As Texas families once again gather around Thanks-giving tables, it would be appropriate to remember and give thanks to those who produce the food we eat and the fiber for the clothes we wear.

Texas farmers and ranchers are, literally, the nation’s best. Our state leads the nation in the number of farms and ranches; land in agricultural production; the number of cattle, horses, sheep and goats; and in the production of cotton, wool, mohair and hay. 

In addition, Texas agriculture produces vegetables, horticultural plants, watermelons, citrus fruits, peaches, peanuts, pecans, grapes, sorghum, rice, sugarcane, poultry, dairy, pork and timber. Catfish, shrimp and oysters are harvested along the coast and in inland ponds.

Texas agriculture adds almost 10 percent of the gross state product and employs one out of every seven working Texans.

While we are expressing our appreciation to the farmers and ranchers, it would be appropriate to acknowledge the important role that the Texas Department of Agricul-ture has played in serving and promoting Texas agriculture.

A hundred years ago, the 30th Legislature created the Texas Department of Agricul-ture.

The Legislature gave the new agency a staff of four, a budget of $17,038 and directed it to gather statistics and publish agricultural information. Staff members went to work and reported that in 1907 Texas farmers and ranchers had 8.1 million head of cattle and had produced 1.8 million bushels of wheat and 2.3 million bales of cotton.

One hundred years later, in spite of floods, droughts, rising gasoline prices and narrowing profit margins, Texas ranchers had 14.1 million head of cattle, while farmers harvested 30 million bushels of wheat and 6 million bales of cotton.

In addition, Texas growers produce a wide array of fruits, vegetables, nursery crops and livestock that were not even a part of the state’s agricultural picture a century ago.

What is amazing is that in 1907 each farmer or rancher produced enough to feed and clothe his family, and to sell some of his products to local markets.

Today, each farmer or rancher produces enough food and/or fiber for 129 people in the United States and abroad.

And what is even more amazing is that in 1910 there were 418,000 farms and ranches in Texas. Today, there are only 230,000 farms and ranches; however, the productivity has increased significantly. For example, in 1907, 115.7 million bushels of corn were produced on 5.1 million acres. In 2006, 168.2 bushels were grown on 1.5 million acres.

Cutting-edge technology has led to increased productivity, while the Texas Department of Agriculture’s marketing efforts have helped put Texas agricultural products in homes around the world.

Texans who enjoy the bounty of our state’s fine farmers and ranchers can help them by looking for the GO TEXAN label in the marketplace, and support them by buying Texan.

Texas State Sen. Jeff Wentworth (R-San Antonio) represents District 25, which includes Comal County. He can be reached via e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .