Agriculture on the Great Plains Today: Crops and Livestock

The Great Plains remain America's agricultural engine, though production patterns have evolved significantly since the 19th-century homesteading era.

Livestock Dominance

Approximately 70% of the region's land area supports grazing. Cattle ranching prevails—Texas, Nebraska, Kansas, and Oklahoma rank among the top five beef-producing states. Feedlot finishing operations concentrate in the central Plains (especially southwestern Kansas and the Texas Panhandle). Sheep production has declined but persists in Wyoming, Montana, and the Dakotas.

Major Crops

• Wheat: Hard red winter wheat (Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas) and spring wheat (North Dakota, Montana) dominate; the Plains produce 50%+ of U.S. wheat.
• Corn: Irrigated corn belts in Nebraska, eastern Colorado, and Kansas support ethanol and feed demand.
• Soybeans: Expanding north and west with new short-season varieties; North Dakota now a top producer.
• Sunflowers: North Dakota leads oilseed and confectionery varieties.
• Cotton: High Plains of Texas (Lubbock region) produce 40% of U.S. cotton.

Emerging Trends

Precision agriculture (variable-rate seeding, drone monitoring), drought-tolerant genetics, cover cropping for soil health, and renewable energy integration (wind leases on farmland) are reshaping operations. Water scarcity—especially Ogallala Aquifer depletion—drives irrigation efficiency investments and dryland farming expansion.

The region's agricultural output remains globally significant, but climate variability and market volatility create persistent uncertainty for producers.