Texas farms produce an enormous range of crops and livestock, but the state’s agriculture is dominated by cattle. Cattle and calves alone account for about 40% of all Texas agricultural cash receipts, bringing in over $10 billion annually. Beyond ranching, Texas is the nation’s top cotton producer, a major source of dairy and poultry, and grows everything from grain sorghum to grapefruit. Here’s a closer look at what comes off Texas land.
Cattle and Ranching
Cattle is the single biggest agricultural product in Texas by a wide margin. The state ranks second nationally in cattle and calf production, generating roughly $10.1 billion in cash receipts in 2021. That figure represents nearly 14% of all U.S. cattle receipts. Most operations are cow-calf ranches, where breeding herds produce calves that are later sold to feedlots for finishing. You’ll find cattle operations across the state, but they’re especially concentrated in the Panhandle and western regions where large feedlots operate alongside grazing land.
Dairy and Poultry
Dairy is the second-largest agricultural commodity in Texas, with milk production generating about $2.8 billion in annual cash receipts. Texas ranks fifth nationally in dairy output. Large-scale dairies have expanded significantly in the state over recent decades, particularly in the Panhandle and parts of Central Texas where feed crops are nearby.
Broiler chickens (birds raised for meat) are the third-largest commodity, worth roughly $2.5 billion and also ranking fifth in the country. Poultry production is concentrated in East Texas, where the climate, water supply, and proximity to processing facilities support large operations. Texas also produces laying hens for egg production, though broilers generate far more revenue.
Other Livestock
Texas has historically been one of the leading states for sheep and goat production. The Edwards Plateau region in the central-western part of the state supports large flocks of meat goats and wool sheep. While these animals generate far less revenue than cattle or poultry, Texas remains a top producer of both mohair (from Angora goats) and wool nationally. Hog farming also has a presence in the state, though on a smaller scale than in Midwestern states.
Cotton
Cotton is king among Texas field crops. The state produces more upland cotton than any other in the country, accounting for nearly 40% of all U.S. cotton receipts. In 2025, Texas farmers produced an estimated 5 million 480-pound bales. Cotton brought in about $2.4 billion in cash receipts, making it the fourth-largest commodity overall and the single most valuable crop.
The High Plains region around Lubbock is the heart of Texas cotton country. Farmers there rely on a mix of dryland farming and center-pivot irrigation drawing from the Ogallala Aquifer. Cotton is also grown in the Coastal Bend, the Blackland Prairie, and the Rio Grande Valley, though the High Plains dominates production volume.
Corn, Sorghum, and Wheat
Texas grows three other major grain crops in large quantities. Corn is the fifth-largest commodity by revenue, generating about $1.4 billion in cash receipts. Production in 2025 reached roughly 289 million bushels, much of it grown under irrigation on the High Plains and in parts of South Texas. A significant share of Texas corn goes directly to feeding the state’s cattle and dairy herds rather than leaving the state.
Grain sorghum is a crop where Texas punches well above its weight nationally. The state is consistently one of the top sorghum producers in the country, harvesting about 101 million bushels in 2025. Sorghum is more drought-tolerant than corn, making it a practical choice for the drier parts of the state. It’s used primarily as animal feed and for export.
Winter wheat rounds out the major grains, with Texas producing about 85 million bushels in 2025. Wheat is grown across the Rolling Plains and the Panhandle. Some acreage serves double duty: cattle graze on young wheat in winter, and the crop is then harvested for grain in spring.
Pecans
Texas is one of the top pecan-producing states in the country, and the pecan is actually the official state tree. Both wild (native) pecan trees along river bottoms and cultivated orchards contribute to the harvest. Pecan orchards are found across Central, West, and South Texas, with production fluctuating year to year depending on weather and the natural alternate-bearing cycle of the trees.
Citrus and Vegetables
The Lower Rio Grande Valley, at the state’s southern tip, supports a commercial citrus industry. Growers there produce Rio Red grapefruit, Valencia and navel oranges, and other citrus varieties. The Texas Department of Agriculture maintains a designated Citrus Zone covering more than 30 counties in South Texas, along with pest-control programs that release millions of sterile flies weekly to protect groves from the Mexican fruit fly.
Vegetables are another important part of Texas agriculture, even though individual crops don’t crack the top revenue categories. Onions, watermelons, spinach, cabbage, peppers, and potatoes are all grown commercially. The Rio Grande Valley and the Winter Garden region produce cool-season vegetables during months when northern states can’t, giving Texas growers a market advantage. East Texas supports small-farm vegetable production that supplies roadside markets and nearby metro areas.
Hay, Rice, and Peanuts
Hay is one of the most widely grown crops in Texas by acreage, even though it doesn’t always get attention in revenue rankings. It’s essential for feeding the state’s massive cattle herd, and virtually every agricultural region produces some form of hay or forage.
Rice is grown in the coastal prairies of Southeast Texas, where flat land and abundant water support flooded paddies. Texas is a smaller rice producer than states along the Mississippi Delta, but the crop has a long history in the region.
Peanuts are an important crop in parts of West Texas, North Texas, and the Cross Timbers region. Texas typically ranks among the top four or five peanut-producing states, growing varieties used for peanut butter, snack nuts, and candy production.
Nursery and Greenhouse Products
Greenhouse, nursery, and floriculture products collectively represent a significant revenue category in Texas agriculture. This includes ornamental plants, sod, flowers, and trees grown for landscaping. These operations tend to cluster near the state’s large metro areas, where demand from homebuilders, landscapers, and garden centers is strongest. While less visible than a cotton field or cattle ranch, nursery and greenhouse sales contribute hundreds of millions of dollars to the state’s agricultural economy each year.