Farm & Ranch
Land Market Report
By Jared Groce
Many folks, including myself, had predicted last year that the increase in land pricing would likely continue in 2022 barring a catastrophic event. Well, that event is here and is called inflation.
What will that do to land prices for us? Of course no one really knows, but here are some things to consider:
According to the Texas Real Estate Center at Texas A&M, we saw a 19.52 percent decrease in land prices in 1975 when we had the oil crises and inflation. We saw a 13.59 percent decrease in 1989 during the recession led by Iraq invading Kuwait. There seems to be a common thread of fuel prices, inflation, and land prices. However, what we had in 1975 and 1989 was the fact that so much of Texas land had a highest and best use of agriculture, but today, practically none of our North Texas land has a highest and best use of agriculture simply because the price is too high.
To read more pick up a copy of NTFR magazine. To subscribe call 940-872-5922.
Farm & Ranch
Hazards of Backyard Poultry
By Barry Whitworth, DVM
Having backyard poultry is a popular agriculture enterprise. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, 0.8 percent of all households in the United States have chickens. People keep chickens for a variety of reasons with table eggs being one of the more common reasons.
Unfortunately, some of these poultry producers are not aware of the hazards that come with keeping poultry because many times they carry pathogens but appear healthy.
Chickens are carriers of several zoonotic diseases. These are diseases that can be passed from animals to humans. According to a recent survey in Pennsylvania, a majority of backyard poultry producers were aware of the dangers of avian influenza. However, this study also revealed that far fewer producers were aware of the risk of possible exposure to Salmonella and Campylobacter.
The lack of knowledge about the hazards of raising poultry likely contributes to the continued issues of Salmonella outbreaks associated with backyard poultry. In 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 1,072 illnesses of Salmonella linked to backyard poultry, and 272 of those patients required hospitalization. Oklahoma reported 43 individuals with the disease.
To read more, pick up a copy of the April issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
Farm & Ranch
Ag Elsewhere: Wyoming
By Tressa Lawrence
Babies are tucked away in every nook and cranny. Many ranchers across Wyoming have baby animals popping up all over this time of year.
Farm & Ranch
Ag Elsewhere: Montana
By Lindsey Monk
Another load of grain in to keep feeding the calves until the green grass can really start popping.
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