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Economics & Taxes, Services

Notice of Denial: Agricultural Classification of Land

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Notice of Denial of  Agricultural Classification of Land!   Agricultural Classification/Greenbelt application disapproved…!

It’s that time again.

We can help!

All denials of Agricultural Classification/Greenbelt applications and renewals must be mailed by the county property appraiser no later than July 1.  The denial of all or part of the acreage in an original application (form DR-482) will be recorded on the bottom of the form, action 2 or 3.  DR-490, Notice of Disapproval of Application for Property Tax Exemption or Classification by the County Property Appraiser, will be used as the denial notice for Greenbelt renewals.

What do you do now?  You must take action immediately , the decision  is final no later than 30 days from the postmark date on the denial notice.  Some property appraisers mail out denial notices prior to July 1; i.e., your time frame for action may be prior to the end of July or may have already expired.  If after receiving the denial notice, you are unable to convince the property appraiser your property is qualified for Greenbelt, and want to appeal the denial, you must file a petition (DR-486) to the Value Adjustment Board by the 30th day following the postmark date.  The Value Adjustment Board will determine hearing dates later; and, you will be notified.  If you are unsure you want to appeal to the Board, you must file the petition in order to reserve your right to appeal.

You have several options for addressing the denial.

The property must be used primarily for bonefide commercial agricultural purposes to qualify for Greenbelt.  If the property is not qualified and no changes in current use are planned, you may simply accept the denial.

You may accept the denial for the current year and file again next year when your actions, activities, and use increase and the property will more likely comply with the requirements.  We can assist you with qualifying your property for Greenbelt classification.

You may appeal the current denial to the Value Adjustment Board.

 Contact us for assistance with your appeal or with your reapplication.

blog, Economics & Taxes

Greenbelt Agricultural Classification filing period

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Greenbelt Agricultural Classification filing period:   January 1 – March 1

If you are the owner of Agricultural Property which did not receive a Greenbelt Agricultural Classification under your ownership in 2015, and you wish to apply for this Classification for the privileged lower property tax assessment in 2016, you must file an application between January 1 and March 1 with the Property Appraiser in the county where the property is located.  The form number is DR-482,  Application and Return for Agricultural Classification of Lands, and is available from the County Property Appraiser or online either from the Department of Revenue or the County Property Appraiser’s Office.  Note: some property appraisers may use a substitute form.

If you already receive a Greenbelt Agricultural Classification on your property and wish to continue the Classification in 2014, you will receive one of two forms from the County Property Appraiser.  If the County requires annual renewal of the Classification, you will receive a green card, DR-499, Agricultural Classification of Lands Renewal.  You must sign and return the DR-499 card between January 1 and March 1.  If your County does not require an annual renewal of the Classification, you will receive a different green card, DR-499AR, Removal of Agricultural Classification.  Regardless of the form name, this is your automatic renewal card; you do nothing with it unless your property is no longer qualified for the Classification.

blog, Economics & Taxes

Greenbelt common mistakes

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Don’t make these common mistakes:  they could cost you!

If you are under the impression, or were told, a Greenbelt Agricultural Classification held by the previous owner transfers with an exchange of ownership, it does not!  You must file a new application.

The absolute filing deadline is March 1.  The law does allow for extenuating circumstances; however, failure to make timely application, unawareness of the need to apply, and “lost in the mail” are usually not acceptable as extenuating circumstances.

Get a receipt copy (stamped received) of your DR-482 application.  Get a receipt for the DR-499 card; it is another green card:  DR-499R.

A Greenbelt Agricultural Classification is an extremely valuable document to place in the mail:  File the DR-482 and 499 in person, if possible, or, at least make sure you receive a receipt from the Property Appraiser prior to the filing deadline. 

Do not sign and return the DR-499AR card unless your property is no longer qualified for the Greenbelt Agricultural Classification.  You will be removing the Classification if you sign and return the card.

blog, Economics & Taxes

Greenbelt in Florida: part one

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What is Greenbelt ? 
Greenbelt is the common term used in many states for various types of preferential tax relief treatment for agricultural properties, including forestland.   In Florida, it is used for the statutorily provided Agricultural Classification, and is frequently also called an Agricultural Exemption.  It also has other names both in Florida and other states: Agricultural Assessment, Agricultural Appraisal, Classified Use, Preferential Assessment, Agricultural Covenant, and Conservation Use Covenant. 

How long has Greenbelt been available; and, is it available in every Florida county?  Why can’t I find any Greenbelt literature

Greenbelt has been available Statewide since the implementing statutes were adopted in 1959. The Greenbelt name won’t be found anywhere in the statutes since its more of a generic term that references exemption provisions.  Article VII, Section 4 of the Florida Constitution provides for classification and assessment of agricultural property based on use. Florida Statutes 193.441, 193.451, and 193.461 contain the provisions for Agricultural Classification (Greenbelt) and assessments, defining any assessment at less than the full value as a Classified Use assessment.

What is the benefit?  How much exemption do I receive?It is not an exemption, but is a preferential and privileged assessment based on land use.  It provides far greater relief from tax liability than most exemptions.  For some agricultural land uses, the reduction in taxes for Greenbelt Classification versus market value may exceed 90%!

How can a Greenbelt appraisal be so much less than a market value?
The appraisal is based on what appraisers call an “income approach,” and has nothing to do with the market value of the property.   The actual agricultural use of the land and the soil fertility or capability are determined, such as Cropland, Soil Capability Class II.  A typical agricultural net income for each use and productivity is determined and capitalized to provide a per-acre value.  Ex:  A $30 net income per acre will yield an approximate taxable value of $300 per acre.

 

part 2 coming

blog, Sheep basics

Antibiotics ..how to guide, sort of

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Ten lessons on antibiotics

  1. Consult with your veterinarian about diagnosis. As a producer, know what diseases are prevalent at particular production stages or seasons and remember that some bacteria are only sensitive to certain antibiotics.
  2. Take the sheep’s temperature. Normal is 101 to 103° F. If there is no temperature, there’s no infection, so you shouldn’t use an antibiotic. Fever may precede other signs.
  3. Treat early. Organisms become more resistant after they are well established. An antibiotic will not remove scar tissue from lungs. Prevent the scar tissue by early and adequate treatment.
  4. Maintain drug dosage for two to five days. Identify lambs previously treated.
  5. Prevent problems. Don’t rely on drugs to replace good management.
  6. Check for management shortcomings as a cause of the problem before using drugs.
  7. Vary antibiotics. Bacteria do develop resistance.
  8. Take care of drugs. Refrigerate them, keep them out of the sun, and don’t freeze them. Read directions!
  9. Recognize the limitations of antibiotics. They won’t bring an abscess to a head and are ineffective in treating for diseases caused by a virus.
  10. Administer antibiotics correctly.
    • Remember that sick animals usually don’t eat. Mixing an antibiotic in feed may prevent further attacks but won’t help those too sick to eat.
    • If sick animals will drink, you can administer sulfa treatment by adding sulfa to the water.
    • Use an effective injection method. Intravenous (IV) injections result in a high drug level in the blood rapidly, but antibiotics injected intravenously also are eliminated more rapidly. Intramuscular (IM) or subcutaneous (SQ) injections require the least skill and last longer.
    • Remember that drenching requires a high drug dosage. Not all drugs are readily absorbed.
blog, Sheep basics

Lambs die?

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Lamb starvation

Lamb starvation, the number one killer of lambs, often is associated with lack of shepherding. Contributing causes are:

  • The lamb doesn’t get started (gets no colostrum). Seventy-five percent of lambs that don’t get colostrum die for one reason or another.
  • The ewe won’t claim the lamb(another solution for this situation)
  • Mastitis.
  • The teat is too big or is too near the ground and the lamb doesn’t find it. Weak ewes that don’t get up enough will also cause this problem.
  • Sore mouth.
  • The ewe can’t feed two lambs (mastitis, too little feed, etc.).
  • Joint injury or illness.
  • Pneumonia, which often is associated with lambs that received no colostrum and thereby lack immune bodies. Sometimes the best solution is to inject 1 ml of antibiotic at few days after birth for multi lambs births.
  • Difficult parturition.
  • A “genetic will to die.” Actually, the majority of lambs die for no apparent reason. A genetically caused lack of vitality may well be the cause. i never understood this , this is just an observation. plenty of sun, feed and exercise seems to be the best remedy.
  • i have found that bottle feeding lambs will survive well but they must have received some colostrum
blog, Sheep basics

Thrush & Footrot

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Footrot

Footrot is a grievous disease that almost defies curing. For a small flock of grade ewes, selling out and starting over is the wisest decision.

Footrot is caused by two bacteria—Fusobacterium necrophorum and Bacteroides nodosus—that act synergistically. F. necrophorum is common in most manure; it is very hardy and can live for years in manure. It contributes to footrot in cattle and causes thrush in horses. B. nodosus apparently lives only in sheep hooves. It dies out in soil in two weeks. It grows very slowly, so the incubation period may be long. Foot abscesses may be caused by B. nodosus, but footrot requires the presence of both B. nodosus and F. necrophorum. Moist soil conditions contribute greatly to the cause and spread of footrot. in other words its impossible in Florida to avoid  this condition.

To control and treat footrot:

  • Trim the hoof wall to the quick in all sheep.
  • Soak affected hooves for five minutes in a foot bath containing 90% water and 10% formalin (37% formaldehyde) or 10% zinc sulfate. Zinc sulfate is as effective as formalin and is safer to use.
  • Isolate limpers and repeat one week later. Turn apparently cured sheep into an uncontaminated area. Doing so does create a problem, however, because some sheep thought to be clean actually still are infected. With time and moist conditions, they will reinfect other sheep.
  • Reexamine all sheep and remove any limpers you initially thought were clean. Force sheep to move through a 10% zinc sulfate solution daily for 30 days. This has become the most successful treatment scheme.
  • Sell persistent limpers as much as that hurts to do.
  • If you sell all sheep, wait three weeks before bringing in new sheep.
  • I have a nice cement bath at the entry f the sheep house that i regularly fill with  bleach and water, 20%. its worked wonders.