NRI releases Texas landowner survey to examine status of working lands and needs of land managers
The Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute’s Texas Land Trends program released the 2022 Landowner Survey for landowners who own or operate private working lands in Texas. This voluntary questionnaire serves to gather information on the needs, preferences, concerns, and challenges regarding the everyday management of property that landowners face.
Released once every 5 years, the survey seeks to identify the special characteristics and values of the diverse people who collectively own and manage the 141 million acres of privately-owned farms and ranches in Texas. The program will examine changes in demography, economy and natural resources of the state.
“Texas working lands are among the most productive farms, ranches, and energy producers in the country. Since private rural working lands comprise most of the open space in Texas, private rural landowners and their management decisions help shape our statewide resources,” said Dr. Roel Lopez, director of the Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute. “Supporting landowner stewardship makes sense because it helps conserve Texas’ rich land heritage, vital to the state’s economy.”
The Landowner Survey is divided into six topic areas including Land Management, Landowner Concerns, Land Loss/Fragmentation, Water, Hunting and Landowners.
The results are anonymous and will only be presented in an aggregate form; an example of past data usage can be found in the Texas Land Trends publication Status Update and Trends of Texas Working Lands 1997 – 2017. Presenting this survey once every 5 years allows data scientists to determine how landowner preferences and needs are changing over time and how the Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute and other natural resource agencies can work together to better understand and meet those needs.
The questionnaire should take approximately 20-30 minutes to complete and is mostly multiple-choice questions. For an optimized experience, it is recommended to take the survey on a tablet, laptop, or desktop computer. Anyone who takes the survey has the chance to enter a raffle to win 1 of 15 Yeti® Texas Land Trends mugs.
The Landowner Survey is now closed. (Updated 2023)