The Information collected below was a result of on-site Inspection of agriculture/timber property in Montgomery County, meetings with the agriculture advisory committee and Input from the other agriculture/timber specialists In Montgomery County. The purpose of this information Is to help establish typical guidelines and/or Intensity levels.

The degree of intensity measures what the owner Is putting Into his agricultural enterprise In time, labor, equipment, management and capital, and compares it with typical levels of these “inputs” for the same type of enterprise in the area. This measurement Is intended to exclude land on which token agriculture use occurs in an effort to obtain tax relief.

No absolute standards can be set on agriculture/timber property due to the various accepted techniques and methods used by prudent operators. For this reason, each application will be reviewed and any decision as to the qualifying of non-qualifying use of the property will be based on the merits of the property in question.

1. A minimum of approximately 20 acres is required.
2. At least 75% open for grazing with no more than 25% wooded.
3. A minimum of at least 8 head of mother cows or bred heifers are required on the first 20-40 acres. (Combination of both will be accepted). Each additional 5 acres requires 1 cow.

IE)   50 acres = 10 Cows,  75 acres = 15 cows, 100 acres = 20 cows

4. Larger tracts should have one cow for every 8 acres.

IE)  200 acres = 25 cows or 400 acres = 50 cows

1.  A minimum of approximately 20 acres is required.
2. At least 75% open for grazing with no more than 25% wooded.
3. Breeding operations only with at least 6 mares producing foals are required on the first 20-40 acres.

One mare for each additional 7 acres. IE) 41-47 acres = 7 Mares or 48-54 acres = 8 Mares.

(3 miniature mares = 1 regular mare. IE) 20-40 ac = 18 miniature mares or 41-47 ac = 21 miniature mares.

4. Should be able to provide proof of sale of foals.
5. Typically, operations set up strictly for boarding, training, and showing of horses do not support an agriculture purpose.

Each additional 5 acres requires 3-7 more Does depending on frame score.

2. Land can be partially wooded but must have enough grasses and other food sources from the land to support your goats.

Each additional 5 acres requires 3-7 more Ewes depending on frame score.

2. Land must have enough grasses and other food sources from the land to support your sheep.

3. Sheep operations should be raising sheep for wool or mutton and not strictly to be sold for showing purposes.

2. Typically should have proof of 2 cuttings on normal years. (No drought)

3. Per cutting: 60 -100 Square Bales/Acre 3-5 Round Bales/Acre

4. Property should be fertilized heavily at first of year (300 to 500 pounds per acre) and top dressed later as needed.

5. There should typically be no animals on a hayfield during growing season. Animals may be wintered on hayfields.

Tree Nursery

Nursery

2. Pecans40x40 grid = 27 trees/ac, Peaches 18×18 grid = 135 trees/ac. Blueberries 5×8 grid = 1089 trees/ac

3. Must be a wholesale operation

4. Will consider each on a case by case basis.

(Large Garden)

2. Must be a wholesale operation.

3. Small operations may qualify if managed intensively and proof can be shown that produce is sold

wholesale or to the public.

2. Christmas tree grids are generally a 5×5 = 1742 trees/ac or a 6×6 = 1210 trees/ac

3. Trees need to be trimmed yearly.

2. Will consider each on a case-by-case basis.

2. Will consider each on a case-by-case basis.