#TexasRanching Archives - West Texas Rangelands

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.

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

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.

A Stable Market Across Region 3
According to the Texas Chapter of the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers, rangeland prices throughout Region 3 have largely held steady from 2024 to 2025. This includes large tracts greater than 2,000 acres as well as smaller ranches under 2,000 acres.

In North and Central Texas, total land sales increased from 2024 to 2025, even as interest rates for land loans remained higher than many producers have been accustomed to in recent years. This suggests that demand for rangeland remains strong, particularly for properties that support livestock production, hunting leases, or long‑term land investments.

For South Central Texas, values have remained stable as well, though rental ranges and entry prices continue to vary based on acreage size, location, and land condition.

What the Numbers Say About Rangeland Values
Across Region 3, rangelands larger than 2,000 acres generally continue to carry lower per‑acre values than smaller properties, reflecting typical economies of scale. Smaller tracts often command higher per‑acre prices due to accessibility, limited supply, or diversification opportunities.

Rental rates for rangeland grazing remain within consistent ranges across the region. Long‑term rangeland lease rates per animal unit year continue to fall within established norms, giving producers some predictability when budgeting for leased ground or negotiating renewals.

Hunting leases remain an important supplemental income source for many ranches. Although rates vary widely depending on habitat, access, and wildlife management, the continued presence of hunting lease value reinforces the importance of multispecies land stewardship in West Texas.

Development Pressure and Emerging Interests
There continues to be interest in wind and solar development, as well as AI data centers, within Region 3. While these developments are not evenly distributed, they are increasingly part of landowner conversations across nearly every region of Texas.

For producers, this does not necessarily mean a shift away from agriculture. Instead, it reinforces the need to understand how surface use agreements, water access, and infrastructure placement may affect long‑term ranch operations. Evaluating these opportunities through the lens of working lands remains critical.

What Stability Means for Ranch Management Decisions
Stable land values can be both reassuring and strategic for producers. When markets are not rapidly escalating or declining, decisions can be made with greater confidence and less pressure to react quickly.
For some operations, this may be an opportunity to:

Re-evaluate grazing or hunting lease terms
Invest in land improvements such as water infrastructure or brush management
Plan transitions within family operations
Reassess insurance, taxes, and long‑term budgets

Stable markets do not remove risk, but they do reduce uncertainty when compared to periods of rapid appreciation or correction.

Keeping Land Productive in a Stable Market
While land values matter, long‑term ranch success still depends on land conditions. Soil health, forage productivity, water availability, and flexibility during drought remain foundational to property value over time.

Markets reflect what land can produce. Producers who focus on sustainable grazing management, adaptive stocking strategies, and thoughtful use of tools such as prescribed fire are better positioned regardless of short‑term market shifts.

Staying Informed
Land value trends are one piece of the broader picture producers must consider. Staying informed through credible sources allows landowners to separate short‑term headlines from long‑term patterns.

The West Texas Rangelands program will continue sharing producer‑focused information that supports informed decision-making across working landscapes.

What the National CPBM Report Means for Producers Using Prescribed Fire

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