Agricultural Economics Extension

We are a leader in the development and delivery of innovative educational and applied research programs that meet the economic decision support needs of targeted audiences and stakeholders in the state of Texas, regionally and nationally. Our mission is to engage people in the use of economic analysis in decision making involving producers, agribusinesses, policy makers, natural resources, and communities.

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Program Areas

Agricultural Law and Policy

We respond to legislative requests and help identify emerging agricultural, resource and food policy issues. Our experts conduct research, economic analyses and develop educational programs for government agencies, farm and agribusiness organizations, and agricultural leadership throughout Texas and the nation.

International Trade and Transportation

We help communities realize their long-term goals by providing technical assistance and grants that support strategic planning and community visioning in order to help create and grow businesses, jobs, wealth and income.

Global Economic Development

We implement extension programs based on crucial emerging international trade trends and global issues to help educate key business and policy leaders. We track, analyze and report on global agricultural commodity markets.

Marketing

We provide research-based science and analyses on market trends to help farmers, ranchers and agribusiness managers master marketing techniques, draft and implement strategic marketing plans and gain a better understanding of futures and options to help reduce future risk.

Farm Management

Our faculty develop farm budgets and a variety of tools, educational programs, and publications to assist with budgeting and decision-making to ensure farm and ranch enterprises achieve long and short term success.

Find an Extension Expert

We have Extension personnel across the state, performing economic analysis and providing resources to help Texans make decisions involving their agribusinesses, natural resources and communities.

Extension Faculty

Extension Program Specialists

Outreach Efforts and Flagship Programs

Annie’s Project

is an award-winning, national workshop series for women that focuses on farm and ranch management and dynamic decision-making in the complex world of agriculture.

Beef Cow-Calf Standardized Performance Analysis (SPA)

The Beef Cow-calf Standardized Performance Analysis (SPA) offers a unique opportunity for cow-calf producers of any size in the Southwest. Initiated by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s (NCBA) producer-led effort, SPA is designed to help cow-calf producers reduce their cost of production and improve their production and marketing efficiency.

Estate Planning for Agricultural Producers

Our Extension experts offer training and tools to help Texans understand and simplify their estate planning. These resources help make the process manageable and ensure family legacies can be passed on as intended.

Community Economic Development Program

The Community and Economic Development, or CED program, provides support for creating and growing businesses, jobs, wealth and income through educational workshops and technical assistance like economic analyses and research-driven estimates.

Corn, Cotton, Sorghum, Soybean and Wheat Basis Data

Prices in the basis data are an average and due to the limited number of elevators in some reporting areas and given the seasonal nature of grain sales, not all are reported each week. We strive to have complete coverage of price data throughout the state and are continuously seeking grain handlers to participate in this program. This program is made possible through grant funding provided by the USDA-Risk Management Agency, Texas Wheat Producers Board, Texas Corn Producers, Texas Farm Bureau, Cotton State Support Committee, and Texas Grain Sorghum Producers Board.

Cotton Marketing and Market Information

This educational resource provides information relating to cotton growers to aid in farm-level implementation of strategies for Texas cotton growers to deal with yield and price risk.

Crop and Livestock Budgets

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service budgets for major crops and livestock are a valuable tool used to help Texas agricultural producers generate their own budgets. Over 180 enterprise budgets for major crops and alternative production systems are available from the 12 Extension districts which represent a wide range of geographical regions throughout the state.

Custom Rate Survey

The Custom Rate Survey, administered by our Extension experts collects and publishes data from both providers and users of custom services. The data reflect the prices paid for typical farm and ranch custom operations, including rates for tractor rental, row crop field operations, harvesting, hay baling, various land improvements and livestock services.

FARM Assistance and FARM Assistance Analysis

FARM Assistance, which is part of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension’s Risk Management Education Program, seeks to bridge this gap and provide individuals with a sound, statistically-based strategic financial analysis.

A key objective of the FARM Assistance analysis is to compare and contrast the expected outcomes of different strategic actions for a farm or ranch by conducting a “what if” type of analysis. As a result, participants can evaluate the implications of many different production scenarios and gain insight

Kids, Kows & More

Kids, Kows & More teaches youth the importance of agriculture in our society, showing where our food and fiber come from. In more than 70 youth-related programs, various programs and mobile exhibits are taken directly to students and educators.

Master Marketer

Master Marketer is a 64-hour intensive marketing education course during which producers, lenders, and business leaders are trained in marketing techniques, drafting marketing plans, technical analysis, futures and options, and more.

Profitability Workshops

Profitability Workshops help producers learn how to accurately estimate their bottom line using current prices and production costs. This program puts valuable tools and resources in the hands of producers.

Ranching Agricultural Leasing Workshops

This award-winning agricultural leasing workshop teaches landowners and people with an agricultural lease about the many legal and economic issues that pertain to ranchlands in Texas. Among other types of leases, this course applies to you if you lease your owned land or have a grazing lease, hunting lease and/or livestock lease.

Owning Your Piece of Texas

This award-winning course assists Texas rural landowners and agricultural producers by identifying key legal issues related to their property. Get practical tips with insightful examples that help explain important legal concepts in a way that you will be able to understand and apply.

Recordkeeping-Quickbooks Workshops

The primary goal of these workshops is to help farmers and ranchers improve their financial recording-keeping and analysis capabilities, which will allow them to make better management decisions.

Roy B. Davis Cooperative Management Program

The Roy B. Davis Cooperative Management Program helps cooperatives through management education, director training, industry research, strategic panning and economic impact analysis.

Small Acreage Program

Small Acreage Program, based in the Rio Grande Valley, is a multidisciplinary educational program, developed to benefit underserved farmer and rancher populations, young farmers and veterans through various workshops, field days, online demonstrations and mentoring opportunities.

Tax Practitioner Workshops

Income Tax Workshops provide tax preparation services to more than 500,000 Texans and tax professionals each year to assist in proper tax reporting and planning.

Texas Agricultural Law Blog

The Texas Agricultural Law Blog provides weekly information on legal issues impacting agriculture. The Ag Law in the Field Podcast was launched in 2017, and to date has over 100,000 downloads. Currently, the blog has over 11,000 subscribers. It has been recognized as an American Bar Association Top 100 Legal Blog.

The Executive Program for Agricultural Producers (TEPAP)

The Executive Program for Agricultural Producers (TEPAP) teaches advanced agribusiness skills such as international business development, niche market evaluation, analyzing and forecasting financial position, as well as personnel management and negotiation.

Welcome to the Real World Financial Simulation for Students

The Welcome to the Real World program is a simulation designed to teach middle school and high school students the skills needed to financially navigate the adult world. Youth participants make lifestyle and spending choices like those faced by adults. They pay taxes, determine a savings amount, make a student loan payment — if applicable — and spend their salary on the necessary and other items based on choices with varying dollar amounts, which are based upon the prices in their community

Wheat Outlook

This resource provides monthly data on price trends and key market developments of wheat across the U.S.

Extension News

On AgriLife Today, the online archive for Texas A&M AgriLife and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, we provide news relating new and innovative research, academic programs, student experience, and Extension programming and outreach. We share news to improve lives, environments, scientific rigor and the Texas Economy. Read more department news on AgriLife Today.

New AgriLife Extension program to address direct beef sales

Interest in direct beef sales skyrocketed during the pandemic, along with a public desire to make that local connection in meat sales, so two Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service specialists in the Department of Agricultural Economics are planning programs to help navigate this potential new venture for beef producers.

Farmer standing in front of a John Deere tractor.

Master Marketer program helps farmers, ranchers reduce risk, increase profits

Our Master Marketer program is designed for agricultural producers and agribusiness leaders experienced in marketing commodities and having some knowledge of futures and options markets. Program attendees share what they gained from attending and how it influenced their operations.

Research and Extension Centers

Our centers conduct innovative research to contribute information relating to key agribusiness market issues.

Agribusiness, Food and Consumer Economics Research Center
Agricultural and Food Policy Center
Center for North American Studies
Center on Conflict and Development
Human Behavior Lab

Visit our Research Centers

Browse our Resources on AgriLife Learn

We develop top-tier educational content, materials, and multimedia including online courses and publications to help our stakeholders make informed decisions.