Dalhart's economy is squarely and surely based on agriculture. Agriculture
is our real bread and butter-cattle, hog and crop production are mainstays.
Corn is our main crop and the bi-county area has the state's highest
corn yield, with more than 300,000 acres planted annually. Wheat is
also a major crop, with nearly 250,000 acres planted in Dallam and Hartley
Counties. Irrigation is important to our farming, and many fields are
irrigated by center-pivot sprinkler systems.
Climate
The Dallam/Hartley bi-county area is blessed with a mild climate. Daytime
highs in the winter average about 55 degrees, while the average daytime
high is a dry 85 degrees in the summer, with nights cooling down to
the 60s. The area receives an average of 18 inches of rainfall annually.
Our growing season lasts approximately 178 days, with the average last
frost on April 22 and the average first frost on October 17.
Water
Dalhart has a semi-arid climate and relies on the huge Ogallala Aquifer
to supply water needs in the region. The nation's largest unconfined
aquifer, the Ogallala Aquifer provides water for 30 percent of all irrigated
land in the United States; more than 74 Texas counties draw from the
Ogallala Aquifer. The aquifer is recharged by rainfall (between 16 and
18 inches annually). The amount of water found in the Ogallala Aquifer
may vary dramatically from place to place, but according to the Kansas
Geological Survey, much of the area underlain by the Ogallala Aquifer
should be able to support pumping for many years to come.
An additional water source for Dallam County is the Rita Blanca Aquifer,
located in the northwestern portion of the county. The Rita Blanca is
considered hydraulically connected with the Ogallala Aquifer.
The availability of water in the Dalhart area is sufficient for most
irrigated farming operations. The average depth of irrigation wells
in the area is 515 feet, with an average 110 feet of saturated formation
and an average yield of 650 gallons per minute. As most irrigation wells
in the Dalhart area are powered by natural gas, costs will vary from
year to year.
Area government and planning groups are also taking a proactive approach
to addressing the water needs of the northern Panhandle. Susan Combs,
Texas Commissioner of Agriculture, states that Texas is working hard
to avoid water conservation measures like those adapted by neighboring
states. Legislation enacted in 1996 created a system to plan and implement
water management studies. The resulting legislative initiatives, SB1
and SB2, are designed to protect agriculture and natural resources.
SB1 established local control and management of water resources; SB2
went further, recognizing the concept of private ownership of water.
Additionally, 16 water-planning districts answerable to the Texas Water
Development Board were created. All 16 districts have submitted water-management
plans, with goals including new water sources, precipitation enhancement
and research into drought-resistant crops.
The Panhandle Water Planning Group was formed and charged with preparing
the regional long-range plan for the Panhandle Water Planning Area (PWPA).
The completed plan, approved by the Texas Water Development Board, addresses
the water needs of the 21 area counties within the PWPA, which is the
largest water-consuming region in the state. Over 90 percent of water
used in the region is for agricultural purposes. This water supports
35 percent of the wheat, 49 percent of the corn and 14 percent of the
grain sorghum produced in Texas, as well as 33 percent of the cattle
on feed, 74 percent of the swine and 47 percent of beef raised for slaughter.
The plan submitted by the Panhandle Water Planning Group was one of
only two in the state recommended for approval without any amendment
or revision. Work is now beginning to update the original plan, focusing
particularly on water quality and environmental issues.
The North Plains Groundwater District (NPWD) is charged with managing,
protecting and conserving the groundwater supplies in all or parts of
the northernmost eight counties of the Texas Panhandle, including Dallam
and Hartley Counties. Among the NPWD's ambitious programs is a weather-modification
program, which began in May 2000. NPWD's research suggests that rainfall
may be increased by 10 to 30 percent via carefully planned cloud seeding.
The state has backed this effort, funding half of the cost of the program.
Land
Farmers in the Dalhart area benefit from advantages found nowhere else
in the country. Corn yields are outstanding - 250 bushels per acre is
common, with top yields near 300 bushels. Additionally, having a huge
cattle-feeding industry means that local demand for corn exceeds production
and typically results in higher prices, because basis is eliminated.
Prices for irrigated farmland vary widely depending upon the amount
of water under the ground, the value of irrigation equipment on the
property and other factors. Prices run from about $750 to $1,500 per
acre, with most selling in the $950-$1,200 range. Dry land farm ground
(non-irrigated land) sells for about $260 per acre, while range or native
grassland ranch property is selling in the $125 to $200 per acre range.
Parcels of land typically run from a few hundred acres to 20,000 acres.
If the acreage lies above water that can be used for irrigation, it
will sell for up to $500 per acre.
Areas of Production
About 90 percent of the corn production is feed corn, while the remainder
is food-grade yellow or white corn. Our farming industry is showing
a growing diversification, with smaller plots of potatoes, blue corn,
beans, sorghum, sugar beets and sunflowers planted.
Dalhart and the Dallam/Hartley County region are renowned for their
cattle feeding and production industry. Seven major corporate feed yards
are located within a 20-mile radius of Dalhart, with others nearby.
About 850,000 head of cattle are raised in the two counties annually.
Dalhart has the largest one-day cattle auction in Texas at Cattlemen's
Livestock Commission Company.
Dalhart is home to the second-largest pork producer in the United States,
Premium Standard Farms. PSF is a world renowned producer and is now
co-owned by ContiGroup. PSF began in 1988 and now employs about 318
locally, with a payroll of about $5.7 million. More than 400,000 swine
are marketed in Dallam and Hartley Counties each year.
Dairy production has great potential in Dallam and Hartley Counties.
Currently, 6.8 percent of the state's dairy production comes from the
northern Panhandle region. A number of factors make the area ideal for
dairies:
• There is plenty of good land, reasonably priced at $400 to $1,200
per acre.
• Average milk production in existing dairies is 65 to 90 pounds
per day. This production is consistent, making the region attractive
to new and expanding dairies.
• Northern Panhandle dairies consistently receive high marks for
production per cow. While most other dairy states are showing no growth
or decline, the northern Panhandle region continues to post modest but
consistent increases.
• Dairy production equipment and cattle are not taxed.
• The area enjoys a good climate featuring low humidity and moderate
temperatures.
• An excellent transportation system is in place, making it easy
to truck milk to processing centers.
• There is a lower-than-average incidence of animal disease in
the region, due to the region's low humidity.
• The market for milk is expanding, due to increased cheese production
in the Midwest and West. Many of these characteristics don't just benefit
dairies; many, in fact, contribute to the health and success of all
agricultural operations in our region. In addition to our abundant natural
resources, area farmers enjoy a strong, pro-agribusiness environment.
