Ag Economics on the Plains
Ag Economics on the Plains
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The Economics of Herd Expansion: More Than Just High Prices

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At the Warren Ranch on Friday, Jan 23, 2026 in College Station, Texas. (Hannah Harrison/Texas A&M AgriLife) At the Warren Ranch on Friday, Jan 23, 2026 in Hockley, Texas. (Hannah Harrison/Texas A&M AgriLife)

When cattle prices are strong, producers tend to start thinking about herd expansion. While high cattle prices and strong market signals often spark interest in growth, each producer has different costs, which changes the market signal to expand – some are earlier to expand, and some are later. Herd expansion is, at its core, an economic decision shaped by prices, costs, capital constraints, and risk. [Read more…] about The Economics of Herd Expansion: More Than Just High Prices

Cotton Costs and Returns in 2026

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Picture of a cotton plant

Cotton on the Texas A&M AgriLife Farm in Snook, Texas on Sept. 9, 2021. (Sam Craft/Texas A&M AgriLife Marketing and Communications)

The 2026 crop and livestock budgets are available on the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Economics website. In today’s post, we break down the District 1 and District 2 cotton budgets and discuss what they imply about cotton costs and returns this year. [Read more…] about Cotton Costs and Returns in 2026

Drought Management Tools and Resources for Producers 

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Aug. 9, 2022 in College Station, Texas. (Sam Craft/Texas A&M AgriLife Marketing and Communications)

Last Friday, on Jan. 30, 2026, the USDA released its Cattle Inventory Report showing a decrease in the nation’s cattle herd.
After the report’s release, experts and economists from across the southern states gave their perspectives on the most recent Southern Ag Today article.
You can read the full article here: https://southernagtoday.org/2026/02/03/the-cow-herd-shrinks-some-more/
One common theme that almost every industry expert mentioned was drought. Drought continues to be a challenging circumstance for producers to face. Most producers are forced into making difficult decisions that impact their operations. It is important to have reliable resources to fall back on when navigating drought decisions for your operation.  [Read more…] about Drought Management Tools and Resources for Producers 

Wheat: Maximizing Profits in a Tough Year

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Wheat on May 12, 2021, in Burleson County. (Laura McKenzie/Texas A&M AgriLife Marketing and Communications)

With cash wheat prices below breakeven and challenging weather in many counties, farmers must make difficult decisions to maximize crop returns. Alternative uses for wheat, such as grazing or baling, may offer better profitability depending on the availability of your equipment and infrastructure.

Given this year’s drier conditions and continued low wheat prices, it is essential to evaluate your options. Comparing wheat for grain, grazing, and hay will help identify the most financially viable strategy under current market and production conditions. [Read more…] about Wheat: Maximizing Profits in a Tough Year

Upcoming Programs in Canyon and Lubbock

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Pictures of cotton, wheat, sorghum, and cornProducers 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

Looking Back on 2025: A Year in Review

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The O. D. Butler, Jr. Animal Science Complex on Thursday, Aug 21, 2025 in College Station, Texas. (Hannah Harrison/Texas A&M AgriLife)

Welcome to our final post of the year. Today, we will review the economic topics that garnered the most attention in 2025 and discuss some of the challenges we anticipate in the upcoming year. Enjoy this Holiday Season, and see you all next year! [Read more…] about Looking Back on 2025: A Year in Review

A Look at the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program: What You Need to Know

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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

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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

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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.

[Read more…] about Grazing Management Plans: Planning for Pasture, Performance, and Profit