Dalhart Chamber of Commerce, Community, and Business Information

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Agriculture

The Bread of Life Grows Deep through Our Soil

Drive into Dalhart at night and you might think you are in the midst of a light show! White blinking lights from pivot irrigation systems can be seen in the fields around Dalhart. Crops produced in the area include corn, wheat, milo, potatoes, alfalfa, sunflower and soybeans.

Dalhart is home to the world’s leading confined animal feeding operations (CAFO) in the cattle and hog industries. New additions to the agribusiness landscape are the dairy industry and the Hilmar Cheese plant.

What makes Dalhart so rich an environment for crops, cattle and more? Climate, water and land. The area sees all four seasons, including yearly snowfall due to its close proximity to the mountains and slightly higher elevation. The annual rainfall is about 18 inches, with a growing season of 178 days. The first frost occurs in mid-October and the last frost in mid- to late-April. Average daytime winter temperature is 55 degrees F, and the average daytime high in the summer is 85 degrees F. There is little humidity, and when evening comes, there is nothing better than sipping lemonade on your porch and watching the sun go down.

Dalhart draws water for farming and ranching operations from the Ogallala Aquifer. The aquifer is vast and supplies more than 74 counties in Texas. Irrigated farming operations typically run wells (powered by natural gas) of more than 500 feet deep. Water is a precious commodity that is closely guarded by area farmers and ranchers. Local and regional groups, including the Texas Water Development Board, the Panhandle Water Planning Group, and the North Plains Groundwater District were formed to research crops that require less water, cloud seeding, and other efforts that preserve this precious resource.

Dalhart farmers have great advantages in this area – the corn yields are among the best anywhere, and the large CAFOs are excellent customers. The large cattle and hog feedlots result in higher commodity prices because of large demand.

Confined animal feeding operations utilize a tremendous amount of feed from the area and provide a large base of employment. Dalhart’s convenient location for shipping cattle and hogs to slaughter helps to further the positive impact on Dalhart’s economy.

There are many acres of land in Dallam and Hartley counties available for lease or sale. Parcels run from a few hundred acres to more than 20,000 acres. The area landscape is level to rolling grasslands. The soils, rich with minerals and nutrients, vary from deep sandy loam to loose sand, and most can be irrigated. Many varieties of grasses and other plants provide plentiful grazing for the area’s cattle. Some terrain is marked by jagged, dry arroyos, and by the intermittent Punta de Agua and Rita Blanca creeks that join in Hartley County and drain into the Canadian River in Oldham County. In addition to farming and livestock grazing, these resources provide the perfect environment for wildlife management, preservation and hunting.

Dalhart’s major crops have historically been corn and wheat. While these are the mainstays, a diverse array of crops are planted including potatoes, blue corn, beans, sorghum, sugar beets, sunflowers, soybeans and safflowers. Value-added uses for crops, like corn for plastic products and alternative fuels, have positive impacts on the community.

Dalhart’s progressive attitude draws additional value-added industries to the area. West coast and mid-America dairies are relocating to the Panhandle due to its temperate climate, available feed, and business-friendly environment. In addition to being outstanding employers, dairies utilize little water in their operations and attract other businesses. Irrigation services, construction and sub-contractor companies, veterinary services and more have added positive momentum to our thriving communities.

The Panhandle is home to a sunflower oil-crushing mill. The facility focuses on high oleic sunflower oil, healthier than traditional vegetable oils and more desired by the growing health food market. Once the product is crushed, the oil is shipped by rail to processors in California. As a bi-product, sunflower meal is sold locally to CAFOs.

The High Plains Dairy Council (HPDC) has been extremely successful in attracting dairies to the area – including 15 operating dairies with more under construction and a couple of heifer feeder operations. HPDC and the West Texas Dairy Women are instrumental in educating the public about the dairy industry, highlighting opportunities for business growth, and supporting value-added endeavors.

Hilmar Cheese Company’s state-of-the-art cheese and whey protein plant processes up to five million pounds of milk daily. “Dalhart was selected as the site for a second plant due to its positive business climate, reliable regulatory environment, and the promise of a plentiful supply of milk,” stated John Jeter, Hilmar Cheese Company’s CEO, California.