REQUIRED
Annual Report – 2020
Beekeeping
You are required to file this report annually.
Should you fail to do so, you risk removal of the special agricultural appraisal.
The filing deadline is April 30
th
of each year.
Grayson Central Appraisal District
512 N. Travis Street
Sherman, Texas 75090
www.graysonappraisal.org
Phone: 903-893-9673
Fax: 903-892-3835
Michael Elliott – Land/Agricultural Appraiser
Direct: 903-870-1958
Introduction:
Can my land qualify for the special agricultural appraisal if used for beekeeping activities?
Section 23.51(2) of the Texas Property Tax Code “Agricultural use” includes the use of land to raise or keep bees for pollination or for
the production of human food or other tangible products having a commercial value, provided that the land used is not less than 5
acres and not more than 20 acres.
How many hives are required?
The degree of intensity standard is set at a minimum of six (6) colonies (hives) and five (5) acres.
The minimum degree of intensity was established by The Texas Agriculture Code, section 131.001 which defines an apiary as a place
where six or more colonies of bees or nuclei of bees are kept. A colony is defined as the hive, and its equipment and appurtenances
including bees, comb, honey, pollen and brood.
How much land is required?
The State of Texas has determined that a minimum of five (5) acres and a maximum of twenty (20) acres are necessary to qualify
beekeeping as an agricultural use. This information has been used to determine the degree of intensity standard to allow the special 1-
d-1 agricultural use valuation for beekeeping in Grayson County, to require a minimum of six (6) colonies/hives AND a minimum of
five (5) acres.
Additionally, this standard requires one (1) hive per additional 2.5 acres (up to a maximum of twenty (20) acres) resulting to a range
of 6-12 hives, and a range of 5-20 acres. The hives must be alive and maintained. The per acre productivity valuation for beekeeping
use shall be based upon the productivity valuation for dry cropland.
Acres
Hives
5.00
6
7.50
7
10.00
8
12.50
9
15.00
10
17.50
11
20.00
12
How can I evidence the history requirement?
When property owners initially qualify for agricultural appraisal, they must show proof of history for agricultural use/beekeeping for
any of the five out of seven preceding years. One way to do this is to ask for export, import or intra-state permits, which are required
by the Texas Apiary Inspection Service to transport hives.
How should I support pollination?
Flowering plants should be planted to support hives if the hives are in areas where there is limited vegetation that requires pollination.
The productivity value for beekeeping will be based upon the Orchard productivity value.
What reporting is required to maintain the special agricultural appraisal for beekeeping?
Properties receiving the special 1-d-1 agricultural use valuation/appraisal for beekeeping will be required to complete the enclosed
questionnaire annually and provide supporting evidence as described.
Bees must be (1) alive; (2) maintained; (3) active; (4) producing; and (5)
located on land receiving the agricultural appraisal. Failure to meet these
guidelines will result in loss of the agricultural special appraisal.
1-D-1 AGRICULTURAL APPRAISAL USE VALUATION
BEEKEEPING - ANNUAL REPORT
Property Owner Name: ______________________________________________________________________________
Address: _________________________________________________________________________________________
Phone: ____________________________________Email: __________________________________________________
Property ID #(s): _________________________________Number of acres: ____________________________________
Acreage Requirement: The State of Texas has set a minimum of five (5) and a maximum of twenty (2) acres to qualify
beekeeping as an agricultural use for the 1-d-1 special appraisal.
Stocking rates are as follows:
Acres
Hives
5.00
6
7.50
7
10.00
8
12.50
9
15.00
10
17.50
11
20.00
12
When property owners initially qualify for agricultural appraisal they must show proof of history of agricultural use/beekeeping for
any of the five out of seven preceding years. One way to do this is to ask for export, import or intra-state permits, which are required
by the Texas Apiary Inspection Service to transport hives.
** Please attach additional pages if necessary**
When did you first receive bees on this property? __________________________________________________________
*** Please attach a copy of the apiary receipt from your purchase
When did you obtain your equipment for beekeeping? ______________________________________________________
What type of bees are you raising? _____________________________________________________________________
How many hives do currently have on the property? ________________________________________________________
Who manages the bee colony? ________________________________________________________________________
Do you use a third party bee wrangler? If yes, list name _____________________________________________________
Describe your beekeeping training or education ___________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Describe your queen replacement ______________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Describe your Africanized bee prevention ________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Describe your fire ant prevention _______________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Describe your pollination sources/location _______________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Describe planting for your pollination plan _______________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Describe relocation or movement of hives, if any __________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Describe your winterization technique ___________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Describe prevention/control of diseases, parasites, fungal and bacterial growth ___________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Describe the products you expect to harvest:
____ Honey – (extracted, comb, chunk, creamed or whipped) ____ Pollen
____ Bee wax ____ Propolis
____ Royal Jelly ____ Bees (hive propagation)
Describe your expected production yield for the current year ________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Describe how you are marketing your product ____________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
You are required to provide recent evidence of use. Evidence can be any or all of the suggested documentation:
Export, import or intra-state permits, required by the Texas Apiary Inspection Service to transport hives, if any
Receipts for purchase of hives, bees, supplies, pesticides, medication, equipment, etc.
Written agreements with operators or wranglers, if any
RECENT, dated pictures of the hives, production, equipment, operation, etc.
Marketing materials, price listings, pamphlets, fliers, etc., if any
Sampling for receipts for sales of your product
This report should be completed and submitted to the Grayson Central Appraisal District at 512 N. Travis St., Sherman,
Texas 75090, not later than April 30 of each year.
Printed Name: _______________________________________________________________________________________________
Signature: ___________________________________________________________ Date: __________________________________
