Ag Appraisal
Agricultural land appraisal can cut your tax bill in Castro County
Farmland in Castro County is typically taxed on its farming value, not its market value, which can mean a much lower tax bill.
Texas law lets qualifying agricultural land be appraised at what it can produce, not what it might sell for. In an active farming county like Castro, that difference can be large. To qualify, the land generally must have been used for agriculture for at least five of the past seven years and must meet the local intensity standard — meaning it is farmed at the level common in the area.
If you stop farming the land or sell it for non-ag use, the county can charge back taxes for the prior three years at market-value rates. This is called a rollback tax. Apply for ag appraisal through the Castro County Appraisal District. The Texas Comptroller's website explains the rules in plain language and provides the required forms.
Source to confirm: Texas Comptroller — Agricultural and Timber Special Appraisal