Producers in the Panhandle and South Plains – mark your calendars! Master Marketer 2026 is coming up soon. Having a solid marketing plan and risk management strategy is going to be especially important this year. The two-day program will be held in both Lubbock and Canyon, with focuses on building a marketing plan for cotton, grain, and livestock. Additionally, there are three upcoming profitability workshops that you don’t want to miss! [Read more…] about Upcoming Programs in Canyon and Lubbock
A Look at the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program: What You Need to Know
On Monday, December 8th, President Trump and Secretary Rollins announced that the USDA will provide $12 billion in one-time payments to American farmers. This announcement follows several financially tough years for row crop producers, with the goal of providing some support until investments from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) can bring relief to eligible farmers next year. In today’s article, we discuss the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program and upcoming deadlines to apply for assistance. [Read more…] about A Look at the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program: What You Need to Know
Seeing What Others Miss: Making Sense of Agricultural Risk Today
Agriculture has always faced uncertainty. Although agricultural risk management has come a long way in recent years, producers face a multifaceted risk landscape that is constantly changing due to unpredictable weather, evolving regulatory frameworks, and volatile markets. In this article, we address some factors that make today’s risk environment increasingly complex, discuss common “blind spots”, and provide tips for distinguishing market signals from noise.  [Read more…] about Seeing What Others Miss: Making Sense of Agricultural Risk Today
Grazing Management Plans: Planning for Pasture, Performance, and Profit
As defined by USDA-NRCS, a Grazing Management Plan (GMP) is “a site-specific conservation plan that contains planned grazing related conservation treatment activities for one or more resource concerns.” (https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/). The element of conservation is what sets apart a GMP from a general management plan for your operation. In this article, we discuss the essential elements of a GMP and how developing a GMP specific to your operation can help in planning for pasture, profit, and performance.
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Changes to the LIP and LFP Programs in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act
President Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) into law on July 4, 2025. The law included changes to two disaster programs administered by the USDA Farm Service Agency: the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) and the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP). In this post, we explain the changes to these programs and how those might affect Panhandle livestock producers.
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How Much Can I Afford to Pay for Replacement Heifers These Days? Plus, Merri Beth Day Joins the Blog
With cattle prices reaching record highs, it’s more rewarding than ever to be in the cattle business. It’s also more expensive than ever to raise cattle, with estimated annual production costs of nearly $1,100 per head for cow-calf operators. With these kinds of prices, it’s more important than ever to be diligent when making culling and purchasing decisions. Today, in her first article as a new author for the Ag Economics on the Plains Blog, Merri Beth Day, AgriLife Extension Economist for District 1, reviews some considerations for deciding whether to buy replacement heifers.