FarmHope workshop helps farmers plan for future

As producers leave an economically strained year behind and brace for similar obstacles in 2026, FarmHope is offering a free workshop, Jan. 12 in Lubbock, Texas, aimed at helping farmers and ranchers plan for the future while also dealing with current economic stressors. 

“2025 was an economically challenging year for farmers,” said Merri Beth Day, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension economist, Amarillo. “We had low commodity prices, and input costs just keep increasing. Unfortunately, as of right now, it’s not looking great for 2026 either. I don’t see any single crop that could be a silver bullet.”

While the cattle market is up, supply and margins remain tight. Day noted uncertainty stressors such as the U.S.-Mexico border closure, increased tariff rate quota for Argentine beef, and reduced tariffs for Brazil and other countries. 

“Agriculture is a uniquely stressful occupation,” noted conference speaker Miquela Smith, AgriLife Extension health program specialist in the Disaster Assessment and Recovery unit. “FarmHope aims to remove barriers to seeking professional mental health services when needed, as well as provide critical education on estate and succession planning.

“Having an estate plan in place can help ease worry and stress in an environment where so many factors are out of our farmers and ranchers’ control,” Smith added.

Related:Southwest economists weigh in on 2026 ag outlook

CHALLENGES AHEAD: Low commodity prices, weather and multiple other factors out of farmers’ and ranchers’ control can be stressful. FarmHope aims to provide tools and resources to help them navigate the challenges. (Chris Swann /Texas A&M AgriLife)

FarmHope program agenda

The FarmHope workshop will be hosted from noon to 3 p.m. on Jan. 12 at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center, 1102 E Farm-to-Market Road 1294. It is a collaborative effort of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the Texas A&M Health Telehealth Institute. 

The agenda includes the following presentations:

Basic estate planning. The estate planning presentation will be hosted by Tiffany Lashmet, AgriLife Extension agricultural law specialist and professor, Texas A&M Department of Agricultural Economics.

Mental health and agriculture. Smith will host the presentation on mental health and agriculture.

Financial planning. The financial planning presentation will be hosted by Kyler Billingsley, Capital Farm Credit, Lubbock.

FarmHope services. Mikaela Spooner, psychologist and clinician at the Texas A&M Telehealth Institute, will host the FarmHope services presentation.

“As we are coming into 2026 and getting ready for the new planting season, having a solid marketing plan and risk management strategy is going to be crucial,” Day said.    

Estate planning is also important. “Having these plans in place will help to ensure the success and well-being of the next generation who will take over the farm,” Lashmet added. 

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Workshop registration

Participants are asked to preregister online. The training begins with sign-in at 11:30 a.m. 

Lunch will be provided and is sponsored by the Texas Corn Producers, Texas Wheat Producers, Texas Peanut Producers and Capital Farm Credit. This program is provided as part of a partnership with the National Agricultural Law Center and is based upon work supported by the National Agricultural Library, Agricultural Research Service and USDA. 

For questions regarding event details, contact Lashmet at [email protected] or Lacrecia Garza, AgriLife Extension administrative associate, at [email protected].