Once upon a time, back in 1980, about 25% of Texas milk came out of Northeast Texas. Specifically, Hopkins County produced 16% of the state’s 3.5 billion pounds of milk, which totaled 560 million pounds. By 1990, Hopkins County dairy production increased to 925.6 pounds.

What a difference a few decades makes.

These days, much of the Lone Star State’s milk comes from the Texas Panhandle. The main reasons for the move west included weather (East Texas is known for its torrential rains, versus the drier Panhandle), better land values and a steady diet of high-quality feed for the cows – the Panhandle has a well-established feedlot industry.

Due to those factors, milk production in the region increased from less than 1% in the 1980s to more than 68% in 2017, according to Ellen Jordan with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.

For comments, questions or concerns, please contact Amy Sorter