Definition of "Agricultural Property"

The term agricultural property means a type of land that has been designed or is permitted to engage in agricultural activities. Also referred to as agricultural land, agricultural properties are usually dedicated to producing food for human consumption. 

Types of Agricultural Property

Agricultural properties are ideal for those interested in growing vegetables around the house for a more bio way of life by making homemade recipes from their garden. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) defined agricultural properties, and other industries follow that definition. However, the definition for agricultural real estate is a collection of terms that can all describe agricultural properties.

  • Arable land - any land used to produce annually replanted crops;
  • Permanent cropland - any land used to produce annual crops without replanting;
  • Permanent pastures - any land used for grazing livestock.

Agricultural Property and Tax Exemptions

When it comes to agricultural property, the land pertaining to the owner can be used to either cultivate crops or livestock grazing. Production of timber can also be accepted on agricultural property, but states have different means to define what is and isn’t an agricultural property. It’s always best to check with your state or local government, or assessor because tax exemptions are available for agricultural land.

Depending on the state in which you live, the definition of agricultural property can change, similarly to the qualifications for agricultural land tax exemptions. The size of the land, the type of agricultural land, the revenue coming from the agricultural land, and the agricultural use value can affect how the state views the land itself or, in some cases, how the county sees it.

Comments for Agricultural Property

Kathy Kathy said:

Do farmers pay reduced property taxes on their homesteads? ie: the Amish

May 28, 2024  17:57:28

 
Real Estate Agent

Hello Kathy! Great question! 
While the Amish are generally subject to the same tax obligations as other American citizens, there are instances where they can benefit from various tax advantages on their homesteads. These benefits can include a potential reduction in property taxes if their land meets specific agricultural use criteria. 

For example, have you heard about Pennsylvania's Clean & Green program? It's a fantastic initiative to help landowners, including the Amish, by reducing their property taxes on farmland and forestland. However, there's a catch! Landowners must continue to use their property for agriculture or forestry to remain eligible. If the land use changes, the owner might have to pay back the tax savings from the previous seven years, known as a "rollback tax."

State and local regulations can vary the specifics of property tax reductions. So it's always a good idea to check with local tax authorities or a tax professional for the precise details in your area.

May 30, 2024  10:49:16
 
 
image of a real estate dictionary page

Have a question or comment?

We're here to help.

*** Your email address will remain confidential.
 

 

Popular Real Estate Terms

One to whom a gift or bequest is made. ...

The consolidation of items that have been considered a part of property but are not actually annexed, secured, or joined to it. ...

Natural resource, such as oil, coal, and timber, having a limited useful life and subject to depletion. Such assets decrease in worth primarily due to the extraction of the valued commodity ...

Material used for covering the surfaces of walls or ceilings. Plaster used to be made from plaster of paris, but is now primarily made from cement mixed with sand and water. After plaster ...

What is real estate speculation? The term real estate speculation may have a difficult definition, but explaining it may be easier. Think of the stock market, buying stocks when they are ...

A reassessment or a reappraising is a decision or strategy made by the owner or the state or local authorities. The reassessment definition is a revision of an earlier assessment. Property ...

(1) Written statement by a responsible individual or entity of the correctness and reliability of something. (2) Written permission to do something, such as receiving a real estate ...

Person or entity that has title or a right to something which is typically being held. Examples are real property, corporation, and personal property. Ownership of property may be held by ...

Aerial navigation that may interfere with a property owner, such as creating undue noise. The value of land near an airport may decline in value for this reason. Further airport congestion ...

Popular Real Estate Questions