Rice and cattle are Liberty County's top farm products

Rice farming started around 1900 when irrigation became practical on the flat coastal prairie land here. Beef cattle ranching goes back even further. By the mid-1800s, cattle in the county numbered in the tens of thousands. Today, beef cattle, rice, hay, nursery plants, and corn are among the main farm products in the county.

If you are buying rural land in Liberty County, ask about its farming history and current use. Land that is actively used for agriculture may qualify for a special agricultural appraisal. That means the land is taxed on its farming value, not its market value — often a much lower tax bill. The county's flat land and Trinity River tributaries also make it flood-prone. Flooding affects when and how farmers can work the land.