John Wilton - MacDougall Ranch Properties, LLC

John Wilton - MacDougall Ranch Properties, LLC John Wilton Texas licensed real estate agent at MacDougall Ranch Properties. Helping landowners evaluate options before critical decisions are made

Ranch and rural land advisor serving North Texas, with focused expertise in Wise and Montague Counties.

Pasture mealybugs are worth another look in North Texas.When I posted about this invasive pasture pest in August, it was...
09/22/2026

Pasture mealybugs are worth another look in North Texas.

When I posted about this invasive pasture pest in August, it was an emerging issue worth watching. Since then, the situation has continued to change.

Source: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension — A New Invasive Pest of Pastures and Hayfields in Texas
https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/pasture-mealybug/

Texas A&M AgriLife's current infestation map now shows verified pasture mealybug infestations in Wise County, along with nearby Denton, Tarrant and Parker counties.

A few things worth noting:

• Current Texas A&M reporting says pasture mealybug has been confirmed in 79 Texas counties.

• AgriLife cautions that the actual range of infestation is probably greater than the counties currently verified on its map.

• Since my August post, an emergency exemption has been approved in Texas for a pesticide product to help control pasture mealybug. Landowners and producers considering treatment should follow current AgriLife guidance and product-label requirements.

• Pasture decline can have several causes. Yellowing, reddening, thinning or dying grass should not automatically be assumed to be pasture mealybug.

For North Texas landowners, this is becoming a much more local issue. If you're seeing unusual changes in a pasture, it may be worth taking a closer look rather than assuming drought or another familiar cause.

Texas A&M AgriLife recommends contacting your local County Extension Agent for help with suspected infestations.



Image: AI-generated illustration.

Weather is a fickle thing and doesn't always follow the forecast.Source: National Weather Service Fort Worth/Dallas — Ex...
09/18/2026

Weather is a fickle thing and doesn't always follow the forecast.

Source: National Weather Service Fort Worth/Dallas — Extended Range Weather Pattern Discussion, updated September 15, 2026
https://www.weather.gov/fwd/extendedrange

You may be hearing more about El Niño and what it could mean for North Texas this fall and winter.

NOAA says El Niño is strengthening, with a greater than 90% chance of a very strong event during fall and winter 2026–27.

For North and Central Texas, the National Weather Service says strong El Niño conditions bring a slight historical preference for above-normal precipitation in late fall and early winter.

But here's the part I found interesting:

That wetter pattern has occurred in only roughly half of El Niño events since 1950.

So, for a North Texas landowner, I think there's a useful distinction.

Don't assume today's dry conditions will continue unchanged into winter—but don't assume El Niño guarantees a wet winter, either.

The National Weather Service outlook gives us useful context for the months ahead, but conditions can vary considerably from one place to another.

El Niño changes the probabilities. It doesn't predict what will happen on a particular ranch.

Image: AI-generated illustration.

Why do some cattle-working facilities have solid sides?Source: Penn State Extension — Beef Cattle Facilities: Handling S...
09/17/2026

Why do some cattle-working facilities have solid sides?

Source: Penn State Extension — Beef Cattle Facilities: Handling Systems, updated September 3, 2024

https://extension.psu.edu/beef-cattle-facilities-handling-systems/

There is more thought behind that design than may be apparent at first glance.

A few things worth noting:

• Cattle have a wide field of vision, but relatively poor depth perception. Shadows, changes in terrain and other visual distractions can affect how they move through a working facility.

• Solid-sided systems have traditionally been used to limit what cattle can see outside the working area, reducing visual distractions as cattle move through the system.

• There is a tradeoff. Solid sides can reduce outside distractions, but they can also make it harder for cattle to see a handler who is using position and movement to guide them through the facility.

• Open-sided systems allow cattle to see the handler, but that also means people, dogs, clothing or other objects around the facility can become distractions.

Penn State's larger point is worth remembering: there are different ways to design an effective cattle-handling system, and the system needs to work for the particular operation.

When looking at cattle-working facilities on a ranch, it can be worth looking beyond whether the property simply “has pens.” How those facilities are designed can tell you more about how they're intended to function.

Image: AI-generated illustration.

Virtual fencing is being tested on a working Texas cattle ranch as a possible alternative to rebuilding traditional cros...
09/15/2026

Virtual fencing is being tested on a working Texas cattle ranch as a possible alternative to rebuilding traditional cross fencing after wildfire.

Source: Texas Tech University — NRM Research Team Launches Post-Fire Grazing Study Using Virtual Fencing, February 20, 2026
https://www.depts.ttu.edu/agriculturalsciences/news/posts/2025/12/nrm-research-team-launches-post-fire-grazing-study-using-virtual-fencing.php

Texas Tech researchers are conducting a multiyear study at Cowden Land & Livestock near Canadian, Texas, where much of the ranch's internal fencing was destroyed by the Smokehouse Creek Fire.

A few things caught my attention:

• Virtual fencing uses GPS-enabled livestock collars and programmed boundaries rather than traditional interior fences.

• Researchers are studying how cattle respond to the technology on an actual working ranch.

• The study will also look at grazing management, post-fire vegetation recovery, wildlife use and the economic implications of the technology.

• One potential advantage researchers are evaluating is the ability to manage livestock and grazing without rebuilding all of the physical cross fencing lost to wildfire.

The research is still underway, so it is too early to say whether virtual fencing will prove practical or economical for Texas ranches generally.

But it's an interesting example of how technology may eventually give ranch owners another option when thinking about fencing, grazing management and ranch infrastructure.

Image: AI-generated illustration.

09/15/2026

The Texas Animal Health Commission detected the case and issued an order banning the movement of warm-blooded animals outside a designated zone within Presidio and Jeff Davis counties, according to Reuters.

Texas A&M AgriLife has a useful reminder for Texas landowners: being able to physically reach a property does not necess...
09/10/2026

Texas A&M AgriLife has a useful reminder for Texas landowners: being able to physically reach a property does not necessarily mean the property has documented legal access.

Source: Texas A&M AgriLife — Landlocked Property Law in Texas, May 2025
https://mytexas.ag.tamu.edu/publications/landlocked-property-law-in-texas/

A few things worth noting:

• Texas law does not automatically give a landowner the right to cross neighboring property simply because the tract is landlocked.

• When neighboring landowners agree, AgriLife describes a written, signed and recorded express easement as the simplest way to establish access.

• Lack of legal access can create problems with title insurance and financing.

• It can also affect a property's marketability when it comes time to sell.

For landowners, the important distinction is simple: a road you've used for years and a documented legal right to use that road are not necessarily the same thing.

Documented legal access is worth verifying before it becomes an issue during a sale, refinance or other important property decision.

(This post is for educational purposes only and is not legal advice.)

I grew up ranching, so ranches and land have been part of my life for a long time. But there is always more to learn.I r...
09/08/2026

I grew up ranching, so ranches and land have been part of my life for a long time. But there is always more to learn.

I recently completed Ranch Management University through Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and received their Certificate of Completion.

The course added to my knowledge in areas including soils, forage and pasture management, livestock, wildlife, and ranch management.

I didn't take the course to become a ranch management consultant. I took it because the more I understand about how a ranch operates, the better I can evaluate the properties I represent and recognize the issues that may matter to landowners and buyers.

For me, continuing to learn is simply part of doing a better job for the people I represent.

Ran across a recent Texas A&M AgriLife article that caught my attention because it highlights an educational resource fo...
09/08/2026

Ran across a recent Texas A&M AgriLife article that caught my attention because it highlights an educational resource for Texas landowners and ranch managers.

Source: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Article: AgriLife Extension launches updated online prescribed burn school
Published: April 3, 2026
https://agrilifetoday.tamu.edu/2026/04/03/online-prescribed-burn-school-2026/

A few takeaways from the article:

• The updated Online Prescribed Burn School is intended for landowners, ranchers, and land management professionals.

• The self-paced course covers fire behavior, weather, smoke management, burn planning, equipment, and Texas laws and regulations.

• According to the article, the online course can be completed in approximately 24 hours.

• Completion of the course satisfies one of the educational requirements for those pursuing the Texas Department of Agriculture's Certified and Insured Prescribed Burn Manager program.

Thought this article was worth sharing for landowners who like to stay informed about current educational resources related to Texas land management.

(Shared for informational purposes only. This is not an endorsement of the course or any particular land management practice.)

How far from Fort Worth do you have to go to find 265 contiguous acres of North Texas ranch country?Younger Ranch sits a...
09/03/2026

How far from Fort Worth do you have to go to find 265 contiguous acres of North Texas ranch country?

Younger Ranch sits approximately 60 miles northwest of Fort Worth in Wise County—far enough out to offer the privacy and space people look for in a ranch, while still being within reasonable reach of Fort Worth.

Across its 265.82 acres, the property includes rolling pasture, mature post oak hardwoods, ponds and the upper reaches of Turkey Creek, along with approximately 2,200 feet of paved county road frontage.

For someone wanting substantial acreage without going several hours west or northwest of Fort Worth, the location deserves a look.

Shown by appointment. Qualified buyers only.

Property details and photos:
https://www.land.com/property/265.82-acres-in-wise-county-texas/27088324/

Here's something many landowners may not have thought about.The FBI recently issued an alert about criminals impersonati...
09/01/2026

Here's something many landowners may not have thought about.

The FBI recently issued an alert about criminals impersonating property owners and attempting to sell vacant land without the legitimate owner's knowledge.

Source: FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center — “Protect Your Property from Illegal Sales Through Parcel Owner Impersonation”
https://www.ic3.gov/PSA/2026/PSA260616

A few things worth knowing:

• Criminals may use publicly available property information to pose as the legitimate owner.

• They may communicate remotely and try to move a sale or closing quickly.

• Below-market pricing, limited knowledge of the property, unusual documentation, and suspicious payment instructions can be warning signs.

• The FBI suggests checking whether your local county office offers a notification service that alerts property owners when documents are recorded using their name.

This may be especially worth knowing for owners of vacant land or rural property they don't visit regularly.

I hadn't given much thought to someone actually trying to sell another person's land until I came across this FBI alert.

Address

7821 Tournament Road
Frisco, TX
75035

Telephone

+12145648070

Website

, ,

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when John Wilton - MacDougall Ranch Properties, LLC posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to John Wilton - MacDougall Ranch Properties, LLC:

Shortcuts

Share

Category