In the beginning, before Tenneessee was even a state, Indigenous peoples cultivated the fertile soils of the Tennessee River Valley. They grew corn, beans, and squash. As settlers moved west during the late 18th and 19th centuries, farming quickly became the backbone of the region’s economy. 

Farmers across Middle and West Tennessee established massive fields of cotton and dark-fired tobacco. They turned these high-demand crops into the state’s main cash drivers. Meanwhile, the mountainous terrain of East Tennessee supported smaller, diversified family farms focused on livestock, hay, and corn. However, continuous cotton planting heavily depleted the soil over time. This forced farmers to rethink their land management practices by the early 20th century.

The mid-20th century transformed Tennessee’s agricultural landscape through major conservation movements and technological shifts. The establishment of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) in the 1930s helped control seasonal flooding. It also expanded rural electrification and introduced modern fertilizers to local communities. Around the same time, farmers widely adopted crop rotation and soil conservation strategies. They moved away from a total reliance on cotton and tobacco. Growers introduced soybeans as a cover crop and nitrogen fixer. This fundamentally reshaped the state’s field crops and restored long-term soil vitality.

Today, agriculture and forestry remain vital economic engines for the Volunteer State. It contributes tens of billions of dollars to the state’s annual economic output. There are over 60,000 farms that operate across more than 10 million acres of farmland. It covers roughly forty percent of the state. By combining centuries-old farming traditions with modern precision technology, Tennessee producers continue to feed and supply communities around the globe.

About the Tennessee Department of Agriculture 

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) operates with a clear core mission: to serve, support, and promote the state’s agricultural and forestry sectors. Functioning as a vital state executive agency, the department strives to strengthen rural economies while ensuring that farming and timber management remain leading, sustainable drivers of economic growth across Tennessee. They are led by an appointed Commissioner. Through balanced oversight and proactive outreach, the agency protects natural resources while advancing the viability of local farm enterprises.

To fulfill its mission, the department executes several key functions. They are divided among consumer protection, environmental stewardship, and economic development. TDA oversees essential regulatory duties through its Consumer and Industry Services Division. They handle food safety inspections, fuel quality testing, plant pest prevention, animal disease monitoring, and weights and measures accuracy. The agency also manages forest health, state forests, and wildfire prevention efforts via the Division of Forestry. They also enforce land and water stewardship programs that safeguard topsoil and water sources statewide.

Beyond regulatory oversight, the department expands market opportunities for growers and business owners. Initiatives like the Pick Tennessee Products campaign connect consumers directly to locally produced food and agricultural goods. Plus, financial initiatives like the Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program (TAEP) provide cost-share grants to help farmers modernize equipment, diversify livestock, and increase operational efficiency. By integrating regulatory safety, natural resource protection, and economic enhancement, the Tennessee Department of Agriculture maintains a secure supply chain and promotes a thriving agricultural community for all Tennesseans.

Learn more at https://www.tn.gov/agriculture.html.

Top 5 Agricultural Commodities in Tennessee

Tennessee’s agriculture industry spans over 60,000 farms and roughly 10 million acres. It generates billions of dollars in market value annually. Thanks to diverse climates ranging from the fertile floodplains of West Tennessee to the rolling pastures of the Middle and East regions, the state produces a wide variety of row crops and livestock products. The top five agricultural commodities drive local farm economies. Plus, they supply major supply chains across the United States and abroad.

Soybeans

Soybeans hold the top spot as Tennessee’s most valuable cash crop. They bring in over $1 billion in annual cash receipts. They are grown heavily in the fertile soils of West Tennessee. Soybeans are a crucial driver of state agricultural exports. Nationally, Tennessee soybeans supply food processing, animal feed industries, and biofuel production markets. Tennessee farmers harvest more than 80 million bushels of soybeans each year across roughly 1.5 million acres of land. In addition to their cash value, soybeans act as natural nitrogen-fixers in crop rotation. They help replenish the soil naturally between growing seasons.

Broiler Chickens

Poultry production, specifically meat-producing broiler chickens, serves as Tennessee’s top livestock commodity. They generate nearly $800 million in sales annually. Poultry processing plants create thousands of local processing, transport, and farm operations jobs. Nationally, the state helps supply major domestic retail markets and exports poultry products to international markets. Tennessee producers raise nearly 186 million broiler chickens every year. This totals over 1.1 billion pounds of meat.

Cattle & Calves

Beef and cattle production form a cornerstone of the state’s agricultural economy. They earn around $675 million annually. Unlike row crops that concentrate in flat regions, cattle farming occurs across all 95 Tennessee counties. This provides vital farm income to small, family-owned operations. Nationally, Tennessee serves as a key feeder state. They supply high-quality young cattle to feedlots across the Midwest and Plains. The state maintains a total inventory of roughly 1.6 million cattle and calves. This includes more than 830,000 beef cows. 

Corn (for Grain)

Grain corn ranks high among Tennessee’s agricultural commodities. It generates over $640 million in revenue annually. Corn feeds the state’s massive poultry and livestock sectors. Plus, it  supplies regional grain mills and ethanol facilities. Nationally, Tennessee contributes significantly to the U.S. corn belt. It feeds both domestic feedlot markets and global grain trades. Tennessee farmers produce nearly 154 million bushels of corn for grain across nearly 900,000 harvested acres annually.

Greenhouse/Nursery

The greenhouse, nursery, and floriculture sector, often referred to as Tennessee’s “Green Industry,” holds a prominent and vital place in the state’s agricultural economy. Greenhouse and nursery products represent one of Tennessee’s most high-value, specialized agricultural sectors. Nursery and greenhouse products generate between $285 million and $430+ million annually in direct wholesale sales and expenditures.

Cotton remains one of Tennessee’s most historically significant and economically important crops, generating around $300 million in receipts. Tennessee farmers harvest over 670,000 bales of upland cotton each year from 260,000 acres.

Related: Benefits of a Cotton Household

Fruits and Vegetables from Tennessee

While major agronomic row crops like soybeans and corn dominate acreage across Tennessee, specialty crops, specifically fresh fruits and vegetables, play a critical role in diversifying the state’s agricultural output. This is supported by a long growing season, rich soils, and temperate climate zones. Tennessee produce growers supply high-value specialty crops to fresh market retailers, food processors, and direct-to-consumer agritourism operations. The specialty produce sector adds vital revenue to family farms. Plus, it nchors the state’s regional food infrastructure.

Top Fruits

• Apples: Tennessee orchardists produce close to 9 million pounds of apples annually between June and October. Orchards established across East Tennessee and the Cumberland Plateau make apples one of the state’s most prominent tree fruit crops.
• Peaches: Stone fruit production, led by peaches, represents a classic specialty fruit sector in Tennessee. The early summer harvest provides vital farm-gate cash flow to fruit operations before fall tree fruits mature.
• Strawberries: Strawberries serve as Tennessee’s premier small-fruit crop and act as the primary catalyst for early spring direct-market farm revenue. They are harvested from late April through June, strawberries anchor the state’s U-pick agritourism sector. Hundreds of family farms grow strawberries for roadside stands, local farm markets, and Pick Tennessee Products initiatives.

Top Vegetables

• Fresh Market Tomatoes: Tomatoes are Tennessee’s premier fresh vegetable crop. The state consistently ranks among the top 5 nationwide in cash receipts. Local commercial growers harvest millions of pounds of vine-ripened tomatoes annually. They supply major East Coast grocery chains, regional wholesale hubs, and local farmers’ markets.
• Snap Beans (Green Beans): snap beans represent Tennessee’s other cornerstone vegetable crop, with the state maintaining a top 5 national ranking for cash receipts. Tennessee growers supply both processing facilities (canned and frozen markets) and fresh produce distributors. The long, warm summers allow for multiple planting sequences. It maximizes total crop yield per acre throughout the growing season.
• Sweet Corn: Distinct from grain corn, sweet corn is grown specifically for human consumption. It serves as a major commercial produce crop across Middle and West Tennessee. Sweet corn harvested in Tennessee supplies fresh markets across the Southeast throughout the summer. It also drives considerable direct-to-consumer farm stand sales and U-pick agritourism operations during peak harvesting months.

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 (Tennessee) 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.