Agricultural exemption for raising heritage breeds?

Date sort Score sort
Wow! Great responses. I can see I have more homework to do than I thought.

My DH and I went out today to look at the place we were interested in and it had a high pressure gas line running very close to the house. The bad part about that was how close it was to the house and the fact that the ground had sunken there (bad sign). I don't mind the gas lines so much, just not so close to the house and definitely not showing signs of possible stress to the lines. SOOOO...we are still on the hunt for a good place that meets out needs (not too far for DH to commute and big enough for my dreams. In the mean time I am cleaning house like a mad woman. My DH wondered what had happened to the kitchen when he saw a fairly large patch of clear counter top.
lol.png
We homeschool, so what that means (among other things) is that we tend to collect more things that an average family would have in a home (globes, microscope, and a million books, puzzles, games, computers, etc.) but fortunately we have been working on home organization for some time.

Thanks so much for your responses.
 
I did a little sleuthing and it looks like Maine has a pretty good law. Basically if you have at least 5 acres and earn at least gross $2000 (that INCLUDES what your family consumes!!!) you qualify for the farmland tax break. I believe an assessor has to come evaluate your land and assign actual dollar amounts. In addition, we have several ways to reduce taxes by pledging you'll keep "open space", up to 70% off the normal evaluation the town would assess if it could be used for development. Very cool. Thanks for bringing this up. Here's Maine's law. You can start right off the bat using the 2-year provisional thing (you have to pay back what you saved, though, if you don't meet the $2000 requirement. Personally, if you're raising organic veggies, ,eat, eggs, -which are so expensive to buy in a store- I imagine that $2000 won't be too difficult to meet!!)

B. Requirement for Classification



(1) Minimum size - The tract must contain at least 5 contiguous acres. An application may be made for more than 1 tract of property as long as one of the tracts contains 5 contiguous acres.



• Use - The tract must be used for farming, agriculture, or horticultural activities, but may include woodland and wasteland within the farm unit. (Horticultural means land which is engaged in the production of vegetables, tree fruits, small fruits, flowers and woody or herbaceous plants.)


(3) Income Requirement - The tract must contribute to a gross income per year of at least $2,000 in one of the 2, or 3 of the 5 calendar years preceding the date of application for classification. Gross income includes the value of commodities produced for consumption by the farm household.

(4) Income Report - The owner must file with the assessor by April 1st of each fifth year a determination of the gross income derived by either the owner or lessee in each of the previous five years from acreage classified as farmland.



C. Provisional Classification



The owner of a parcel of farmland which meets all the requirements except the gross income requirement may apply for a 2-year provisional classification as farmland under this subchapter. The parcel shall be provisionally classified and subject to the provisions of this subchapter.​
 
Quote:
You didnt tell him the clear space was for the Science project "the incubation of chicken eggs" The kids have to learn the important things in life, and this project can be taught over and over again if necessary.
fl.gif
 
I don'tknow if there is a minimum acreage here in Texas, or a minimum number of animals. I know of several companies in the Austin area that keep their land at a lower tax rate by running cattle on them. Texas Crushed Stone and Austin White Lime are two that come to mind. I think if you can get land that already has the ag designation you will be in a good position.
 
Quote:
You didnt tell him the clear space was for the Science project "the incubation of chicken eggs" The kids have to learn the important things in life, and this project can be taught over and over again if necessary.
fl.gif


I like your line of thinking...gonna have to try out that line on him soon. I'm thinking that some of us are slow learners (me especially) and it would be a lesson that could bare repeating over and over and over and ...'til eventually I (we) get it right. By then maybe there would be enough birds... for a month or two.

Mom's folly, I think you are right that it would be easier to maintain an exemption than to obtain one.
 

Similar threads

chickenmomma1108
    • Like
new breeds to add to our flock?
2 3
Replies
25
Views
2K
chickenmomma1108
chickenmomma1108
W
    • Like
Possible Lonely Hen
Replies
6
Views
658
lin9
lin9
N
Sustainable breed help
Replies
6
Views
1K
Cinnamon Roll
C
Backyard_Alchemist
Breeding for Temperament
Replies
2
Views
353
Backyard_Alchemist
Backyard_Alchemist
castillo_de_luz
    • Like
    • Love
Chicken Confessional: I'm a little scared!
6 7 8
Replies
72
Views
3K
RoyalChick
RoyalChick

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom