Tennessee is defined by its agricultural diversity, supporting a wide array of crops across varied landscapes. Farming remains an important economic activity, historically woven into the fabric of its regional economies. The state’s long growing season and abundant rainfall create an environment where both large-scale commodity crops and high-value specialty products thrive. This output is categorized by distinct production systems, ranging from intensive row cropping in the western plains to specialized horticulture nestled in the central and eastern hills.
Primary Field and Row Crops
The largest portion of the state’s cultivated land is dedicated to major field and row crops that serve as essential commodities for feed, fuel, and export markets. Soybeans are the highest-acreage crop in Tennessee, with over 1.5 million acres planted annually. They are typically planted in the spring and harvested from late September through November. The primary market is the animal feed industry, specifically for high-protein meal, with 60% of the crop exported via the Mississippi River system.
Corn is another dominant crop, split almost evenly between livestock feed and renewable fuel production. Approximately 46% of the state’s total corn output is directed toward ethanol plants, which provide a stable demand for the grain. The remaining corn is a major component in the rations of Tennessee’s substantial beef and poultry industries. Cotton production is heavily concentrated in the flat, fertile regions of West Tennessee, where the climate is well-suited for the crop’s long growing cycle, and is harvested using specialized pickers or strippers.
Soft red winter wheat promotes soil health and land use efficiency. This grain is planted in October and harvested in June or July, allowing it to be used in a double-cropping system. Following the wheat harvest, farmers immediately plant a second crop of soybeans, often utilizing no-till methods to conserve soil moisture. Hay and forage crops are also extensively grown across the state’s rolling hills and pastures, providing the necessary feed base for cattle and dairy operations.
Specialized Horticultural Products
Beyond the major commodities, a sector of high-value, specialized horticultural products flourishes across Tennessee. The state’s nursery and greenhouse industry is a major contributor to agricultural cash receipts, focusing on ornamental plants, trees, shrubs, and floriculture. This intensive industry provides stock for landscaping and garden centers across the Southeast, relying on meticulous control over growing conditions.
Commercial fruit production thrives, with berries being particularly successful due to their adaptability to the local climate. Caneberries, including blackberries and raspberries, are popular choices, often grown for the direct-to-consumer market. While more susceptible to disease in the humid environment, apples and peaches are also cultivated, though production is often geared toward local orchards and direct farm sales.
Tennessee is nationally recognized for several vegetable crops, ranking in the top five states for cash receipts from both tomatoes and snap beans. Sweet potatoes are a specialty crop historically focused in West Tennessee, particularly Weakley County. The sandy soil there is favorable for the tubers, which require a four to five-month frost-free growing season. Tobacco, while greatly reduced from its historical peak, remains a commercially grown crop in certain areas of Middle and East Tennessee, often on smaller plots.
Geographic Factors Affecting Production
Tennessee’s varied topography is the primary driver of its agricultural diversity, influencing soil type, climate, and crop selection across its three Grand Divisions. West Tennessee is characterized by the flat, fertile Mississippi River floodplains and loess soils, which are ideal for large-scale, mechanized row cropping. This region is the heart of the state’s production of cotton and high-acreage soybeans.
Moving eastward, Middle Tennessee features the rolling hills of the Central Basin and Highland Rim, where the underlying limestone bedrock creates soils that are well-suited for pasture, hay, and livestock production. The climate across much of the state is characterized by an average of 50 inches of annual rainfall, providing ample moisture for crop growth. This precipitation supports a long growing season that typically spans between 180 and 220 days across the majority of the state.
East Tennessee, with its mountainous terrain and valleys, supports more specialized and diversified farming operations. The higher elevations and steeper slopes are less conducive to vast row crops but are excellent for timber, fruit orchards in the valleys, and the nursery industry.