Agricultural Application
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Applying for Agricultural Classification

  • Applications must be made by March 1st.
     

  • You must submit these two forms:

    1. Agricultural Classification Supplement

    2. Application for Agricultural Classification (DR-482)
       

  • A receipt will be mailed to you following the processing of your application. You will be notified if any additional information is required. Approval or Denial of your application will be made prior to July 1. Please contact us if you have any questions or need assistance in the application process.

  • Mail Documents to:
    Leon County Property Appraiser
    Attn: Agricultural Department
    PO Box 1750
    Tallahassee, FL 32302

  • Email Documents to:
    Bret Hader
    Email:
    bhader@leonpa.org
    Phone: 850-606-6200

  • For additional information on agricultural lands, classifications, and assessment, see Florida Statute 193.461.

 

LEON COUNTY GUIDELINES FOR A BONA FIDE COMMERCIAL AGRICULTURAL OPERATION

 

Subject to the restrictions set out in F.S. 193.461 (3)(b)

“… only lands that are used primarily for bona fide agricultural purposes shall be classified agricultural.”    “Bona fide agricultural purposes” means good faith commercial agricultural use of the land.  In determining whether the use of the land for agricultural purposes is bona fide, the following factors may be taken into consideration:

  1. The length of time the land has been so used.
  2. Whether the use has been continuous;
  3. The purchase price paid;
  4. Size, as it relates to specific agricultural use, but in no event shall a minimum acreage be required for agricultural assessment.
  5. Whether an indicated effort has been made to care sufficiently and adequately for the land in accordance with accepted commercial agricultural practices, including, without limitation, fertilizing, liming, tilling, mowing, reforesting, and other accepted agricultural practices;
  6. Whether such land is under lease and, if so, the effective length, terms, and conditions of the lease; and
  7. Such other factors may from time to time become applicable.

 

  1. LENGTH OF TIME:
    1. Was the agricultural operation in effect on January 1st?
    2. Is the historic use of this property agricultural?
  2. CONTINUOUS USE:
    1. Is the agricultural use of the property continuous?
  3. PURCHASE PRICE PAID:
  4. SIZE: Minimum acreage may not be required for agricultural assessment.

  

Pasture

Optimum Acres *
10 Cows breeding age females or equivalent animal units 20
30 Goats, sheep or hogs breeding age females or equivalent units 20
Horses: 20

Breeding - 3 reg. brood mares & 1 stallion in production annually

 

Boarding - Minimum of 3 horses. Must submit boarding contracts.

 

The horses cannot belong to the property owner to qualify.

 
Hay production 20
Sod 20
   

Row Crop

Optimum Acres *
Corn, grain sorghum, soy beans, rye, wheat, oats 20
Vegetables, peanuts, tobacco, sunflower 10
   

Timber

Optimum Acres *
Planted pines                                 planting rate 700/ac 10
Christmas trees                              planting rate 1100/ac 5
Tree farm-field nursery                   planting rate 1100/ac 5
Natural pines/mixed 20
   

Specialty Crops

Optimum Acres *
Grapes 5
Strawberries, blueberries, blackberries 2
Citrus, apples, peaches, pecans, pears, persimmons 10
Fish Farm—Bees INDIVIDUAL BASIS
Nursery INDIVIDUAL BASIS
Feed Lot               INDIVIDUAL BASIS

 

*OR USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER PARCELS

 

  1. STEWARDSHIP
    1. TIMBER
      1. A management plan should be implemented and a copy of plan should be in the Property Appraiser's file (available from the County Forester or Private Forester).
      2. Smaller tracts used for Christmas tree production will be considered as nursery land.
      3. Merchantability of the timber will be considered as well as other sufficient management plan implementation such as fire lanes, under brushing, reforesting, etc.
    2. PASTURE
      1. Property must be fenced.
      2. An indicated effort has to have been made to maintain and care sufficiently and adequately for this type of land, i.e.:  fertilizing, liming, tilling, mowing, etc.
    3. ROW CROPS
      1. "Row Crops" is used in reference to those agricultural products referred to as vegetables.
      2. Production of crops for own use does not qualify parcel of land for agricultural classification, i.e.:  garden.
      3. Crop must be marketed commercially.
    4. NURSERY
      1. Nurseries should have a state agricultural certificate and occupational license.
      2. Only areas actually used for the nursery and service area shall be classified.
      3. Types of Nurseries:  In ground (ornamental), above ground (in pots), tree nursery (Christmas trees).
    5. SPECIALTY CROPS
      1. Apples — 145-154 trees per acre
        Spacing — 15 x 20
      2. Peaches — 145-154 trees per acre
        Spacing — 15 x 20
      3. Pecan — 12-16 trees per acre
        Spacing — 60 x 60
      4. Pears — 108-121 trees per acre
        Spacing — 20 x20
      5. Persimmons — 290-294 trees per acre
        Spacing — 10 x 15
  2. LEASES:
    1. The lease must be in effect on January 1st, and a copy should be in the Property Appraiser’s file.
    2. Are the lease terms economically compatible with a commercial agricultural operation?
  3. ACTUAL use on January 1st will be considered, not the expected use.
  4. Timber operations that have clear-cut should notify this office at the time of harvest. Acreage must be replanted by the end of the third year.
  5. There should be no deed restrictions that would prohibit commercial agricultural use.
  6. If the site plan or plat for lots has been approved by a government agency, the property must have been in active agricultural use on the 1st of January of the previous year, as well as the current year, or the agricultural classification is subject to denial.
  7. Hunting or leasing for hunting, in and of itself, is not regarded as an agricultural operation.
  8. Provide a copy of receipts related to agricultural operations.

    For example:

  • Schedule “T”, for Timber.
  • Schedule “F”, for Farm.

Provide a site plan or plot of agricultural acreage use, see example below:  

Agricultural Example

*NOTE: Compliance with the above guidelines will not guarantee an agricultural classification.