Ag and wildlife valuation can lower Blanco land taxes

Hill Country land can sell for more than it can earn from cattle, hay, or crops. Texas lets qualified land use productivity value instead of market value. Blanco CAD still looks for real agricultural use at the local level, so rural land does not qualify just because it is rural.

For regular ag use, Blanco CAD lists crops, livestock, hay, orchards, vineyards, lavender, truck farming, and beekeeping. The land must be mainly agricultural now. It also must have been in agricultural use for at least five of the past seven years. The chief appraiser sets the local intensity tests, including stocking and acreage expectations.

Wildlife management is another lane, but not a shortcut. Blanco's guide says the land must first have 1-d-1 ag appraisal. The plan must use at least three of the seven wildlife practices, such as habitat control, water, food, shelter, or census counts. TPWD provides form PWD-885, but the plan goes to the county appraisal district, not TPWD.