Wheat and Cattle Drive Randall County's Farm Economy

In 1900, cattle ruled Randall County's economy. There were about 35,000 head. By 1930, wheat covered 70% of farmed acres. Farming had taken over from open range. The average farm shrank from over 6,000 acres to about 767 acres between 1900 and 1910. The land was being broken up and planted. Today the county's farms focus on beef cattle, wheat, corn, sorghum, and hay.

Water from the Ogallala Aquifer makes large-scale farming possible here. But the aquifer's water levels keep dropping. That is a long-term problem. Farmers and ranchers are looking at crops that need less water. For current crop and livestock data, check the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. It publishes Texas county-level reports.