Choosing which crop will be most profitable to produce each year can be difficult. For this reason, economists with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension have developed a spreadsheet tool to help producers with this decision. In this post, we will look at how this tool can help producers analyze and compare the profitability of a set of crop enterprises. [Read more…] about High Plains Ag Week 3/7/2024 – Analyzing Profitability Using the South Plains Profitability Spreadsheet
High Plains Ag Week 2/28/2024 – Wildfires
Today’s blog topic has changed, given the sad circumstances of everyone affected by the wildfires in our region. We will discuss some USDA programs available to help during these challenging times. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by these fires, causing unmeasurable losses for many.
[Read more…] about High Plains Ag Week 2/28/2024 – Wildfires
High Plains Ag Week – 2/22/2024 – ARC-CO & PLC in 2024
The 2018 Farm Bill has been extended through September 30, 2024. This means that producers may enroll in Title I programs as a part of their risk management plan this year. This post will explain how two of these programs protect farms against price and/or revenue losses. [Read more…] about High Plains Ag Week – 2/22/2024 – ARC-CO & PLC in 2024
High Plains Ag Week – 1/31/2024 – A Look at the 2024 Cotton Budgets
Aug. 9, 2022 in College Station, Texas. (Sam Craft/Texas A&M AgriLife Marketing and Communications)
The 2024 crop and livestock budgets will soon be available for all districts on the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Agricultural Economics website. In this post, we look at the numbers in the budgets for cotton production in Districts 1 and 2. [Read more…] about High Plains Ag Week – 1/31/2024 – A Look at the 2024 Cotton Budgets
High Plains Ag Week 1/24/2024 – Wheat Grain vs. Grazing?
(Laura McKenzie/Texas A&M AgriLife Marketing and Communications)
Wheat prices in our Texas region have been decreasing month by month, lowering profitability expectations for producers in our area. Today, we will compare and analyze what may be more convenient: wheat grain or grazing.
[Read more…] about High Plains Ag Week 1/24/2024 – Wheat Grain vs. Grazing?
High Plains Ag Week – 1/18/2024 – Input Costs for 2024
How will input costs change for crop enterprises on the Texas High Plains? Today, we look at three key inputs to crop production and discuss expectations for the price of these inputs this year.
[Read more…] about High Plains Ag Week – 1/18/2024 – Input Costs for 2024
High Plains Ag Week 1/10/2024 – Livestock Forage Program Update
The deadline for signing up for the Livestock Forage Disaster program is approaching at the end of January. Last year’s drought-hit many Texas ranchers hard, prompting significant payments across most counties. Contact your FSA office before the January 30 deadline to use this program.
[Read more…] about High Plains Ag Week 1/10/2024 – Livestock Forage Program Update
High Plains Ag Week 11/29/2023 – Cotton Market Update
(Laura McKenzie/Texas A&M AgriLife Marketing and Communications)
As we come to the end of the year, what do the fundamentals for the cotton market look like? In this post, we look at how cotton prices have moved in 2023, the current supply and demand outlook for the 2023/24 crop, and the macroeconomic picture heading into the new year.
[Read more…] about High Plains Ag Week 11/29/2023 – Cotton Market Update
High Plains Ag Week 11/22/2023 – Wheat 2023 Breakeven Price Analysis
(Laura McKenzie/Texas A&M AgriLife Marketing and Communications)
Preliminary wheat budget results showed production costs decreased by around 10% compared to last year. However, net margins are expected to decrease too. Breakeven prices are close to or higher than July 2024 wheat market prices for this region.
[Read more…] about High Plains Ag Week 11/22/2023 – Wheat 2023 Breakeven Price Analysis
High Plains Ag Week 11/10/2023 – LRP Decision Making
(Laura McKenzie/Texas A&M AgriLife Marketing and Communications)
The USDA’s Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) program is a useful tool to help producers manage price risk. In this post, we will explain what LRP does and how it works, and we will discuss two important decisions that producers who wish to use this tool must make. 
[Read more…] about High Plains Ag Week 11/10/2023 – LRP Decision Making