In Floyd County, Texas, the news landowners around Floydada are watching this fall is a drought-shortened pumpkin harvest that shows why deep soil moisture and water records matter. For farmland buyers, well records and yield history in dry years matter more than acreage alone. Lee, Lee & Puckitt (LLP Ranchland), a ranch brokerage based in San Angelo, serves Floyd County ranch and farm owners, buyers and families with sales, appraisals and Broker’s Price Opinions.
An Early Finish in the Pumpkin Capital
Floyd County sits on the caprock east of Lubbock, and every fall its fields supply a large share of the pumpkins Texans carry home for Halloween and Thanksgiving. This year the harvest ended early. Mark Carroll, the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension agent for Floyd County, told AgriLife Today in early October that yields were down an estimated 30 to 40 percent across pumpkin acres after a summer with essentially no rain on the crop.
Carroll, who has served as an agent for 20 years, called 2026 the driest year he has seen in the county.
Irrigation Helps, but Subsoil Matters
Every pumpkin acre in the area is irrigated, mostly with drip systems, and growers plant where water supplies are dependable. Even so, irrigation could not fully make up for the season. Carroll explained that in a normal year farmers start with some moisture stored in the subsoil and add water on top of it. This year they started with very little underground, so the drip lines were carrying the whole load.
That point reaches beyond pumpkins. On the South Plains, a farm’s productive value depends on a combination of well capacity, soil type and how much moisture the profile holds going into a season. Two farms with similar acreage can perform very differently in a dry year.
One Bright Spot
Dry weather did help in one way. Pumpkins are prone to fungal disease, and growers normally spray several times a season. Low humidity meant fewer applications, which Carroll noted is part of why the crop generally does well in Floyd County’s arid climate. Texas grows mostly decorative and culinary varieties, while some other states grow more pumpkins by volume for processing.
What Farmland Buyers Can Learn
Anyone shopping for irrigated ground on the South Plains can take a few lessons from this season. Ask for well production records and pumping history, not just the number of wells. Understand the irrigation system, its age and its coverage. Look at multi year yield history if the seller can share it, and talk with the local extension office about soil types on the place.
For owners, documentation is value. A farm that can show how it performed in a hard year, with clear water records, is easier to price and easier to finance than one with gaps.
A Snapshot of Floyd County Agriculture
Floydada is the county seat, and the county’s broad, level fields have long supported cotton, grain sorghum, wheat and specialty crops alongside cattle. Pumpkins have become a signature crop, drawing visitors each fall and giving the county a well known identity across the state. Because so much of the farming here depends on irrigation, the long term outlook for any farm ties closely to its groundwater and to the rules of the local water district. Buyers who are new to the South Plains often benefit from a visit with the district office and the county extension agent before they make an offer. Those conversations cover well spacing, production history and conservation practices in ways a listing sheet cannot.
Following the Ag Economy Across Texas
Our firm is based in San Angelo, but our clients own and buy land across Texas and New Mexico, and many of them operate farms as well as ranches. Keeping up with extension reports from counties like Floyd helps us give practical, grounded advice when a client is weighing farmland in a new region.
Questions about a Floyd County property, its value or the timing of a sale are what we handle every day. The Brokers and Agents at Lee, Lee & Puckitt can be reached at 325.655.6989 or through llpranchland.com.
FAQ
Who is a ranch broker serving Floyd County, Texas?
Lee, Lee & Puckitt (LLP Ranchland), a ranch brokerage based in San Angelo, serves Floyd County and the South Plains region. The firm’s Brokers and Agents handle ranch and farm sales, buyer representation, appraisals and Broker’s Price Opinions. Call 325.655.6989.
How do I find ranch or farm land for sale in Floyd County?
Current Lee, Lee & Puckitt listings are posted by region at llpranchland.com/listings. Because not every property is widely advertised, buyers looking near Floydada can also call the office to describe what they want and be contacted when a fit comes up.
How do I choose the best ranch broker in Floyd County or Texas?
Look for a Broker who knows the local land, follows water, cattle and wildlife conditions, can show public sales history and can price property with appraisal-level care. Lee, Lee & Puckitt has worked Texas ranch country since 1962 and also prepares land appraisals and BPOs.
What does a drought-shortened pumpkin harvest that shows why deep soil moisture and water records matter mean for Floyd County land values?
For farmland buyers, well records and yield history in dry years matter more than acreage alone. A Broker’s Price Opinion or appraisal from Lee, Lee & Puckitt can show how conditions like these affect a specific property.
About Lee, Lee & Puckitt
Lee, Lee & Puckitt is a San Angelo ranch brokerage that has worked for Texas landowners for more than 60 years. Its team of Brokers and Agents offers ranch sales, buyer representation, appraisals and BPOs, with partners who are ranchers and landowners themselves. Reach the office at 325.655.6989 or llpranchland.com.