New survey looks at land-use changes in Far West Texas

“Texas has 141-million acres of private farms, ranches and forestlands, leading the nation in land area devoted to privately owned working lands,” said Lopez. “These lands provide food and fiber, support rural economies, and provide recreational opportunities along with other products and services. The 16-county area of West Texas addressed in the report represents more than 17 million acres of these working lands.”  

She said the report not only reflects the responses by the landowners but also identifies opportunities for improved land management, participation in land-enhancement and protection programs, tax valuations and other possibilities.    

Takeaways

Landowners: Survey respondents were predominantly male and indicated ranching and hunting were primary sources of income derived from their land, followed by oil and gas, and farming. For many, land income contributed less than 25% of their total annual household income, but for about one-third it contributed more than 25%. Many landowners indicated they did not derive income from their land, but even among them there appeared to be opposition to selling or subdividing their lands.

Land management: West Texas respondents focused their land practices on grazing management, hunting, habitat restoration, predator control, livestock production, feral animal control and water development. Wildlife for which landowners managed their land included big game animals, upland game birds, migratory game birds, non-game birds, exotic game and non-game animals.

Landowner concerns: Landowners were concerned with solar energy development and mineral rights. They were extremely concerned about the breakup of private lands, declining wildlife populations, groundwater ownership, landowner liability, private property rights, property taxes, soil health, water demand and wildlife/livestock diseases. They also expressed concern about eminent domain, water supply, property damage, predators, predator control, fencing-related wildlife deaths and brush control.

Land loss/fragmentation: Factors perceived to moderately influence land-use changes were land/housing development, oil/gas energy development and mineral rights. Factors perceived to highly influence land-use changes included the death of primary land caretaker, estate/death tax rates, high property tax rates, increasing human population, increasing market value versus land production capabilities, parcel division within families, and sale of lands to non-family members.