What Really Grows in Texas? Crops & Livestock You’ll Actually See

When most people picture Texas agriculture, they imagine cattle drives, cotton fields, and maybe a few oil rigs in the background. The truth is more diverse—and more surprising. Texas is one of the most agriculturally varied states in the U.S., producing everything from rice near Houston to peaches in the Hill Country to goats in North Texas.

So if you’ve ever wondered, “What actually grows here?”—this guide is for you.

🌾 The Big Picture: Crops That Define Texas

Texas has more farms than any other state, and it leads the nation in cotton, cattle, hay, sheep, wool, goats, mohair, and horses (USDA, 2024 Texas Agricultural Statistical Bulletin).

1. Cotton still dominates in acreage, especially in West Texas.
2. Grain sorghum and corn are major row crops, especially in central and north Texas.
3. Rice fields shape the landscape near Houston and the Gulf Coast.
4. Pecans, our state tree, are harvested across central Texas and often show up in fall markets.
5. Fruits & vegetables round out the mix: strawberries in Poteet, peaches in the Hill Country, and citrus in the Rio Grande Valley.

👉 Curious how this connects to your own plate? See our post Eating Your Region: Why Local Food Culture Matters for Texas Resilience .

🐂 Texas Livestock: More Than Just Longhorns

Texas is also the country’s livestock leader.

1. Beef cattle are raised across the state, and dairies provide milk and cheese closer to home.
2. Goats may surprise you—Texas had about 805,000 goats as of January 2025, including 720,000 meat goats (USDA, Sheep & Goats Report 2025). The state accounts for nearly half of U.S. goat meat, milk, and mohair (Prairie View A&M International Goat Research Center).
3. Sheep have long been tied to West Texas wool and lamb.
4. Poultry and hogs are significant too, while smaller farms are experimenting with niche animals like alpacas, Valais Blacknose sheep, and even yaks.

👉 Want to meet goats in person? Try a goat farm tour in North Texas.

🌿 Specialty & Emerging Agriculture

Texas farming is changing, with new crops and methods joining the mix:

1. Wine grapes are booming in the Hill Country, making Texas one of the top U.S. wine producers (Texas Department of Agriculture, GO TEXAN).
2. Lavender thrives near Austin and Fredericksburg.
3. Hydroponic farms grow fresh greens in Houston and Dallas warehouses.
4. Mushroom growers are bringing gourmet fungi to markets and kitchens.
5. Beekeeping supports both honey harvests and crop pollination.

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension’s regional crop and livestock budgets highlight how farmers adapt to climate zones across the state. These innovations reflect both resilience and creativity.

👉 Thinking about your own kitchen? Check out our guide on how to eat local.

🗺️ Regional Snapshots Across Texas

Different parts of Texas specialize in different products:

1. DFW: wheat, melons, pumpkins, goat dairies.
2. Houston/Gulf Coast: rice, citrus, hydroponics, aquaculture.
3. Austin/Hill Country: peaches, grapes, lavender, goats.
4. San Antonio/South Texas: pecans, strawberries, sorghum, cattle.
5. Rio Grande Valley: citrus powerhouse (grapefruit, oranges).
6. West Texas: cotton and sheep dominate.

Stay tuned—we’ll dive deeper into each metro with guides to “What Grows Around Dallas–Fort Worth,” “What Grows Around Houston,” and more.

🍎 Why It Matters to Know What Grows Here

1. Fresher food, better taste: Local crops don’t spend weeks on a truck.
2. Seasonal savings: Buying in season often means lower prices.
3. Community resilience: Supporting local farmers strengthens food security.
4. Cultural identity: Crops and livestock aren’t just food—they’re part of the Texas story.

👉 Learn more in our post on why eat local.

👀 Where to Go From Here

Want to experience Texas agriculture firsthand? Here are a few ways to start:

1. Visit a goat dairy for a hands-on farm tour.
2. Step inside a hydroponic greenhouse in Houston.
3. Book a beekeeping class in DFW to see pollination up close.

Browse all experiences near you →

Or sign up for our newsletter to get seasonal farm updates and see what’s fresh near you.

❓ FAQ: Texas Crops & Livestock

What is Texas’s number one crop?

Cotton is still the top crop in Texas by acreage and value (USDA, 2024).

What livestock is Texas known for?

Cattle lead the way, but Texas is also the #1 state for goats and sheep.

Can you visit farms to see these crops and animals?

Yes—many Texas farms welcome visitors for tours, classes, and seasonal events. Browse local experiences here →

✅ Sources

1. USDA NASS. Texas Agricultural Statistical Bulletin 2024.
2. USDA NASS. Sheep and Goats Report. 2025
3. USDA NASS. Texas Goat and Mohair Report, 2025.
4. Prairie View A&M International Goat Research Center.
5. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Crop & Livestock Budgets.
6. Texas Department of Agriculture, GO TEXAN.
7. Texas State Historical Association.