Murky future for local farming, ranching industry

[dropcap]H[/dropcap]ays County is one of the fastest growing counties in the nation, but all of the residential and retail growth has left ranchers and farmers questioning whether there will be room for them in the future.

Traditionally, most of the land on the east side of Interstate 35 has been used for agricultural farming. Land toward the west side of I-35 has been used for growing hay and raising cattle. Many ranchers and farmers see land lease prices rising because they’re in competition with residential and commercial development on both sides of the highway.

Hays County Pct. 2 Commissioner Mark Jones leases 10 properties to run cattle and says that all but two may end up developed as commercial or residential.