Agriculture Is Alive And Well In DFW Metroplex

A new study, “The Impact of Agribusiness in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex,” shows between 2007 and 2012, farms and farmland increased by nearly 10 percent in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, said Dr. Blake Bennett, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service economist in Dallas.

“While most people think skyscrapers, pavement and urban congestion when they think about the DFW metroplex, the fact is agriculture is alive and well — and growing — in this part of the state,” Bennett said.

This and other information about agribusiness and agricultural production throughout the metroplex can be found in the recent publication by Bennett and Daniel Hanselka, AgriLife Extension associate in economics in College Station.

Dallas and Tarrant counties are the regional trade centers for eight counties with great agricultural importance to the state, Bennett explained.

“Denton and Collin counties form the northern border while Ellis and Johnson counties serve as the region’s southern border, and Rockwall and Kaufman counties set the eastern border. These eight counties comprise over 910,000 acres of agricultural land with 830,000 acres in crops and 80,000 acres in pasture. Approximately 2 percent of the cropland is in irrigated production.”

More than 20 different crops are produced commercially in the metroplex, he said. These include a variety of fruits and vegetables and major field crops.

“The area’s climate and soil conditions are particularly well suited to the development of high-value specialty crops,” Bennett said. “Primary crops include nursery crops, wheat, corn, grain sorghum, hay, and ensilage. In all, the DFW region produces 19 percent of the state’s nursery crops, 13 percent of the sunflowers, 10 percent of the soybeans and 7 percent of the state’s wheat.”

He said the area is also flush with livestock and livestock products, including poultry and specialties such as wool.

Continue reading on Texas A&M AgriLife.