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
Looking Back on 2025: A Year in Review
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
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 ARC-CO Program in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act
On July 4, 2025, President Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) into law. The law included changes to the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs. In a previous post, we covered what changed for the PLC program. This post explains what has changed for the ARC program and how payments under these programs might be affected. [Read more…] about Changes to the ARC-CO Program in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act
Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage Insurance Deadline is Coming Soon
Photo by Michael Miller/Texas A&M AgriLife Marketing and Communications
For the past 25 years, a significant portion of Texas has faced drought conditions nearly every year. According to the latest Drought Monitor report of October 30, around 77% of Texas is currently experiencing some level of drought. The USDA provides a tool to assist ranchers during these challenging times. [Read more…] about Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage Insurance Deadline is Coming Soon
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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Changes to the PLC Program in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act
On July 4, 2025, President Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) into law. The law included changes to the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs. In this post, we explain what has changed for PLC and how payments under this program might be affected. [Read more…] about Changes to the PLC Program in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act
Beef Cattle Decision Aids: Let Your Numbers Do the Talking
Let Your Numbers Do the Talking
Beef Cattle Short Course on Aug. 3, 2022 in College Station, Texas. (Sam Craft/Texas A&M AgriLife Marketing and Communications)
With cattle markets constantly shifting and production costs on the rise, making sound financial decisions in your cow-calf or stocker operation is more important than ever. Whether you’re thinking about purchasing replacement females, retaining ownership past weaning, or evaluating a preconditioning program, there’s a tool available to help guide those decisions. The Beef Cattle Decision Aids walk you through all of these topics and much more! [Read more…] about Beef Cattle Decision Aids: Let Your Numbers Do the Talking