By Shelby Shank
Field Editor

As Texas continues to grow and cities expand, valuable working lands are paved over, threatening the state’s agricultural land.

Lawmakers filed companion legislation—HB 2018 by Rep. Trent Ashby and SB 2970 by Sen. Adam Hinojosa—to strengthen the Texas Farm and Ranch Lands Conservation Program and ensure working lands remain in production.

The program supports responsible stewardship and conservation of working lands, water, fish and wildlife, and agricultural production by generating interest and awareness in easement programs and other options for conserving working lands.

The bills focus on conservation easements, which are legal agreements that restrict certain types of development to protect the land’s natural and agricultural value.

Under the bills, state-funded easements must prioritize keeping land in active agricultural use, allowing farmers and ranchers to continue growing food, fiber and fuel.

Texas leads the nation in rural land loss, with millions of acres of agricultural land converted to non-agricultural use in the past few decades.

HB 2018 and SB 2970 provide a structured way for landowners to participate in conservation efforts without sacrificing productivity, ensuring that Texas agriculture remains strong in the face of rapid urbanization.

Farmers and ranchers who participate in the Texas Farm and Ranch Lands Conservation Program receive financial support while retaining private ownership of their land. They must commit to maintaining agricultural operations as part of the easement agreement, reinforcing the importance of working lands in the state’s economy and food security.

Without enough working lands, Texas and the nation risk becoming increasingly dependent on foreign sources for essential agricultural products. This bill helps safeguard the nation’s ability to feed itself.

“Texas Farm Bureau supports HB 2018  and SB 2970 because it helps keep agricultural lands in use and protects national security,” Charlie Leal, Texas Farm Bureau State Legislative Director, said. “By strengthening conservation easements, this bill protects agricultural land from urban sprawl while allowing landowners to continue producing food, fiber and fuel.”

Read the latest on ag-related bills with Texas Farm Bureau’s Austin Newsletter. The weekly legislative recap is delivered straight to your inbox on Friday. TFB members can sign up here.