains and Cross Timbers, where ranch grazing, dryland crops, and hay production are common. Stephens CAD's 2025 policy is especially useful because it assigns separate animal-unit stocking rates to three native-pasture and three improved-pasture subclasses, alongside a defined colony schedule for 5–20-acre apiaries.
Grazing Intensity Standards
| Pasture Type | Acres per Animal Unit | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| ANP subclass 1 | 25 acres / AU | ✓ Verified |
| AIC subclass 1 | 10 acres / AU | ✓ Verified |
| ANP subclass 2 | 30 acres / AU | ✓ Verified |
| AIC subclass 2 | 15 acres / AU | ✓ Verified |
| ANP subclass 3 | 35 acres / AU | ✓ Verified |
| AIC subclass 3 | 20 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 with calf | 1 | County-published |
| yearlings up to 2 years | 1.4285714286 | County-published |
| horse | 1 | County-published |
| miniature horse | 0.5 | County-published |
| donkey or mule | 1 | County-published |
| ewes | 0.2 | County-published |
| lambs | 0.125 | County-published |
| rams or buck sheep | 0.25 | County-published |
| nanny goats or does | 0.1666666667 | County-published |
| billy goats or bucks | 0.2 | County-published |
| kid goats | 0.1 | County-published |
| mutton goats | 0.1666666667 | County-published |
| antelope blackbuck nilgai red water buck | 0.1111111111 | County-published |
| antelope eland gemsbok water buck wildebeest | 0.25 | County-published |
| american bison | 1 | County-published |
| deer axis fallow red sika white tail texas dall | 0.1 | County-published |
| deer red pere david barasingha | 0.25 | County-published |
| elk | 0.5 | County-published |
| emus | 0.25 | County-published |
| ibex goats | 0.2 | County-published |
| ostrich | 0.25 | County-published |
| sheep barbado aoudad jacob 4 horn mouflon | 0.2 | County-published |
| water buffalo | 1 | County-published |
| watusi | 1 | County-published |
Wildlife Management Option
Stephens 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.
Wildlife management operations are listed as a typical agricultural operation in Stephens CAD's policy, but the published document does not state a minimum acreage, management-practice count, plan requirement, or annual-report requirement — confirm with CAD.
Required Documents
- Form 50-129, Application for 1-d-1 (Open-Space) Agricultural Use Appraisal
- IRS forms, sales receipts, expense receipts and/or sworn affidavits from persons (lessee/lessor) having knowledge of the subject property, when history is in doubt
- Copy of the lease agreement, if possible, for land under lease; for an oral lease agreement, a letter from the lessee stating the type of Ag use, the name of the lessor, and the duration of the lease if known
Discretionary Caveats
"Exceptions to this guide will be handled on a case-by-case basis."
"The Chief Appraiser may choose to request periodic reapplications for small tracts to assure that the degree of intensity continues to be met."
"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."
"Other agricultural operations not covered by these guidelines will be handled on a case-by-case basis until such operations become typical of the area."
"Most minimum degree of intensity for Stephens CAD will be THIRTY (30) acres of crop land or at least TWO animal units kept on a minimum of thirty."
"Stocking minimums for larger acreage tracts (35 acres and more) should be not less than one animal unit per 35 acres."
Frequently Asked Questions — Stephens County
- Stephens CAD states that its typical minimum is at least 2 animal units on a minimum of 30 acres. Although 30 acres in ANP subclass 3 calculates to about 0.86 animal units at 35 acres per AU (30 ÷ 35), the stated two-animal-unit minimum controls for that 30-acre tract.
- ANP subclass 2 has a published rate of 30 acres per animal-unit year. Dividing 140 acres by 30 yields 4.67 animal units (140 ÷ 30 = 4.67).
- Stephens CAD starts with 6 colonies on the first 5 acres and requires one more colony for every additional 2 acres. Ten additional acres require 5 more colonies, so 15 acres require 11 colonies (6 + 5 = 11).
- The policy says a qualifying cropland tract includes a minimum of 30 acres. It also separately lists 5-acre minimums for pecan orchards, fruit-tree orchards, tree farms, and table- or wine-grape vineyards.
Stephens County Appraisal District
- Phone
- 254-559-8233
- Address
- P.O. Box 351, Breckenridge, TX 76424-0351
- Website
- https://stephenscad.com
Nearby Counties
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