The risk of being in another drought is increasing day after day. It is not too soon to prepare ourselves and dust off those drought plans even if there are still chances for rain and better moisture conditions. Today we will focus on those proactive and reactive strategies that we can implement on our ranches. [Read more…] about High Plains Ag Week 4/4/2022 – Dusting off our Drought Management Plans
High Plains Ag Week 3/21/2022 – Dryland Wheat Alternatives
(Laura McKenzie/Texas A&M AgriLife Marketing and Communications)
Dryland wheat grain and forage conditions in our area are mostly poor and very poor. The Wheat and Small Grain Decision Aids will help you analyze which is the best alternative for your wheat fields according to your expected yields, production costs, equipment, and other variables. [Read more…] about High Plains Ag Week 3/21/2022 – Dryland Wheat Alternatives
High Plains Ag Week 3/7/2022 – Russian Invasion of Ukraine effects in our Operations
(Laura McKenzie/Texas A&M AgriLife Marketing and Communications)
In addition to the other horrors generated by the war, the conflict between Ukraine and Russia has destabilized commodity markets. Commodity prices incorporate a substantial risk premium due to the high chances of lower production, higher costs, and more supply chain disruptions. [Read more…] about High Plains Ag Week 3/7/2022 – Russian Invasion of Ukraine effects in our Operations
High Plains Ag Week 2/28/2022 – Cotton Market Update
Today we spend a bit of time on the cotton market. USDA’s Outlook Forum last week presented a case for relatively high prices against the historic average, though slightly lower year over year.
[Read more…] about High Plains Ag Week 2/28/2022 – Cotton Market Update
High Plains Ag Week 1-31-2022 – Rules of Thumb for Input Cost Management
Input cost management is on everyone’s mind this year. But how do you even begin to approach cutting costs effectively? Each operation, and really, each field is different. We’ll address specific inputs throughout the spring, but for now, we present three rules of thumb to get you started on your input cost management decisions.
[Read more…] about High Plains Ag Week 1-31-2022 – Rules of Thumb for Input Cost Management
High Plains Ag Week 1/10/2022 – AgriLife Budgets and Rising Input Prices
Today we take a look at Texas A&M AgriLife Budgets in the Crop Profitability Analyzer. We’re a bit later in the week in order to highlight a new report out of AFPC focusing on fertilizer prices, which we’ll discuss along with changes in custom service rates, chemicals, and more.
[Read more…] about High Plains Ag Week 1/10/2022 – AgriLife Budgets and Rising Input Prices
High Plains Ag Week 1/3/2022 – Master Marketer
We’re back for a new year, and so is Master Marketer. Since 1996, Master Marketer has been teaching producers to reduce risk and gain profit through an intensive eight day series that includes crop and livestock outlooks, sessions on developing marketing skills, and a trading game that simulates marketing in a real historic year. Surveys show that the average producer gains 4.5% or $35,000 on their bottom lines each year as a results of attending Master Marketer.
[Read more…] about High Plains Ag Week 1/3/2022 – Master Marketer
High Plains Ag Week 12/12/2021 – Year in Review
Do black swans still count as black swans if there is an entire flock of them? That’s been the question for this dynamic year in agriculture. What were the economic topics that drew the most attention in 2021? What are some of the challenges we foresee in the upcoming year? Today, Pancho and I wrap the blog for 2021. We’ll also take a brief look and upcoming AgriLife resources and programs to look out for in the new year.
[Read more…] about High Plains Ag Week 12/12/2021 – Year in Review
High Plains Ag Week 11/15/2021 – Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage Insurance Program Review
The USDA-RMA, has postponed the Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage Pilot Insurance Program (PRF), better known as the rainfall insurance, until December 1st. Incorporating this risk management tool will help reduce the economic impact of a lack of rainfall in our operations.
High Plains Ag Week 9/6/2021 – Livestock Risk Protection, Plus Pancho Abello Joins the Blog
Rural scenes in Burleson and Washington counties on April 7, 2021. (Laura McKenzie/Texas A&M AgriLife Marketing and Communications)
Ranchers face many risks associated with cattle marketing as we have seen last year with the pandemic. Any good marketing plan requires the knowledge of the available tools in the market that we can used. Each of these tools have their own advantages and disadvantages, and it is important to know them as well as their impact in our operation before making any decision. Today, in his first article as a new author for the Amarillo AgEcon Blog, Pancho Abello, AgriLife Extension Economist for District 3, reviews the Livestock Risk Protection Program.