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.
| 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. |
| 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 | |
| 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 | 2,325 | |
| Total acres | 542,560 | |
