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However, several factors in the Big Country have resulted in concern over the prosperity of that harvest. Poor weather conditions, the current La Nina weather pattern, a lack of rain, and legislative shortfalls have led to cautious optimism among area agriculture workers.
“It’s pretty depressing. It’s hard on the gin; of course, our farmers are having a hard time financially. And it takes a toll on everyone.” Stamford Co-op Gin General Manager Rex Ford told KTAB/KRBC.
Ford has been farming wheat and raising cattle for about three decades in the Big Country. He says that while cattle ranching has been good to him this year, the same cannot be said for the other staple commodities, cotton, and wheat.
“We had a nice wheat crop this year. Price wasn’t any good. The cotton crop, we just needed that one more rain in August, and we never got it.” Said Ford.
With a less-than-desirable harvest as it is, Farmers have seen difficulty trying to recoup costs from previous dry seasons.
Adding to the difficulty, Congress recently failed to pass a farm bill that could have not only allowed for more financial aid in the event of a disaster but brought pricing figures more in line with the current market, according to Taylor County Texas A&M Agri-Life Extension Agent Steve Estes.
“Ultimately, those need to be updated, and we’re seeing prices now for commodities that don’t really match up with where the farm bill is,” Estes said.
Before extending the farm bill, which was initially passed in 2018, farmers also had difficulty securing funding from farm credit lenders. Estes said that the issue should be at least somewhat eased now.
“Now’s the time farmers go to their lenders and get funding for the 2025 year. Lenders want to know; they need some kind of certainty on paper about what kind of protections or risk management the government can provide, and now they know since those bills were passed.” Said Estes.
Still, without a bill that fits modern farmers’ demands and a poor rain forecast, the fear of having to close up shop at any big country farm is ever-present.
“The tariffs, more than likely, are gonna hurt us some, but we don’t know that. The weather probably plays more into it than the farm bill, but we need a good farm bill along with the weather.” Ford said.
Some farmers are looking for alternative revenue streams on their land, such as allowing oil, wind energy, and solar energy groups to come in. Though Ford says, it’s a double-edged sword, as land taken up by energy interests is land that cannot be utilized thoroughly for farming or ranching, leading to a decline in overall usable acreage in the area.
Estes says that as farmers look to the coming months, cotton growers are hopeful for a rainy spring, which would set them up for a much more desirable growing season.
“Farmers are always hopeful. Hopeful that next year is going to be better than the last and we certainly hope 2025 will shape up to be that way.” Said Estes.
The issues discussed in this article are only some of the stresses facing farmers today. Anyone in the Agriculture industry who feels they need support due to stress can contact the AgriStress helpline by phone or text at 833-897-2474.
That line is available to support agricultural communities in Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Missouri, Montana, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Wyoming.
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