Texas has lost almost 2 million acres of working land to development, according to a recent report

A new land trend report out of Texas A&M shows that over the last five years, nearly 1.8 million acres of working land have been developed. Grazing lands account for the majority of that loss.

Since 1997, over 6 million acres of grazing land have been converted to other land uses, but the report was not all bad news: over the last 25 years, wildlife management acres grew from just 94,000 acres to over 7 million. And while the state may have lost more than 17,000 agricultural operations over the last five years, it is still home to 2,500 more than in 1997.

Related Stories
USDA Under Secretary Richard Fordyce says the department stands ready to provide technical assistance with the Farm Bill if Congress requests it.
Surging energy markets are quickly becoming a cost story for U.S. agriculture as crude oil climbs on supply fears tied to the Middle East conflict.
Strike risk adds volatility to already tight markets.
Fertilizer investigation may impact input costs and margins.
The American Coalition for Ethanol reacts as the Farm Bill heads to a full House vote — while ethanol expansion, including year-round E15, is left out — as well as the USDA’s pursuit of global markets for ethanol.
Big oils-and-fats volumes can support crush demand, but fuel markets can quickly tighten supplies.