Are you a young, beginning, or small (YBS) farmer or rancher working hard to make your mark in agriculture? Capital Farm Credit is providing a fantastic opportunity to reward your hard work and dedication with their annual GROW Your AgriRoots Contest. With up to $50,000 in prizes available, this contest shines a spotlight on the next generation of farm and agribusiness owner-operators who are excelling in their field. [Read more…] about Exciting Opportunity for Young and Small Producers: GROW Your AgriRoots Contest Offers $50,000 in Prizes

New World screwworm fly (Cochliomyia hominivorax) on Friday, Jun 06, 2025, in College Station, Texas. (Michael Miller/Texas A&M AgriLife)

On June 3, 2026, state and federal officials confirmed the detection of New World screwworm in Texas. In today’s blog post, we provide links to relevant press releases, fact sheets developed by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, and other important resources and information. [Read more…] about New World Screwworm: Press Releases, Fact Sheets, and Other Resources

A marketing plan is an essential risk management tool for any agricultural producer, although it is often overlooked. A marketing plan is basically a road map for your operation, helping to identify your goals and objectives and how you are going to achieve them. In this article, we discuss five important items to include in your marketing plan. 

[Read more…] about Building a Marketing Plan: What to Include

As ranchers move past tax season, many are getting a clearer picture of their financial position for the year. CPA-prepared reports and cash flow statements are helpful, but they only tell part of the story. The real question is not just whether the ranch made money, but how effectively it used its resources to generate that income. [Read more…] about Measuring Ranch Profitability with Beef-Cattle Standard Performance Analysis

Producers in South Texas have an opportunity to gain valuable insight into financial management, tax planning, and pasture management at the upcoming Business Planning and Tax Management Workshop for Farmers and Ranchers.

This workshop brings together specialists and industry professionals to discuss key issues facing agricultural producers, including financial decision-making, cattle markets, tax considerations, and pasture management. [Read more…] about Business Planning and Tax Management Workshop for Farmers and Ranchers

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 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

Economists with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service have been updating the Texas crop and livestock budgets for 2026. In this post, we’ll discuss our expectations for four key costs: fertilizer, chemicals, fuel/energy, and interest rates. [Read more…] about Input Cost Outlook for 2026

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 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