Texas Farmers Cut Wheat Amid Drought and Water Disputes — Precision Ag Tools Rise in Demand

Texas wheat farmers are making tough decisions as worsening drought forces them to reduce wheat acreage. With projected 2025 season-average prices around $5.50/bushel, just below safety nets, many expect little to no profit and are shifting toward corn or other crops texasfarmbureau.org.

Meanwhile, six Texas counties (Dawson, Ector, Hemphill, Lipscomb, Martin, and Midland) have been federally designated as natural disaster areas due to prolonged drought, making producers eligible for low‑interest emergency loans fsa.usda.gov.

Additionally, the 1944 U.S.-Mexico water treaty has come under scrutiny after Mexico fell short on Rio Grande deliveries. With South Texas agriculture—valued at roughly $800 million annually—at risk, U.S. Senators are pushing for stricter enforcement, including sanctions or water-for-aid agreements.

Why It Matters

• Economic Pressure on Farmers: With low wheat prices and fewer acres planted, Texas growers are exposed to financial instability. Emergency programs and disaster loans are essential stopgaps, but do not replace secure markets.
• Water Risk Looms Large: Historic drought and treaty shortfalls threaten irrigation-reliant regions, endangering high-value crops like citrus and vegetables in the Rio Grande Valley .
• Incentive to Modernize: As water becomes scarcer and commodity risks rise, there's strong motivation for local farmers to adopt precision agriculture tools—like drones and soil sensors—to stretch resources and improve yields.

What’s Next

1. Planting Decisions and Crop Switching
   Expect continued shifts from wheat into corn, cotton, or forage as farmers hedge against low grain prices and policy uncertainty.
2. Treaty Enforcement and Water Deals
   Watch for federal actions and negotiations with Mexico. Senators Cornyn and Cruz may push USDA and State Department to enforce annual water releases and tie aid to compliance.
3. Adoption of Tech Solutions
   Farmers will likely accelerate investment in precision tools to conserve inputs and bolster yields. Products like drones and moisture sensors offer quick ROI by reducing waste and optimizing irrigation.

Equipment Worth Considering

Here are some top-tier precision ag tools—affiliate links included:

• DJI Mavic 3 Multispectral: Entry-level multispectral drone for crop health monitoring, priced around $5,300.
• DJI Agras T25 Agricultural Drone: Compact sprayer-drone (~20 kg payload) ideal for small- to mid-size farms, ~$11,000.
• DJI Agras T50 Agricultural Drone: Heavy-duty sprayer/seeder with 40 kg load capacity—a full-featured workhorse at $12,600+.
• WH51 Wireless Soil Moisture Meter: Budget smart sensor (~$21) for real-time irrigation insights.
• Davis Soil Moisture Sensor (Watermark): Proven analog sensor (~$125) for integration with weather stations.