Palm Beach County is Florida's largest agricultural producer. There are 473,400 acres currently devoted to farmland. Sugar cane is the largest crop, covering 403,803 acres. Citrus crops account for 8,500 acres. Corn is the number one vegetable crop, followed by peppers, tomatoes and eggplant. Pastureland for dairy and livestock use account for 16,500 acres.
Q. What is agricultural classification?
A. Agricultural classification is granted to farmland that produces food such as row crops, corn, citrus and sugar cane for commercial use. Land devoted to pasture, dairy and livestock, or horticulture such as sod or plants for commercial nurseries, also qualifies as agricultural.
Q. How is farmland assessed?
A. Deputy appraisers estimate production, income, expense and acreage of agricultural property. The taxable value is primarily based on income earned by the commercial sale of produce grown or livestock raised on the land. Net earnings are calculated by data from the Florida and U.S. Departments of Agriculture and the Institute of Food & Agricultural Sciences.
Q. Is my farm entitled to a Homestead exemption and the 3% cap?
A. The section of your property used for your living quarters and enclosed land surrounding your house is eligible for the standard $25,000 residential Homestead exemption and the 3% cap.
For more information on agriculture property, call us at (561) 355-2781.
|
