Missouri’s agricultural roots run as deep as the nutrient-rich soils framing the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. Before European settlers arrived, Indigenous communities cultivated crops like squash, sunflower, and corn along these fertile river basins. 

By the early 1800s, pioneer families settled across the state’s rolling hills and sweeping plains. They established small family homesteads. The state’s central location quickly turned it into a crucial crossroads for American agriculture. Steamboats, and eventually railways, helped transport crops and livestock to growing markets across the nation.

As the 20th century unfolded, Missouri agriculture underwent a major evolution driven by innovation, science, and community support. The introduction of mechanization replaced tractor-pulling horses with modern machinery, drastically increasing farm efficiency. Missouri also played a major role in early soil conservation movements. This happened particularly following the devastating Dust Bowl era of the 1930s. Landmark initiatives led by local farmers and researchers helped protect valuable topsoil through crop rotation, contour farming, and cover cropping. These practices remain central to the state’s conservation legacy today.

Today, agriculture remains the heart of Missouri’s economy. It generating tens of billions of dollars each year and supporting hundreds of thousands of local jobs. The Show-Me State boasts nearly 85,000 individual farms—ranking among the top states in the country for overall farm count—with around 95% of them still proudly family-owned and operated. While soybeans and corn lead field production, Missouri is also a national leader in beef cattle, rice, cotton, and hay production.

Today, Missouri’s farming community balances long-held traditions with cutting-edge technology. Modern producers use satellite imagery, precision GPS equipment, and advanced data analytics to conserve water and apply nutrients with surgical precision. From small urban community gardens and booming farmers’ markets in St. Louis and Kansas City to thousands of acres of row crops throughout the state, agriculture continues to nourish both local communities and households around the world.

About the Missouri Department of Agriculture

The Missouri Department of Agriculture (MDA) is the state cabinet-level agency responsible for overseeing and advancing Missouri’s multi-billion-dollar agricultural sector. It is headquartered in Jefferson City. The MDA is led by the Director of Agriculture. The department acts as a bridge between the state’s producers and the general public, handling everything from international trade promotion to everyday grocery store safety checks.

The official mission of the Missouri Department of Agriculture is: “To serve, promote, and protect the agricultural producers, processors, and consumers of Missouri’s food, fuel, and fiber products.”The agency balances two primary roles: advocacy and growth for farm businesses, alongside protection and fairness for everyday consumers.

The department carries out its work through five distinct operational divisions, along with several associated boards and commissions: 

1. Agriculture Business Development: Focuses on economic growth by expanding markets for Missouri products both domestically and internationally. 
2. Animal Health: Led by the State Veterinarian, this division protects Missouri’s livestock and poultry industries from infectious diseases. 
3. Plant Industries: Manages plant health and crop protection across the state. 
4. Grain Inspection & Warehousing: Serves as a regulatory safeguard for farmers storing or selling grain.
5. Weights, Measures & Consumer Protection: A division directly impacting daily consumer life. 

Beyond its primary divisions, the department oversees several key state entities and specialized initiatives that support rural economic development and community engagement. Additionally, the department works alongside the Missouri Wine & Grape Board to fund research, drive marketing efforts, and promote the ongoing expansion of the state’s thriving viticulture industry.

Learn more at https://agriculture.mo.gov/.

Top 5 Agricultural Commodities in Missouri

Missouri’s rich agricultural ecosystem is fueled by diverse landscapes. They range from the flat, alluvial plains to rolling grasslands. Together, these regions support an agricultural power engine that generates over $14 billion in direct commodity sales annually. It also supports nearly 450,000 jobs state-wide. Missouri’s top five commodities account for nearly 90% of the state’s total agricultural sales. They play a vital role in feeding local communities while significantly impacting national supply chains and international trade.

Soybeans

Soybeans rank as Missouri’s most valuable single commodity. It generates over $3.4 billion in farm receipts annually. Farmers grow them heavily across the northern plains and eastern river basins. Soybean farming supports major regional processing plants that produce soybean meal, vegetable oil, and biofuels. Missouri consistently ranks among the top 6 soybean-producing states in the U.S.. A substantial portion of the state’s yield travels down the Mississippi River by barge to Gulf Coast ports, making Missouri a vital player in global grain exports to nations like China and Mexico

Corn

Corn is the backbone of Missouri’s livestock and energy sectors. It brings in over $3 billion annually. Local corn harvests feed the state’s massive cattle, pork, and poultry populations while powering several ethanol biorefineries distributed across northern and central Missouri. There are over 3.3 million acres of Missouri soil that are dedicated to corn production each year. Its position along key interstate corridors and major rivers allows Missouri corn growers to easily supply both Midwest feedlots and international markets.

Poultry & Eggs

The poultry sector comprises broilers (meat chickens), turkeys, and egg production. It is a cornerstone of southwest and central Missouri’s rural economy. And it supports thousands of contract growers, hatcheries, and processing facilities. It generates roughly $2.7 billion in cash receipts. Missouri ranks in the top 10 states nationally for broiler chicken and turkey production. 

Cattle & Calves

Cattle farming generates over $2.2 billion in farm receipts and utilizes millions of acres of pastureland across the rolling Ozark hills. Missouri has more than 2 million beef cows grazing across its pastures. Because cattle thrive on non-arable, hilly terrain, cow-calf operations provide vital economic stability to rural Ozark counties. Missouri is a national powerhouse in beef production, ranking 2nd in the U.S. for total number of beef cows, trailing only Texas. Farmers in Missouri raise high-quality calves that Midwestern feedlots later finish, making the state a primary “supplier state.”

Hogs & Pigs

Pork production is heavily concentrated in northern and west-central Missouri. The state’s swine industry is tightly integrated with local feed crops, using vast quantities of local corn and soybean meal to raise animals sustainably. It accounts for over $1.5 billion in annual farm sales. Missouri ranks 7th in the nation for hog and pig inventory. High biosecurity standards and advanced genetics facilities in Missouri make the state a trusted origin for breeding stock and fresh pork products shipped across North America and Asia.

Fruits and Vegetables from Missouri

While Missouri is globally recognized for row crops like soybeans and corn, its diverse climate and soils support a thriving specialty crop sector. Fresh fruits and commercial vegetables generate tens of millions of dollars in direct farm sales through commercial processing, regional produce auctions, and direct-to-consumer outlets like farmers’ markets and pick-your-own orchards. Beyond their economic value, these specialty crops diversify local agriculture. Plus it strengthens regional food security and powers the state’s agricultural tourism industry.

Top Fruit

• Watermelon: Watermelon is Missouri’s most widely grown fruit crop, concentrated heavily in the sandy, well-drained soils of the southern Missouri Bootheel. The state typically harvests around 2,500 to 3,500 acres of watermelons annually. Missouri ranks among the nation’s top producers of watermelons. 
• Apples: Missouri apples are grown primarily across central and northern Missouri along the river bluffs. They are a pillar of the state’s tree-fruit industry. Commercial and family orchards cultivate hundreds of acres of popular varieties. Apples contribute millions of dollars in farmgate sales and serve as a cornerstone of Missouri’s agritourism industry. Orchards draw tens of thousands of visitors each fall for cider pressing, family activities, and farm-stand sales.
• Peaches: Missouri peaches thrive in the warmer climate and well-drained soils of southern Missouri. The state grows both fresh-market freestone peaches and specialized clingstone varieties. Though delicate and sensitive to late spring frosts, Missouri peaches command high market value due to early summer harvest timing. Local production supplies grocery chains throughout the central U.S. and supports seasonal local markets.

Top Vegetables

• Potatoes: Commercial potatoes are Missouri’s largest true vegetable crop by volume and acreage. There are around 10,000 to 11,000 acres harvested annually. Most of the production is largely clustered in central and southwest Missouri. Potatoes generate nearly $25 to $30 million annually. Missouri’s potato harvest primarily supplies major national food processors for potato chips and processed foods. 
• Sweet Corn: It is one of Missouri’s most widely distributed vegetable crops. It is grown both commercially for fresh wholesale distribution and across hundreds of smaller roadside acreage plots. Sweet corn provides crucial summer income for small-scale produce growers and serves as a flagship product at local markets across all 114 Missouri counties.
• Tomatoes: Tomatoes are the leading high-value vegetable crop grown in Missouri greenhouses, high tunnels, and open fields. Both commercial produce operations and small family farms grow them extensively statewide. They are the primary financial driver for Missouri’s produce auctions, where wholesale buyers, grocers, and restaurants purchase locally grown produce. High-tunnel production allows Missouri growers to supply fresh tomatoes from early spring through late fall, extending the state’s growing season.

Visit our Produce Directory and learn how to Select, Store and Serve these fruits & vegetables.

About 50 States of Agriculture 

In celebration of 250 years of the United States, The Produce Moms is proud to present 50 States of Agriculture. This is an educational and free resource that celebrates the bounty of America. We utilized USDA and State Department of Agriculture data (Missouri) for the content in this series.

Agriculture is the foundation of freedom. Food security is national security. This content series is a celebration of United States culture and the hard-working farmers who feed, fuel &  clothe our nation and the world.

Visit another state from our 50 States of Agriculture.