Agricultural Survey

Quarterly Comments

District bankers were asked for additional comments concerning agricultural land values and credit conditions. These comments have been edited for publication.

Region 1—Northern High Plains

• Drought conditions along with low commodity prices continue to have producers concerned about 2020.
• We are just trying to ride out the year and, hopefully, press “reset” for 2021. We very much appreciate the efforts of the Independent Bankers Association of Texas to simplify the forgiveness provision on Paycheck Protection Program loans.
• If the current drought does not break, there will soon be a large selloff of cows, and no wheat will be available to feed stocker calves.
• We have seen an impact from COVID-19 on our ag customers in the form of lower commodity prices. Continued pressure from the global market with the ongoing pandemic has encouraged producers to monitor their operations closely and take advantage of future marketing opportunities. Locally, the fall harvest is just kicking off, and with some recent moisture, we should see some good yields. Cotton in the area looks promising and seemed to get the heat and dry weather at the right time with the moisture to mature the crop. Wheat harvest was average, and planting will soon start again. However, it is uncertain what recent unseasonably cold weather will do to the cotton, corn and milo that are in the fields. Cattle prices have jumped around but overall have remained manageable. Producers aren’t getting rich in the ag markets, but breakeven seems to be attainable with careful management practices. There’s not an industry that hasn’t been affected by the pandemic, but the ag industry seems to be holding its own in rural parts. With help from local banks, we all will prevail on the other side and be better equipped and more prepared should this ever happen again.

Region 2—Southern High Plains

• Our area is still in drought mode, and dryland cotton has mostly been failed. Irrigated crops are about average. Cattle are in good condition. There is a need for the government to pay the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program funds and any disaster funds approved for this year. All are ready for 2020 to be in the past.
• Current drought conditions and low prices will make this a very hard year. Producers of every crop are seeing yield and price damage. Additionally, government assistance is needed soon.
• Crops on the South Plains are fair to poor with some pockets of good growth. It depends on where you farm and if you were under a cloud at the time of the rain. Irrigated crops look decent, but the cost associated with that production is out of sight, and with the current prices, it will be bleak. We must have some additional government help.
• There are a few patches of cotton and peanuts that will reach target yields on the South Plains. Most will be short owing to our old nemeses: heat and drought. Very little dryland cotton emerged, and it is burned up. This will be another bad year. Our producers really need another round of government supports. Market Facilitation Payments for 2019 salvaged the year. We need something like that for 2020. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act program was of little or no benefit. We need an improved CARES 2.0; otherwise, it will be more erosion of working capital and credit restructurings.

Region 3—Northern Low Plains

• Drought conditions have persisted all summer with hit-and-miss storms. Irrigated cotton should have average yields, but dryland will be well below. Insurance prices will not make up the loss of crop income. Pasture conditions are poor to fair in most of our region.

Region 4—Southern Low Plains

• We are in various stages of drought. Most dryland cotton will be failed. Some operators will have four years of losses in a row. Pastures are in rough shape due to dry weather and grasshoppers. They are culling cow herds. Tank water is going away fast. Crop damage due to deer and wild hogs is a growing problem. Nevertheless, farmers are in better shape financially due to controlling cost, less debt and Farm Service Agency payments.

Region 5—Cross Timbers

• Cattle markets are down. We experienced extremely dry conditions all summer but received substantial rainfall the first week in September.

Region 6—North Central Texas

• Poor production and historically low crop prices are holding down farmland prices and demand for farmland in this area. Until those factors improve, land prices and sales activity will remain muted.
• We are not doing any new ag loans unless they are the cream of the crop. Hopefully, a COVID-19 vaccine will be available before the second wave hits. We expect a lot of volatility in all markets until after the election. We have a new lake to open in spring/summer 2021, which should help our local economy.

Region 7—East Texas

• We continue to see an influx of people interested in moving into our rural area from larger cities, which is elevating land prices.

Region 8—Central Texas

• Continued drought conditions in some areas have many ranchers worried about going into the fall months with little stock tank water. What little corn harvest we had brought better-than-average yields for almost all producers. Oil field remains at a standstill at this time, with no drilling, no fracking, everything on hold. Army worms have already shown up in several pastures, with oat planting to start in the next few weeks.

Region 11—Trans-Pecos and Edwards Plateau

• Prices for livestock have remained, for all practical purposes, strong throughout the pandemic crisis of recent months. The ag sector in the Edwards Plateau has enjoyed a stable situation so far for this year. However, rain—that most important factor in any ag operation—has been pretty fickle in this region of the state. While some areas in south central Texas have received some beneficial rainfall, others are struggling with drought conditions. If general rains are not received soon, and if we run into a dry fall and winter, we could see lots of livestock being sold in numbers not seen since 2011.
• Pasture conditions are dry to severe dry in our area, resulting in short grass conditions. Rains have been very spotty and not been enough. Overall, livestock is in reasonable condition, though that will deteriorate without good general rainfall very soon. Cattle markets have pulled back some but remain okay. Sheep and goat markets have been volatile though overall have remained good, especially considering the increased numbers at the sales. Hair sheep numbers continue to grow, and wool sheep numbers to decline, with predators remaining a problem.
• Range conditions are drying up quickly with the hot temperatures and lack of rain. This is causing some selloff of livestock to manage herds with current grazing conditions.

Region 12—Southern New Mexico

• The dry summer will probably result in the thinning down of many cattle herds. Appreciable moisture is needed badly for crops and cattle.

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