Productive values are established by the Utah State Tax Commission with assistance of a five-member Farmland Assessment Advisory Committee and Utah State University. Productive values apply state-wide and are based upon income and expense factors associated with agriculture activities. These factors are expressed in terms of value per acre for specific land classifications.

Leased land can qualify for assessment and taxation under the FAA if the acreage requirement is met and the production requirement is satisfied. A purchaser or lessee may qualify the land by submitting, along with the application from the owner, documents certifying that the production levels have been satisfied.

When land becomes ineligible for greenbelt or urban farming (such as when it is developed or goes into non-use), the owner becomes subject to what is known as a rollback tax. The rollback tax is the difference between the taxes paid while on greenbelt or urban farming and the taxes which would have been paid had the property been assessed at market value. In determining the amount of rollback tax due, a maximum of five years preceding the change in use will be used. The tax rate for each of the years in question will be applied to determine the rollback tax amount.