Figured this may be a good place to get some guidance on this topic. Earlier this year we bought a 60+ acre farm with a house and shop in East TX. The property has an existing Ag exemption. Somehow the prior owner has both Ag and Timber exemption and I am working on making sure to keep an exemption under our ownership. I will not have animals or farm the land so we are going to re-submit for timber. They never submitted a timber management plan to work off of. I have some examples and it is easy enough. The issue I am having is properly/accurately identifying the acreage of hardwood/softwood/mix. How have you guys tackled this, and am I more worried about accuracy than I need to be. Any other tips? I am trying to stay ahead of the spring deadline and get this application ready well in advance.

One other question, I asked the local office and they didn't get back to me. Does anyone here know if you switch to timber exemption, can you switch back to a normal Ag exemption again without having it lapse?

What county are you in? This is something your local Texas A&M Forest Service office can assist you with. They can prepare a written management plan with everything you will need for your 1D1 application.

For your second question, each county appraisal district is different, so you will need to ask them directly.

My timber land I just put the total acreage I have the exemption on as mixed. Never had an issue.

I believe any of the exemptions ag, wildlife and timber can be interchanged between as long as they are current.

I will be doing the same so just gonna be following for advise

Thanks, all. It's in Bowie county. I think between this thread and searching I have my answers.


Yep, I think this is what I will do also. After pulling up some reports from A&M it seems pretty evenly mixed in my area so I will just go this route.


I probably have been over complicating it, but just slightly paranoid to have any issues and lose the exemption.

My ag exempt card says "timber" and the only trees on the place are a few oaks that I planted and a few mesquite. All I raise is hay these days.

Generally most county appraisal districts take a dim view of switching too often. You can switch easily enough but don’t plan on switching back anytime soon.