Commercial Seed Production

Commercial Seed Production

Texas is a major producer of planting seed or vegetative parts of more than 40 crops, ranging from alfalfa to zoysia.

Production exceeds 540,000 acres, including 220,000 acres of small grains, 200,000 agronomic crop seeds, 70,000 acres forage grasses, nearly 3,000 acres forage legumes, and 2,300 acres of vegetable, flower and other miscellaneous crops.

Data on seed production were compiled from knowledgeable experts in the seed industry, seed certification data from the Texas Department of Agriculture (obtained under Open Records Act), and detailed reviews of USDA Farm Services Agency data. Seed production acreages fluctuates with domestic seed supplies, crop prices, federal farm programs (crop outlooks), and export demand.

In particular, several multi-national and privately owned firms produce hybrid sorghum, sudan, and millet seed in the High Plains region within 100 miles of Lubbock for domestic and export markets. More than 150 member firms of the Texas Seed Trade Association produce proprietary and public varieties. Other production is by farmers or small firms producing Foundation Seed or commercial seed for regional sales.

The value of seed production was approximated at $400 per acre - obviously low on several agronomic crops and high for others. However, the production of planting seed prior to processing conditioning, and fungicide treatments easily exceeds $200 million at the farm level.

Table 21. Production of planting seed - alfalfa to zoysia

Crop	Acres Grown	Notes and Comments
Small Grains
Barley	1,200	About one-half is produced as certified seed.
Oats	24,000	Commercial and farmer-produced seed; 22% is certified.
Rye	4,200	200 acres is certified.
Triticale	3,800	Major portion is certified most years.
Wheat	220,000	Mostly handled as named varieties; less than 10% is certified.
*Subtotal*	*253,200*
Agronomic crops
Castor	10	FSA reports 10 acres in High Plains.
Corn	7,300	Seed production as reported by farmers for seed grown under contract: white corn on 5,800 A in South Texas, yellow on 1,100 A in Plains, ornamental on 40 A in East Texas, popcorn on 30 A in Plains. Some winter production in LRGV for U.S. southern exports
Cotton - upland	126,400	Predominately produced on High Plains but also in other areas. Data represents total acres of commercial seed; includes 52,400 A of certified seed and some picker seed for Delta and mid south. Does not include farmer-caught seed, estimated to be an additional 20%.
Millets	7,600	Both foxtail and German; about 50% for forage and roadside stabilization; rest for planting ³catch crop² acreage. Very little for future bird seed production.
Crop	Acres Grown	Notes and Comments
Agronomic crops (continued)
Peanuts	35,100	Certified seed of runner and Spanish in southern High Plains.
Rice	5,100	Certified production for Texas Rice Improvement Association.
Sorghum for grain	30,600	High Plains production - for all U.S. planting seed production. 48% exported to 30 countries; 12% certified and exported.
Sunflowers	800	Hybrid seed in High Plains region. Acreage variable with CA.
Soybeans	200	Certified seed acreage.
*Subtotal*	*213,110*
Forage Grasses
Bahia	300	Some estimates of 1,000 acres.
Bermuda seed	15	Seed of common bermudagrass harvested.
Bermuda sprigs	8,500	Includes 2,200 acres grown under certification.
Bluestems	1,400	Includes big, yellow, and little bluestems.
Buffalograss	400	Certified production.
Buffelgrass	5,200	About 20% grown as certified seed.
Gama & Gramagrasses	8,500	Gama - eastern; Grama - blue and side oat. Non-certified.
Guineagrass	260	Certified production.
Indiangrass	900	Non-certified production.
Johnsongrass	400	Non-certified production.
Kleingrass	4,700	Production mostly in South Texas; 8 to 10% certified.
Lovegrass	1,200	Wilmann, Weeping, Ermelo, and other varieties.
Switchgrass	200	Non-certified production.
Wheatgrass	630	Non-certified production.
Pearl millet	2,500	Seed for forage production.
Forage sorghums	7,600	Hybrid seed for summer forages. Little is certified.
Sorghum-sudan grass	25,800	Hybrid seed produced in High Plains. 12% may be certified. High germination. Seed sold domestically and exported globally.
Sudan grass hybrids	1,400	Seed for hay production or grazing.
Other grasses	200	Rhodes (100 acres), tobosa, and others
*Subtotal*	*70,105*
Forage Legumes
Alfalfa	1,300	Certified production in Plains area and Far West Texas.
Burr medic	95	Certified production.
Clovers	1,500	Includes arrowleaf, ball, berseem, crimson, rose, subterranean white, and yellow; produced in east & south Texas by both seedsmen and farmers. Small portion under certification.
Vetch	40	Hairy vetch for roadside stabilization plantings.
*Subtotal*	*2,935*

*Subtotal*	*885*
Crop	Acres Grown	Notes and Comments
Sod production - certified acres, as reported by TDA
Bermuda	200	Estimated amount grown for certified sod .
St. Augustine	135	For certified sod production.
Zoysiagrass	550	New releases grown under certification.
*Subtotal*	*885*
Miscellaneous Crops
Peas	850	Black eyed on 4,600 acres, cowpeas on 850 acres (300 certified), and purple hull on 350 acres.
Guar	420	Produced in Rolling Plains near production sites.
Flower seed	640	Mostly wildflower seed in central and south Texas.
Other crops	415	For ornamental, conversation, and unique wildlife plantings.
*Subtotal - other crops*	*2,325*
Total acres	542,560

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