Complete Hands-Off Tax Compliance
Designed for landowners with 5 to 20 acres seeking qualify under Chapter 23, Subchapter D of the Texas Property Tax Code.
Under our Turnkey Ag Exemption Lease, Scheel Apiaries places and manages operator-owned honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies inside your secured apiary enclosure. All woodenware, queens, worker populations, and disease prevention therapies remain our capital investment and responsibility.
You receive a verified, notarized operational logbook and signed lease packet every season, perfectly synchronized with your County Appraisal District (CAD) April 30 filing deadline.
- Zero Restocking Costs: Natural colony winter loss or queen failure is restocked by Scheel Apiary at zero extra charge to you.
- Annual Raw Honey Consideration: Every turnkey lease client receives one-half gallon (6 lbs) of raw, local honey post-extraction.
- Continuous 365-Day Stewardship: While CAD guidelines require an active 7-month presence (April 1 – October 31 default), we retain the right to overwinter colonies on-site to ensure optimal hive survival.
- Transferable to Parcel Buyers: If you sell your acreage, our lease agreement seamlessly transfers to the purchaser to prevent appraisal gaps or rollback taxes.
CAD Hive & Rate Estimator
Calibrated for Walker County CAD & Piney Woods baselines.
Universal renewal occurs on March 1. Year 1 executed mid-season is prorated based on the active 7-month production window.
The Turnkey Framework at a Glance
Operational terms governed under Scheel Apiaries Service Agreement.
| Term / Feature | Specification | Why It Matters to You |
|---|---|---|
| Asset Ownership | 100% Beekeeper-Owned | Zero risk of woodenware depreciation, gear maintenance, or replacement costs. |
| Statutory Season | April 1 – October 31 (Default) | Covers the full Texas nectar flow window and satisfies CAD minimum active thresholds. |
| First-Year Proration | Alternate 7-month window permitted | Allows onboarding mid-spring without missing full-season qualification. |
| Universal Renewal | March 1 Annually | Delivers signed proof of agricultural activity prior to the Texas April 30 CAD deadline. |
| Termination Notice | 60 Calendar Days (by Jan 1) | Ensures orderly spring split planning and zero mid-season compliance gaps. |
| Demobilization Window | 60 Days Post-Termination | Guarantees bees are only safely relocated during viable weather conditions. |
Mandatory Site & Enclosure Standards
Because Walker County and the Piney Woods corridor represent an active corridor for transient black bears, feral hogs, and curious livestock, all leased sites must strictly meet our predator and operational criteria prior to hive placement:
- Predator-Resistant Electric Fence: A multi-strand high-tensile electric fence delivering 5,000V to 6,000V continuously (0.5 to 1.0 Joule energizer). Low strand at 6–8" above grade, top strand at 42–48". Clear 12" swath maintained beneath lowest strand.
- Double-Capacity Sizing (480+ sq ft): The enclosure must measure at least 35–45 sq ft per hive slot (minimum $20\text{ ft} \times 24\text{ ft}$ for a 6-hive baseline) to allow up to 2x capacity for spring splits and queen rearing.
- Intra-Enclosure Water Supply: Clean, continuous water source terminating within 25 feet of the stands inside the fence, complete with floating rafts or clean gravel to prevent bee drowning.
- Intra-Enclosure Weatherproof Storage: Heavy-duty resin deck box or job box situated inside the enclosure for smoker fuel, hive tools, and emergency feed.
- 24-Hour Commercial Truck Clearance: Unimpeded 24-hour gate access (combination/code) and driveway clearance accommodating a 1-ton service truck (minimum 10-foot wide gates).
Reserve Your Apiary Capacity for 2026 / 2027
County Appraisal District rules require documented history and timely filing. Contact Raymond Scheel directly to review your parcel ID and schedule an initial site assessment.