This study examines the spatial and temporal patterns of aboveground net primary production (ANPP) in the Central Grassland region of the United States. The research analyzed data from 9500 sites and found that annual precipitation is the dominant factor influencing ANPP. The region shows a strong east-west gradient in production, with higher values in the east and lower in the west. This pattern shifts during favorable and unfavorable years, with production shifting eastward during unfavorable years and westward during favorable years. The highest variability in production is found in northern New Mexico and southwestern Kansas, with lower variability towards the north and south. At the site level, ANPP was influenced by annual precipitation, soil water-holding capacity, and their interaction. The study supports the inverse texture hypothesis, which suggests that in dry regions, sandy soils with low water-holding capacity are more productive than loamy soils with high water-holding capacity. This relationship reverses when annual precipitation exceeds 370 mm/yr. The study also found that at the regional level, annual precipitation is the primary determinant of ANPP. A simple model was developed that explained ANPP as a function of annual precipitation, with a water-use efficiency of 0.6. This model was validated against data from 100 major land resource areas (MLRAs) across the region. At the site level, models incorporating annual precipitation and soil water-holding capacity explained a significant portion of the variability in ANPP. The models showed that production increases with precipitation, and soil water-holding capacity can have a positive or negative effect depending on the precipitation level. The study supports the inverse texture hypothesis and provides evidence for the point at which soil texture no longer influences production. The findings highlight the importance of water availability in controlling primary production in grasslands and demonstrate the complex interactions between climate, soil, and production. The study also emphasizes the need for more detailed models at finer scales to account for the variability in production. The results have implications for understanding and managing grassland ecosystems, particularly in the context of climate change and water availability.This study examines the spatial and temporal patterns of aboveground net primary production (ANPP) in the Central Grassland region of the United States. The research analyzed data from 9500 sites and found that annual precipitation is the dominant factor influencing ANPP. The region shows a strong east-west gradient in production, with higher values in the east and lower in the west. This pattern shifts during favorable and unfavorable years, with production shifting eastward during unfavorable years and westward during favorable years. The highest variability in production is found in northern New Mexico and southwestern Kansas, with lower variability towards the north and south. At the site level, ANPP was influenced by annual precipitation, soil water-holding capacity, and their interaction. The study supports the inverse texture hypothesis, which suggests that in dry regions, sandy soils with low water-holding capacity are more productive than loamy soils with high water-holding capacity. This relationship reverses when annual precipitation exceeds 370 mm/yr. The study also found that at the regional level, annual precipitation is the primary determinant of ANPP. A simple model was developed that explained ANPP as a function of annual precipitation, with a water-use efficiency of 0.6. This model was validated against data from 100 major land resource areas (MLRAs) across the region. At the site level, models incorporating annual precipitation and soil water-holding capacity explained a significant portion of the variability in ANPP. The models showed that production increases with precipitation, and soil water-holding capacity can have a positive or negative effect depending on the precipitation level. The study supports the inverse texture hypothesis and provides evidence for the point at which soil texture no longer influences production. The findings highlight the importance of water availability in controlling primary production in grasslands and demonstrate the complex interactions between climate, soil, and production. The study also emphasizes the need for more detailed models at finer scales to account for the variability in production. The results have implications for understanding and managing grassland ecosystems, particularly in the context of climate change and water availability.