Hay Production Compliance in Texas

Hay production — including coastal bermuda, native hay, kleingrass, alfalfa, and other forage crops — qualifies for 1-D-1 agricultural valuation in Texas. Hay operations are one of the most commonly audited use types because CADs need to verify that the hay is actually being produced, harvested, and sold or used — not just grown and left standing.

What Your CAD Requires

Most county appraisal districts require hay operations to demonstrate active production through fertilization, weed control, and maintenance of the hay meadow, regular cutting and baling (typically 1-3 cuttings per year depending on grass type and climate), documentation of bale counts and estimated tonnage per cutting, and proof of sale (receipts, buyer names) or documented use (feeding your own livestock, giving to neighbors under agreement).

The last point is where many hay producers get into trouble. Simply cutting and baling hay is not enough — your CAD wants to see that the hay went somewhere. Sale receipts are the cleanest documentation, but if you're using the hay on your own operation or another property, document that with dates, quantities, and the receiving property.

What LandComply Tracks

LandComply's hay production module tracks field preparation (fertilization, weed control, overseeding), cutting dates with GPS-tagged photos of the operation, bale counts per cutting with estimated tonnage, sale records with buyer information and receipts, use records (where the hay went if not sold), equipment and input costs, and weather conditions affecting production.