27 Texas Agriculture Facts: Timeline, Crops, Seasons And More

The Texas farmers have kept the family tradition of farming intact with around 99% of the farms and ranches being partnerships, family corporations or family farms.

Texas farms grow a wide variety of crops ranging from cotton to peanuts. The state of Texas is not only recognized for its agricultural sales, according to the 2012 census, the Texas ranchers tended to around 11 million Texas cattle which generated a sale of more than $13 billion.

It is not only the men who work as farmers in the Texas farms. Data shows that in the past decade, Texas women worked in 38,452 farms which is a staggering number when compared to other states.

These Texas farms operated by the female Texas farmers accounts for over 12 million ac (4.8 million ha) which is greater than the total farm land in the 27 US states.

This leaves us assured to say that when it comes to agriculture, there is no match to the state of Texas. Let us take a look at Texas agriculture, Texas cattle, ranching, and how it affects the economy of the state.

Facts About Agriculture In Texas

Farms and ranches are the highlight of this Lone Star State, and it leads the country by quite a margin in several agriculture related areas. Around 19% of agri-tourism of the US is attracted by farms and ranches of Texas, speaking leaps and bounds about its extent.

Agriculture has also played a pivotal role in influencing the economy and culture of the state. Being the primary industry, agriculture provided income and employment to a lot of people in the state.

Moreover, this led to influencing Texas' politics and the iconic photograph of cowboy cotton plantations reflect the influence of agriculture on Texas' culture. Now, let's read some interesting Texas agriculture facts.

• Texas farmers all over the state own a total of 248,416 farms and ranches, more farms than any other state in the United States.
• The state also leads in the total area covered by farms and ranches by covering around 127 million ac (51 million ha).
• Did you know agriculture related job, specifically farming is the primary occupation of 36% of Texas producers?
• According to the Texas department of agriculture, the average size of farms in Texas has fallen by 12 ac (4.8 ha) since 2012.
• Did you know, the mean age of farmers and ranchers of Texas is around 59 years?
• As of 2017, cattle as a commodity has the highest market value in Texas at $12.3 billion.
• The category of livestock, poultry leased or purchased accounts for the highest production expense of all farm production expenses in Texas at $5.8 billion.
• Did you know, since mechanization of agriculture, farms in Texas have achieved greater productivity and are now able to farm on greater amounts of land?
• On the contrary, currently, water supply and the imbalance between demand and supply are the two biggest agricultural issues prevailing in Texas.

Texas' Agriculture Timeline

The history of agriculture very much goes hand in hand with the history of the development of Texas. A lot of people were attracted to Texas by the opportunity to cultivate on new land. Eventually, as the cattle trails started, it transformed Texas into one of the world's biggest cattle producers.

• Before the arrival of the Spanish people, the state of Texas largely comprised of gatherers, hunters and some indigenous Texans.
• With the arrival of the Spaniards, cattle, goats, sheep and hogs were introduced to the land of Texas.
• In the 19th century, many people moved to Texas as they were attracted by the abundant land.
• The people who moved to Texas were regarded as early Texans and began to work on new plantations, livestock cultivation and the establishment of small farms.
• Following the Texas revolution, production of cotton was increased, and at the same time, cattle was brought to the markets of New Orleans, Arkansas by the producers.
• Post Civil War, the culture of slave labor was transformed into tenant farming, although, in reality, things didn't change a lot.
• Cotton became the primary cash crop of the state and with the introduction of rail roads, its market also expanded.
• Around 19th century, people began producing different kinds of crops in the farm such as sorghum, rice, wheat and also dairy farming began.
• The opening of the Texas A&M University in 1876 paved way for modern farming in Texas.
• From 1900-1920, the amount of cultivated land rose to 25 million ac (10 million ha).
• By this time, famous state farmers and ranchers had acquired huge acres of land and 70% of Texas' agriculture was focused on livestock.
• Around 20% of the land grew other crops but mainly cotton.
• Currently, various kinds of crops are grown in Texas such as corn in the northern areas, rice in the southeast and tomato in South Texas.
• As of today, the best farmland in Texas is around West-Central area, and it supports crops like hay, pasture, wheat.
• Additionally, the McMullen county of Texas is known to have the most farms owned by farmers and ranchers in state with more than half of the town's population involved in farming.

Crops And Products In Texas

A wide variety of crops are produced in Texas but its agriculture is dominated by cattle farming. Unsurprisingly, the state of Texas ranks first in the nation in the production of various crops and farm animals.

• Around 86% of Texas' land is involved in agricultural production with most of it being owned by farmers and ranchers.
• Texas ranks first in the nation in the production of cattle, cotton, sheep, goats, hay production and also wool, mohair.
• In terms of crops, the top five raised in Texas include cotton, various greenhouse and nursery crops, wheat, corn and hay.
• Some other crops grown in a Texas farm are rice, pecans, peanuts, sorghum and citrus.

Growing And Harvesting Seasons In Texas

Geographically, Texas is a pretty large state, several factors such as climate, current weather, area of the state affect the harvesting and growing conditions.

• Crops like corn and cotton are harvested from August to December, although there are exceptions.
• During the months of June and July, wheat is at its peak in the state.
• The time from December to March is peculiar as there are no tall crops in Texas during this period.