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.

*OR USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER PARCELS

5. 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
6. 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?
7. ACTUAL use on January 1st will be considered, not the expected use.
8. 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.
9. There should be no deed restrictions that would prohibit commercial agricultural use.
10. 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.
11. Hunting or leasing for hunting, in and of itself, is not regarded as an agricultural operation.
12. 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: