West Texas Rangelands
West Texas RangelandsWe hope to provide a variety of science-based rangeland information and current research on prescribed fire, wildfires, brush management, and grazing management!

Texas Working Lands: What Land Fragmentation Means for the Future of Texas Rangelands

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Texas is known for its wide-open spaces, productive ranches, working farms, and privately owned forests. These working lands support agricultural production, wildlife habitat, water resources, recreation, and rural economies across the state. Today, approximately 139 million acres, or 81% of Texas, remain in privately owned working lands, making private land stewardship one of the most important factors shaping the future of Texas natural resources.

A recent article from the Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute highlights a growing challenge facing these landscapes: land fragmentation. Using an updated Texas Land Trends Fragmentation Risk Map, researchers identified areas where farms, ranches, and forests may be most vulnerable to subdivision and conversion in the future. While growth and development are a natural part of a thriving state, understanding where these changes are occurring can help landowners, communities, and conservation partners make informed decisions about the future of Texas working lands.

What Is Land Fragmentation?
Land fragmentation occurs when large properties are divided into smaller ownership parcels, often leading to conversion from agricultural uses to residential, commercial, or other non-agricultural development. While an individual subdivision may seem insignificant on its own, the cumulative impact can fundamentally alter rural landscapes. Fragmentation can reduce the viability of agricultural operations, disrupt wildlife habitat, increase management challenges, and limit opportunities for landscape-scale conservation efforts.

The Texas Land Trends program points to several interconnected drivers of fragmentation, including rapid population growth, rising land values, and changing ownership patterns. As urban areas continue to expand outward, demand for nearby rural land increases. Higher land values can create incentives to subdivide property or convert working lands to other uses, particularly in areas experiencing development pressure.

Texas Continues to Grow
The pressures contributing to fragmentation are closely tied to Texas’ remarkable growth. Between 1997 and 2022, the state’s population increased from 19 million to 30 million residents, a 55% increase. More than 1.7 million people were added during the most recent five-year period alone. The majority of that growth occurred within counties surrounding major metropolitan areas, particularly within the Texas Triangle that connects Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio.

The updated Fragmentation Risk Map reflects these growth patterns, showing elevated fragmentation risk in many counties surrounding major population centers and transportation corridors. The map serves as a decision-support tool that helps identify where future conversion and subdivision pressures may be greatest.

Why This Matters for Texas Rangelands
For ranchers and landowners, fragmentation is about much more than changing property boundaries. Large, intact ranches provide the scale necessary to support productive livestock operations, functioning watersheds, connected wildlife habitat, and many of the conservation practices that sustain healthy rangelands.

Landscape-scale management approaches such as prescribed fire, invasive species control, brush management, wildlife habitat conservation, and grazing management often depend on cooperation across large areas. As ownerships become smaller and more fragmented, coordinating these efforts can become increasingly difficult. Fragmentation can also contribute to habitat fragmentation, increased infrastructure development, and reduced opportunities for long-term stewardship of natural resources.

These challenges are particularly important in Texas, where privately owned lands provide the vast majority of wildlife habitat and support many of the ecosystem services that benefit all Texans.

The Numbers Tell an Important Story
According to the latest Texas Land Trends report, the state lost nearly 3.7 million acres of working lands to non-agricultural uses between 1997 and 2022. More than 1.8 million acres were lost during the most recent five-year reporting period alone. Grazing lands have experienced some of the largest declines, with approximately 6.7 million acres converted to other uses since 1997.

These figures highlight the importance of understanding where future changes may occur and why proactive planning matters. Conservation efforts, succession planning, educational outreach, and support for working lands all play a role in maintaining the farms and ranches that contribute to Texas’ agricultural heritage and economic strength.

Looking Ahead
The updated Texas Land Trends Fragmentation Risk Map is not intended to predict the future with certainty. Instead, it provides a valuable lens through which landowners, conservation organizations, and communities can better understand ongoing changes and identify areas where proactive conversations may be needed. By understanding fragmentation trends today, Texans can make more informed decisions about the stewardship of working lands tomorrow.

As Texas continues to grow, the challenge will be finding ways to balance development with the conservation of the farms, ranches, and forests that define the state’s landscape. The future of Texas rangelands depends not only on how we manage the land, but also on how we retain the large, connected working landscapes that make effective stewardship possible.

Original Source: This article was adapted from “Updated Texas Land Trends map shows where working lands face growing fragmentation risk” by the Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute. Readers can view the original article and explore additional Texas Land Trends resources through the Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute.

Wildfire Resilience Starts Before the Fire: Lessons from Fire Scientist Jack Cohen

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When headlines focus on record-setting wildfires, the conversation often centers on flame lengths, acres burned, and suppression efforts. While these factors matter, one of the nation’s leading wildfire scientists argues that we may be asking the wrong question.

Instead of asking how to stop every wildfire, Dr. Jack Cohen encourages us to ask how we can better prepare homes, ranches, and communities to withstand them. In a recent interview published in Forest News, Cohen discussed decades of research that have transformed our understanding of wildfire risk and what truly drives losses during wildfire events.

For landowners and producers across Texas, his message is both practical and empowering: wildfire resilience begins long before smoke appears on the horizon.

Rethinking Wildfire Risk
Cohen’s work as a Forest Service fire scientist helped reshape how wildfire professionals think about community losses. According to the interview, his research demonstrated that the ignitability of homes and structures is often the decisive factor in wildfire disasters, rather than the behavior of the wildfire itself.

That idea challenges a common assumption. Many people believe homes are destroyed primarily because a large wildfire directly engulfs them. In reality, homes and infrastructure are often vulnerable because of conditions immediately surrounding the structure. Cohen’s research has helped shift the focus toward creating ignition-resistant homes and fire-adapted communities.

For Texas landowners, this means wildfire preparedness is not solely about what happens across the landscape. It is also about what happens within a few feet of homes, barns, equipment sheds, livestock facilities, and other critical infrastructure.

The Growing Importance of Preparedness
Texas has experienced several significant wildfire events in recent years, including fires that moved quickly across rangelands under extreme weather conditions. As drought, heat, and wind combine to create elevated fire danger, reducing vulnerability before a wildfire occurs becomes increasingly important.

While ranchers cannot control weather conditions, they can influence how prepared their operations are when fire occurs.

Preparation may include:

  • Reducing combustible materials around structures.
  • Maintaining access routes for emergency vehicles.
  • Developing livestock evacuation or relocation plans.
  • Managing fine fuels around homes and working facilities.
  • Identifying water sources and suppression resources.
  • Coordinating with neighbors and local fire departments.

These actions may not prevent a wildfire from occurring, but they can significantly improve an operation’s ability to withstand one.

Fire Is a Natural Part of the Landscape
Another important takeaway from Cohen’s work is the recognition that fire is a natural ecological process. Throughout history, fire has shaped grasslands, woodlands, and forests across North America.

Many Texas ecosystems evolved with periodic fire. Historically, naturally occurring fires and Indigenous burning practices helped maintain healthy plant communities, recycle nutrients, reduce woody encroachment, and create diverse wildlife habitat.

When fire is excluded from fire-adapted landscapes for extended periods, fuels can accumulate. This build-up can contribute to more challenging fire behavior when wildfires eventually occur.

For many landowners, prescribed fire remains one of the most effective tools available for reducing hazardous fuels while maintaining healthy and productive rangelands.

Building Fire-Adapted Communities
Cohen emphasized the importance of creating wildfire-resistant communities rather than relying solely on fire suppression. His research helped influence national programs such as Firewise USA and broader efforts to improve community resilience.

Although much of the national conversation focuses on neighborhoods in forested regions, the same principles apply to rural communities and ranching operations across Texas.

Fire-adapted communities often share several characteristics:

  • Awareness of local fire risk.
  • Coordinated planning among landowners.
  • Regular fuel management.
  • Infrastructure designed to reduce vulnerability.
  • Strong partnerships with local emergency responders.

These efforts help communities prepare for wildfire as an inevitable event rather than treating it as a rare possibility.

What This Means for Texas Ranchers
For producers, wildfire resilience extends beyond protecting homes. Livestock, fences, water infrastructure, hay supplies, equipment, and grazing resources are all vulnerable to wildfire impacts.

A wildfire preparedness plan should consider:

Livestock Management
Identify potential evacuation routes, temporary holding areas, and transportation resources before they are needed.

Infrastructure Protection
Evaluate vulnerable structures and facilities. Simple maintenance actions can reduce fire risk around homes, barns, and equipment storage areas.

Fuel Management
Maintain defensible space around critical infrastructure and consider long-term fuel reduction strategies where appropriate.

Communication
Know how emergency information will be received and shared during a wildfire incident.

Recovery Planning
Think beyond response. Consider how fencing, grazing management, and livestock operations would recover following a wildfire.

Resilience Starts Now
One of the most important lessons from Cohen’s career is that successful wildfire management is not solely measured by fires extinguished. It is also measured by communities that are prepared, landscapes that are resilient, and structures that can survive when wildfire occurs.

For Texas landowners, that is encouraging news. While wildfire is an unavoidable part of many landscapes, there are practical actions that can reduce risk and improve outcomes.

The most effective wildfire response often begins months or even years before the first spark. Whether through fuel management, prescribed fire, preparedness planning, or community collaboration, every step taken today can help create a more resilient tomorrow.

As wildfires continue to shape landscapes across the West, Cohen’s message remains highly relevant: protecting communities starts with making them less vulnerable to ignition in the first place.

Source: “A Conversation With Jack Cohen,” Forest News, Summer 2026, Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics.

Summer Weather Outlook

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West Texas Rangelands would like to extend our gratitude to Mr. Luke Drosche for collaborating with us and providing this weather update for our readers.  We thank him for sharing his time, talents, and knowledge with us as a guest contributor.  Luke serves with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service as a Disaster Assessment and Recovery Specialist.   

3-Month Precipitation Outlook
The last few months have proven soggy for much of the State with the exception of our friends in the panhandle and in the Northeast.  Multiple weather systems have impacted central and south Texas helping the drought situation.  Some of this looks to continue heading into the dog days of summer as a majority of the state is expected to mark near normal for monthly rainfall over the course of the next 3 months.  The exception to this is the immediate coastlines and some of the coastal prairies where there is a lesser chance of receiving normal rainfall.   It is important to note that we will certainly see dry, hot spells this summer that can create dry conditions and, in some areas, worsen droughts.

[Read more…] about Summer Weather Outlook

Burn Smarter, Not Just Hotter: Timing Fire for Plant Response in the Edwards Plateau

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Article written by Kathryn O’Daniel
West Texas Rangelands Intern and Senior, Texas A&M University

The hottest fire is not always the best fire for meeting your management goals. In many cases, a fire applied at the right time is more effective than one with the highest intensity. Choosing when to burn is one of the most powerful tools land managers can use to guide rangelands toward a desired plant community.

Before striking a match, take time to evaluate what plants are currently present and what you want the landscape to look like in five or ten years. The timing of a prescribed burn can shift the ecological balance and help promote more productive, diverse, and resilient rangelands.

How Season Affects Fire Behavior
Fire behavior changes across the year due to variations in fuel type and moisture. Burns conducted during the growing season, typically late spring through summer and in some cases early fall, include more live plant material and higher fuel moisture. These conditions often result in variable fire behavior and patchier burns compared to dormant season fires.

Dormant season burns, commonly conducted in late fall and winter, rely primarily on dry, cured grasses. These fires are often more uniform in coverage due to consistent fuel conditions.

Understanding these differences allows managers to better match fire behavior with their objectives.

Managing Warm-Season Grasses
Warm-season grasses dominate much of West Texas rangeland and reach peak productivity during the summer. These grasses are generally well-adapted to fire.

Growing season burns can help favor warm-season native grasses, increase their competitiveness, and reduce accumulated plant litter. When combined with proper grazing management, these burns may also help suppress certain invasive species.

However, outcomes are influenced by factors such as rainfall, grazing pressure, and existing plant composition, so results may vary year to year.

Managing Cool-Season Grasses
Cool-season grasses grow earlier in the year and can provide valuable forage when warm-season grasses are dormant. Fire timing plays an important role in managing their abundance.

Burning during the active growth period of cool-season grasses, typically in the spring, can reduce their presence since plants are more susceptible to heat damage. In contrast, burning outside their growing season, such as in the summer, can favor cool-season species by reducing competition from warm-season grasses.

Because cool-season grasses extend the grazing season, managers should consider their goals carefully before altering their abundance.

Influencing Forb Diversity
Forbs are often among the first plants to respond after a prescribed burn. They provide important forage for livestock and wildlife, especially in terms of protein.

Fire timing can influence forb populations. Summer burns often promote greater forb diversity, while earlier-season burns may reduce forb abundance. Including forbs in the plant community can improve overall ecosystem function and wildlife habitat, so their role should be considered in burn planning.

Brush Management Considerations
Prescribed fire is a valuable tool for managing woody plants, but its effectiveness depends on the type of shrub present.

Resprouting species, such as mesquite and huisache, are highly adapted to fire. In these cases, prescribed fire alone is often not enough to achieve significant mortality. Instead, fire is more effective when combined with other management practices, such as mechanical or chemical control, to target seedlings and limit regrowth.

Non-resprouting species, on the other hand, are more susceptible to fire since their buds are located above ground. These plants can experience higher mortality from well-timed burns. Fire applied in the spring or winter can be used to reduce these species while retaining desirable vegetation.

Putting It All Together
Plant communities are shaped by many interacting factors, including weather, precipitation, grazing management, fuel conditions, and soil characteristics. Prescribed fire timing is just one piece of the puzzle, but it is a tool managers can actively control.

Whether your goal is improving forage production, enhancing wildlife habitat, or maintaining healthy rangeland, strategic fire timing can help move the landscape in the desired direction. Well-planned burns allow land managers to influence grasses, forbs, and woody plants simultaneously.

Plan Ahead and Burn with Purpose
Ready to burn smarter? Look beyond the hottest day and consider the season; your land will thank you. Work with local professionals, develop a burn plan, and consider how the timing of fire fits into your long-term management goals. With thoughtful planning, prescribed fire can help transform West Texas rangelands into more productive and resilient ecosystems.

Know Your Stocking Rate Like You Know Your Bank Balance

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If you asked most producers what is in their bank account, they could give you a pretty close answer. They know what is coming in, what is going out, and how much room they have to work with.  But ask the same question about stocking rate, and the answer is often less certain.

That is a problem, because stocking rate is just as critical to the long-term success of your operation as your financial balance sheet. In fact, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension has long emphasized that stocking rate is the single most important grazing management decision a rancher makes.

Your Grass Is Your Bank Account
Think of forage as your operating capital.  Rainfall deposits forage into the system. Livestock withdrawals remove it. When withdrawals exceed deposits, you are not just reducing this year’s balance, you are damaging the account itself.

Stocking rate is the tool that keeps those deposits and withdrawals in check. It determines how much pressure your land can handle over the entire grazing season, not just at a single point in time.  When it is set correctly, you maintain plant health, soil cover, and long-term production. When it is not, you lose root mass, reduce future forage production, and increase vulnerability to drought.

A herd of cattle stands on a dirt road in a dry, scrubby landscape under a dramatic sky filled with white and grey clouds.

West Texas on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022. Michael Miller/Texas A&M AgriLife Marketing and Communications)

Why Stocking Rate Matters More in West Texas
In an environment that swings from drought to abundant rainfall, stocking rate becomes even more critical.  Rainfall drives forage production across Texas rangelands, and that variability means your forage supply is never constant.

This is where many operations get into trouble.

Good years create the temptation to increase stocking rates. But when conditions shift, that same stocking level can quickly exceed what the land can support.  AgriLife Extension research emphasizes that flexibility in stocking rate is key to sustainability because rainfall, forage growth, and forage use are constantly changing.

You Can Be “Right” and Still Be Wrong
There are two sides to stocking rate: 1) the land resource and 2) animal performance

You can have enough forage on paper to support your herd, but still reduce animal performance if grazing pressure forces animals to eat less desirable plants or travel farther for forage.

On the flip side, you can push animal performance short-term by stocking heavy, but do long-term damage to the resource.

Just like finances, short-term gains at the expense of long-term stability rarely pay off.

Tools to Evaluate Your Stocking Rate
You would not manage your finances without looking at numbers. The same is true for your grazing system.  Several simple, research-backed tools can help you evaluate where you stand:

1. Forage Inventory – Knowing how much grass you have is the foundation. Extension resources emphasize taking a forage inventory to understand the current supply before making decisions.

This can include – estimating pounds of forage per acre, comparing current production to expected production, and tracking changes over time.

2. Residual or Stubble Height Monitoring – Maintaining adequate plant residue is critical for capturing rainfall and protecting soil. Monitoring how much forage remains after grazing helps determine if pressure is too high.

3. Photo Monitoring and Exclosures – Permanent photo points and grazing exclosures allow you to track change over time and separate grazing impact from weather impact.

4. Grazeable Acre Evaluation – Not every acre on your ranch contributes equally. Brush cover, slope, and water distribution all affect how livestock use the land.

Adjusting stocking rate based on actual grazeable acres improves accuracy and decision-making.

Managing Stocking Rate in a Variable Climate
In West Texas, a fixed stocking rate is rarely the right answer. Adaptability is what keeps operations afloat.

Build Flexibility into Your Herd
Extension guidance recommends structuring herds so that only a portion represents your core breeding herd, while the rest can be adjusted more easily.  This allows you to reduce numbers quickly in drought and to take advantage of good years without long-term commitment

Use Conservative Stocking as a Baseline
Conservative stocking rates leave some forage unused, creating a buffer for dry periods.  That unused forage is not waste. It is insurance.

A flock of sheep, mostly white with some black faces and legs, moves across a grassy, uneven terrain with lush green foliage in the background.

Dorper sheep on Thursday, Jul 17, 2025, in San Angelo, Texas. (Michael Miller/Texas A&M AgriLife)

Adjust Early, Not Late
Waiting until forage is gone limits your options. Early adjustments protect plant health and reduce the severity of future decisions.

Match Stocking Rate to Conditions, Not Calendar
Stocking decisions should respond to rainfall and forage production, not just a set grazing plan or date on the calendar.

The Bottom Line
Stocking rate is not just a number. It is a decision that affects everything from soil health to livestock performance to long-term profitability.

Just like your bank account, you cannot manage what you do not measure.

Knowing your forage supply, tracking how it changes, and adjusting your stocking rate accordingly is one of the most practical steps you can take to build resilient rangelands.

In a system defined by variability, the operations that succeed are the ones that treat stocking rate as a dynamic decision, not a fixed number.

 

Does Prescribed Fire Ever Cross Your Mind? Join the Prescribed Burn School in Gatesville Next Month!

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For many Texas landowners and managers, prescribed fire is one of the most effective tools available for improving rangeland health, managing brush, supporting wildlife habitat, and reducing fuel loads. Still, knowing when to burn, how to plan, and what it takes to do it safely can feel overwhelming without the right training.

That is exactly where the Prescribed Burn School in Gatesville comes in.

Hosted by Dr. Morgan Treadwell, West Texas Rangelands, and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, this comprehensive three-day training will be held Monday, June 15, through Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at the Gatesville Civic Center in Gatesville, Texas. Designed for landowners, fire professionals, and agency personnel, this course offers a practical learning experience that connects classroom instruction with real-world application.

Whether prescribed fire is already part of your management plan or it is something you have considered but never pursued, this course provides a strong foundation in the principles and practice of prescribed burning in Texas.Prescribed Burn School in Gatesville, Texas, June 15-17, 2026, daily from 8 AM to 5 PM. Hosted by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, this 3-day course provides in-depth training for landowners, fire professionals, and agency personnel seeking certification as a Certified and Insured Prescribed Burn Manager. Registration is open at TX.AG/PBSGATESVILLE

Why Prescribed Fire Still Matters
Across Texas rangelands, prescribed fire remains one of the most valuable tools for restoring and maintaining healthy landscapes. Fire can help reduce woody plant encroachment, improve forage production, recycle nutrients, and create better conditions for native plant communities and wildlife.

Prescribed fire is more than just lighting a match under the right weather conditions. Effective burning requires planning, situational awareness, and an understanding of fire behavior, fuel conditions, smoke management, and post-burn evaluation. Training matters, especially for producers who want to use fire with confidence and responsibility.

What Participants Can Expect
The Gatesville Prescribed Burn School follows the Texas Department of Agriculture’s 24-hour curriculum and meets the training requirement for those pursuing certification as a Certified and Insured Prescribed Burn Manager (CIPBM).

Participants will receive in-depth instruction in areas including fire behavior, weather interpretation, prescribed burn planning, ignition techniques, and post-burn evaluation.

When conditions allow, the course will also include multiple prescribed burns, allowing participants to gain valuable field experience alongside experienced instructors and burn professionals.

That hands-on component is especially important. For producers, there is real value in seeing how planning decisions translate to field conditions and how burn objectives, weather, fuels, and crew coordination come together on the ground.

Who Should Attend?
This training is a great opportunity for a wide range of participants, including:

  • Landowners and land managers interested in using prescribed fire as a management tool
  • Fire department personnel and emergency responders
  • Municipal, county, and agency staff involved in land or resource management
  • Anyone wanting to build a deeper understanding of prescribed fire in Texas ecosystems

For producers specifically, this course offers a chance to better understand how prescribed fire may fit into a broader management strategy that includes grazing, brush control, drought planning, and long-term stewardship.

A Practical Opportunity for Producers
One of the most valuable parts of this training is that it is designed to be practical. This is not simply a classroom discussion about fire ecology. It is an opportunity to learn how prescribed fire is planned and implemented in real-world conditions.

For producers who want to incorporate prescribed fire into their operation, this course can help answer important questions:

  • What makes a burn plan workable?
  • How do weather and fuel conditions affect success?
  • What equipment and personnel are needed?
  • How do you evaluate a burn after it is complete?

These are the kinds of questions that matter when fire becomes part of a rangeland management plan.

Registration and Event Details for the Prescribed Burn School:

Dates: Monday, June 15, 2026 through Wednesday, June 17, 2026
Time: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily
Location: Gatesville Civic Center, 301 Veterans Mem Lp, Gatesville, Texas 76528

Registration: tx.ag/PBSGatesville

Free registration is available for Prescribed Burn Association members, with membership verification required to confirm eligibility.

For additional information, contact David Brooke at David.brooke@ag.tamu.edu.

Building Fire Knowledge That Supports Better Stewardship
At West Texas Rangelands, we know prescribed fire is not just a tool for specialists. It is a land management practice that can play a meaningful role on working ranches and private lands when backed by training, planning, and sound decision-making.

If prescribed fire has ever crossed your mind, this course offers a valuable opportunity to build the knowledge and field skills needed to better understand its role on Texas landscapes.

Adaptability Is Key as Drought Persists Across Texas Rangelands

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Across much of Texas, drought remains a defining challenge for rangeland managers. A recent AgriLife Today article highlights an important reality for producers: while some areas have seen timely rainfall, much of the state is still managing through ongoing drought conditions, and adaptability remains critical for long-term rangeland resilience.

👉 Read the full AgriLife Today article: https://agrilifetoday.tamu.edu/2026/05/19/adaptability-and-managing-for-rangeland-resilience-remain-key-as-drought-covers-much-of-the-state/

A cowboy on horseback rides through a dry, grassy field with cattle grazing in the background under a pale sky.A Mixed Picture Across the State
Texas rangelands are experiencing a wide range of conditions this year. Some regions, including parts of the Cross Timbers, Concho Valley, and Hill Country, are seeing improved forage production due to spring rainfall. These areas present an opportunity for producers to allow pastures time to recover after extended drought conditions.

At the same time, much of the state remains in drought. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor cited in the article, 81 percent of Texas is experiencing some level of drought. While fewer areas are in the most extreme categories compared to last year, drought is still widespread and continues to impact forage availability and management decisions.

For producers in the Panhandle, South Texas, and other regions facing more severe conditions, the message is clear: careful evaluation and planning are still essential.

Recovery Starts with Rest
One of the most important takeaways from the article is the value of rest during periods of active plant growth. When moisture is available, and grasses begin to respond, reducing grazing pressure allows plants to rebuild energy reserves.
This recovery period helps promote:

  • Root development
  • Leaf growth
  • Improved plant vigor

Allowing plants time to recover can have long-term benefits for both forage production and overall rangeland health. Resilient rangelands depend on maintaining this balance between use and recovery.

Managing for Resilience, Not Just Production
Producers are not just managing livestock. They are managing ecosystems. The article emphasizes that stewardship of rangeland resources includes maintaining ground cover and building organic matter in the soil.

These practices support essential ecosystem services, including:

  • Forage production for livestock
  • Habitat for wildlife, especially during critical periods
  • Soil health and water infiltration

A focus on resilience helps ensure that rangelands can continue to function through both wet and dry periods.

Drought Planning Still Matters
Even in areas that have received rain, it is important not to assume the drought is over. Conditions can change quickly, and the forage available now may need to carry operations through the remainder of the growing season.

Producers are encouraged to continually evaluate forage availability and compare it to expected needs. This is a key part of any drought contingency plan and helps guide decisions about stocking rates and grazing pressure.

In areas still experiencing severe drought, proactive steps such as adjusting stocking rates or reassessing grazing strategies may be necessary to avoid long-term damage to the land.

A Practical Takeaway for West Texas
For West Texas producers, where variability is the norm and drought cycles are familiar, this message reinforces what many already know. Flexibility is not optional. It is essential.
Whether your operation has received recent rain or is still waiting for relief, the same principles apply:

  • Take advantage of good conditions to build recovery
  • Protect plant health through strategic grazing decisions
  • Monitor forage conditions closely
  • Be prepared to adjust as conditions change

Looking Ahead
Drought will continue to be part of managing rangelands in Texas. While rainfall patterns and seasonal conditions are beyond our control, management decisions are not.

By focusing on adaptability and resilience, landowners and managers can position their operations to better withstand drought and recover more quickly when conditions improve.

Resilient rangelands are built over time with careful management, timely decisions, and a long-term perspective.

What the National CPBM Report Means for Producers Using Prescribed Fire

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Prescribed fire has deep roots in agricultural land stewardship, especially across working rangelands where fire has long been used to manage brush, renew forage, and support wildlife habitat. At the same time, the regulatory and social landscape surrounding prescribed fire continues to evolve. A new national report assessing Certified Prescribed Burn Manager programs provides useful context for producers navigating this changing environment.

Forest Stewards Guild "March 2026" report cover featuring a controlled prescribed burn in a grassy field with trees in the background.The 2026 National Assessment of Certified Prescribed Burn Manager Programs, developed by the Forest Stewards Guild and partners, examines how states across the country are supporting safe and effective prescribed fire through training and certification. While the report is national in scope, many of its findings are directly relevant to West Texas producers.

Prescribed Fire Demand Is Increasing Nationwide
The report notes a growing recognition that fire is an essential ecological process and a critical tool for reducing hazardous fuels and restoring ecosystem function. At the same time, there is an unmet demand for prescribed fire across the United States, driven by increasing wildfire risk, woody plant encroachment, and the need for proactive land management.

For producers, this confirms what many already know. Fire remains one of the most cost‑effective tools available for managing rangelands, but opportunities to burn safely are increasingly influenced by weather constraints, public perception, smoke concerns, and liability issues.

What CPBM Programs Are Designed to Do
Certified Prescribed Burn Manager programs are one approach states have used to address these challenges. According to the report, CPBM programs provide structured training, clarify standards for safe burning, and help reduce liability exposure for practitioners by establishing clear expectations and certification pathways.

As of early 2026, 24 states operate formal CPBM programs, with additional states actively developing them. These programs vary widely, reflecting regional differences in land ownership, fire culture, and policy priorities.

Acknowledging Agricultural Fire Culture
One important finding highlighted in the report is that not all regions view certification the same way. In parts of the Great Plains and agricultural regions, prescribed fire has often been passed down through generations or coordinated informally among neighbors. In these areas, some practitioners expressed concern that formal certification could interfere with trusted local systems or add unnecessary bureaucracy for producers who already burn responsibly.

This perspective is particularly relevant to West Texas. Many producers already have deep practical knowledge of fire behavior on their land and rely on local relationships to conduct safe burns. The report acknowledges that any certification or training framework must respect these established practices while still addressing modern risk and safety expectations.

Why Training Still Matters for Producers
Even in regions with strong fire traditions, the report emphasizes that accessible training remains a key support for prescribed fire. Training helps producers stay current on weather tools, smoke management considerations, equipment standards, and evolving regulations. It also supports communication with neighbors, agencies, and insurers when burns are planned.

For producers who do not seek formal certification, structured training can still strengthen burn planning and reduce risk. For those working with certified burn managers or participating in prescribed burn associations, shared training frameworks help align expectations and improve coordination.

Implications for West Texas Rangelands
Texas is unique in that the vast majority of land is privately owned, making cooperation and producer leadership essential for successful prescribed fire use. The national CPBM report reinforces the importance of balancing flexibility with accountability, especially in states where agriculture drives land management outcomes.

For West Texas producers, the key takeaway is not that certification is required for everyone, but that informed fire use is increasingly important. Whether fire is applied directly by producers, through prescribed burn associations, or with certified professionals, understanding the broader landscape helps protect both land and livelihoods.

Using Information to Support Better Decisions
The national CPBM assessment provides context for why training programs exist and how they are being used across the country. Producers can use this information to evaluate their own goals, identify resources that fit their operation, and engage more effectively in conversations about prescribed fire at the local and state level.

Prescribed fire remains a producer‑driven tool on working rangelands. Staying informed helps ensure it remains that way.

Read the Full Report by Visiting: https://irp.cdn-website.com/447b03b9/files/uploaded/2026_National_CPBM_Report_FINAL.pdf

2025 Region 3 Texas Land Value Trends: What Stability Means for West Texas Producers

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West Texas Rangelands sourced this information from the Texas Agriculture Law Blog authored by Tiffany Dowell Lashmet, Professor & Extension Ag Law Specialist with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.  To view the full report, please visit: https://agrilife.org/texasaglaw/2026/04/13/2025-rural-land-value-trends-report-released/.   

Land values influence nearly every management decision on a West Texas ranch, from leasing and grazing strategies to succession planning and long‑term investment. The 2025 Texas Land Value Trends for Region 3 offer an important takeaway for producers across North, Central, and South Central Texas: stability remains the dominant theme.

While individual properties differ, overall rangeland values and rental rates across Region 3 have remained steady going into 2025. For producers, this consistency provides a clearer planning window during a time when many costs and inputs remain unpredictable.

Infographic detailing 2025 Texas Land Value Trends for Region 3, presenting data for North, Central, and South Central Texas, including land classes, value ranges, and rental ranges. The infographic highlights regional stability and increased sales, with a map illustrating key cities and areas within Region 3. [Read more…] about 2025 Region 3 Texas Land Value Trends: What Stability Means for West Texas Producers

Economic Incentives for Reducing Wildfire Risk

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What Landowners, Educators, and Technical Assistance Providers Should Know
Wildfire risk across Texas rangelands and working lands continues to rise. Larger fires, longer fire seasons, and increased exposure at the wildland–urban interface are no longer isolated concerns, they are becoming part of routine land management decisions. While traditional wildfire response has focused heavily on suppression, growing attention is being given to prevention and risk reduction, particularly through economic incentives that encourage proactive land stewardship.  Recent research examining economic incentives for reducing wildfire risk highlights both opportunities and challenges for landowners and those who support them through education and technical assistance.

Why Wildfire Risk Is Increasing
Several interacting forces are driving higher wildfire risk on rangelands:

  • Climate and weather variability, including hotter temperatures and more frequent droughts
  • Fuel buildup from invasive grasses, brush encroachment, and reduced disturbance
  • Land use change and fragmentation, which complicates coordinated fire management

The social and economic impacts extend beyond burned acres. Wildfires affect ranch operations, infrastructure, natural resources, insurance markets, and community safety. As a result, there is growing interest in tools that shift investments from post-fire response to pre-fire prevention.

What Are Economic Incentives for Wildfire Risk Reduction?
Economic incentives are mechanisms designed to lower the financial barriers to adopting wildfire-mitigating practices or to reward landowners for reducing risk on their properties. The research summarized in the infographic identifies four broad categories of incentives:

  1. Command-and-Control Policies – These include regulations such as burn bans, fuel treatment requirements, or zoning rules. While they can be effective in certain contexts, they often face resistance if they limit landowner flexibility or fail to account for local conditions.
  2. Information-Based Incentives – Programs such as cost-share education, outreach campaigns, and technical guidance aim to increase awareness and capacity. These approaches are common in Extension programming and are most effective when paired with financial or operational support.
  3. Market-Based Incentives
    • Cost-share programs for prescribed burning, brush management, or grazing infrastructure
    • Payments for ecosystem services
    • Insurance premium adjustments tied to risk reduction
    • Research shows that direct subsidies and cost-share programs are among the most frequently used and most studied incentive types for wildfire risk reduction.
  4. Hybrid Incentives – Hybrid approaches combine regulatory frameworks with market or informational tools. For example, insurance programs that reward compliance with fuel management standards.

Cost, Effectiveness, and Tradeoffs
One of the most important takeaways for landowners and advisors is that upfront investment matters, but long-term savings can be substantial.

  • Prescribed burning, targeted grazing, and mechanical treatments require planning and initial costs.
  • Over time, these practices can reduce wildfire suppression costs, limit infrastructure damage, and improve ecological resilience.
  • Studies summarized in the research indicate that prevention investments can yield significant cost savings compared to repeated emergency response and recovery.

However, challenges remain:

  • Incentive programs are often short-term, while wildfire risk reduction requires sustained management.
  • Programs may not align well with local ecological conditions or landowner objectives.
  • Participation can be limited by administrative burden or lack of technical support.

Implications for Extension and Technical Assistance
For Extension educators and technical assistance providers, the findings reinforce several key points:

  • Cultural context matters. Landowners are more likely to engage when incentives align with local norms, production goals, and stewardship values.
  • One-size-fits-all approaches rarely work. Flexible, locally adapted programs outperform rigid designs.
  • Education alone is not enough. Information is most effective when paired with financial or operational incentives that reduce risk and uncertainty for landowners.

Extension’s trusted role positions educators to:

  • Translate incentive opportunities into practical decision tools
  • Facilitate cooperative approaches across fence lines
  • Support landowners in navigating cost-share, insurance, and hybrid programs

Looking Ahead
As wildfire risk continues to shape rangeland management, future incentive programs are likely to place greater emphasis on:

  • Long-term contracts and sustained funding
  • Risk-based insurance models
  • Integrated approaches that combine grazing management, prescribed fire, and fuel reduction

For landowners, proactive participation in wildfire risk reduction can protect livelihoods, landscapes, and communities. For educators and technical assistance providers, aligning economic incentives with sound land management remains a powerful strategy for building more fire-resilient rangelands.

Learn More and Stay Connected
For additional resources on rangeland fire management, prescribed burning, and incentive programs, contact your local Extension office or rangeland specialist.