Monty Edwards, a farm and ranch real estate broker and auctioneer in Lamb County, is raising concerns over the federal government’s proposed expansion of the Muleshoe Recreation Area in West Texas. According to Edwards, the initiative could have negative economic impacts on local landowners, similar to past federal programs that disrupted regional economies.
In an interview with Lone Star Standard, Edwards said he is concerned about the impact on landowners who agree to sign contracts with the government to place portions of their land into conservation easements, which is part of the Muleshoe expansion plan. The government is telling local residents that such arrangements are voluntary and can generate one-time payments.
Edwards said residents impacted by the expansion plan should consider the federal Conservation Reserve Program from the 1980s. "I am old enough to remember another 'voluntary' land program from the 80s," he said. "The problem is these payments only went to the landlord and only represented about 1⁄4 of the annual profit of the farm."
According to Edwards, who is part of a multi-generational ranch operation near Sudan, Texas, the local agricultural economy involves a complex network of investments in seed, feed, equipment, labor, and more. He warned that the new expansion could reduce the flow of revenues into the community, affecting not only farms but also schools, hospitals, and other community infrastructure.
"Basically, all local economic activities in our region will be impacted in some form or fashion because people live here and are connected directly or indirectly to agriculture or energy economies," he said.
The federal land acquisition plan threatens to lock out future development of the region’s oil, gas and even renewable energy resources, according to Edwards. He said the growth of local cattle operations and the area’s thriving hunting economy indicate how land targeted by the Muleshoe expansion plan is currently used productively and sustainably, producing revenue for the local economy.
According to Edwards, landowners may not sign their lands over to easements. "I don’t think that most of the local landowners will," he said.
More than 300 landowners gathered at a meeting in Lamb County at the end of July to learn about the government’s plan. Edwards described sentiment at the meeting as "shock, fear, and frustration.”
"It was a great representation of the local landowners that are engaged and live in this region," Edwards said, noting that absentee landowners might not yet be aware of the implications.
Attendees at the meeting raised concerns about the absence of economic impact studies by federal agencies. "Unfortunately, that is the problem," Edwards noted. "There were no economic impact studies completed by the US Fish and Game or Texas Parks and Wildlife.”
According to Edwards, the Sudan Independent School District expressed concerns that a loss of tax revenues will affect local schools. He explained that while schools send tax revenue to the state, funds are returned based on enrollment, which could decline if the local population decreases. "It is important to realize that one of the largest expenses the schools have is payroll," Edwards said.
"While the Refuge has made a point to say it will pay offsets for tax exemptions to the county, it is still unclear whether they will pay anything into the schools," Edwards noted.
