Agricultural Valuation
Farmland Can Be Taxed on Productivity, Not Market Value
Rural landowners in Hopkins County who use their land for farming, ranching, or qualified wildlife management may pay taxes based on what the land produces, not what it would sell for.
Texas law (Section 1-d-1 of the Tax Code) lets qualifying farm and ranch land be valued at what it produces, not what someone would pay to buy it. That productivity value is usually much lower than market price. So your tax bill can be much lower too.
Common qualifying uses include cattle grazing, hay production, and dairy farming. All three have a long history in Hopkins County. Wildlife management is also a qualifying use. If your land already qualifies under ag use, you can switch to a wildlife management plan instead of losing the lower valuation.
You apply through the Hopkins County Appraisal District. The Texas Comptroller publishes the official guidelines in Publication 96-354. The application is Form 50-129. Check the Comptroller's ag and timber page for current rules before you apply.
Source to confirm: Texas Comptroller — Agricultural, Timberland and Wildlife Management Special Appraisal