What State Produces the Most Beef? A Look at America’s Top Beef Producing States

Beef is big business in the United States. As the world’s largest producer of beef, the American beef industry generated over $67 billion in sales in 2020 alone. With nearly 90 million head of cattle across the country, beef production is an integral part of the economy and culture of many states. But when it comes to beef production, some states stand out from the herd. Keep reading to learn more about beef production in America and discover which states produce the most beef.

An Overview of Beef Production in the United States

Before diving into the specific beef production numbers of individual states, it helps to understand the landscape of beef production across the country. There are over 913,000 beef farms and ranches in the U.S., making up over 30% of American farms. These operations are primarily cow-calf operations, focused on breeding and raising cattle, or cattle feeding operations to prepare cattle for harvest.

The top 10 beef producing states account for over 65% of total American beef production The state of Texas alone produces nearly 20% of the country’s beef. The top producing states tend to be those with large expanses of rangeland well-suited for raising cattle, like the Great Plains and western states Proximity to feed grain crops like corn and soy also boosts production capacity. America’s Beef Belt runs through the Midwest and southern plains where these conditions align.

Overall, national beef production levels fluctuate year to year. But in 2020, the U.S produced nearly 27 billion pounds of beef valued around $67 billion This makes beef the largest single segment of American agriculture. Now, let’s look at exactly where all that beef is coming from.

The Top 10 Beef Producing States

1. Texas – Texas is the clear leader, producing over 7 billion pounds of beef in 2022. This accounted for over 20% of total U.S. beef production. With over 4 million beef cows, Texas has more cattle than any other state by far. The ample rangeland, grasslands, and huge cattle operations across Texas combine to make it America’s beef capital.

2. Nebraska – Coming in second, Nebraska produced nearly 6 billion pounds of beef in 2022. Known for its corn-fed beef, Nebraska has the 2nd most cattle overall with about 7 million head. The beef industry is a $12 billion economic driver for the state.

3. Kansas – Kansas takes the #3 spot, producing around 5.5 billion pounds of beef annually. With abundant grains for cattle feed and large cattle ranching operations, Kansas claims to be the nation’s top beef state when measured by pounds produced per square mile.

4. California – As the nation’s most populous state, California has a large market hungry for beef. With enormous dairy and cattle farms, it produces roughly 2.5 billion pounds of beef each year.

5. Oklahoma – This plains state has the conditions for cattle ranching down to a science, putting Oklahoma’s beef production around 2 billion pounds. Oklahoma has the 3rd most beef cows with over 2 million head.

6. Iowa – Iowa leverages its massive grain production to finish over 2 billion pounds of grain-fed beef every year. From family farms to major feedlot operations, cattle can be found across the state.

7. Wisconsin – Dairy and beef cattle thrive across Wisconsin’s rolling pastures, generating 1.8 billion pounds of beef. Wisconsin is second only to California for dairy production, also fueling its beef output.

8. Colorado – With over $4 billion in annual economic impact, Colorado produces around 1.7 billion pounds of beef through its feedlots and cattle ranches. Beef is big business in the Rocky Mountain State.

9. South Dakota – Cattle country through and through, South Dakota contributes about 1.5 billion pounds of beef. The state has around 1.5 million beef cows grazing across its expansive rangeland.

10. Minnesota – Rounding out the top 10 is Minnesota with around 1.5 billion pounds of yearly beef production. With fertile soils for grazing cattle plus major processing facilities, Minnesota is a major beef state.

Notable Mentions Outside the Top 10

While the top 10 beef producing states dominate overall output, several other states still play a key role:

• Missouri produces around 1.3 billion pounds annually, ranking #11 overall. Missouri has a long history of cattle ranching across its rolling hills.

• Idaho leverages its wide-open spaces for beef production, putting out over 1 billion pounds each year.

• Washington produces just under 1 billion pounds thanks to large dairy and cattle farms west of the Cascades.

• New Mexico generates around 850 million pounds annually through its beef cattle ranching and feedlot operations.

• Even Alaska produces a notable 4 million pounds of beef yearly through smaller cattle farms across the state.

The Economic Impact of Beef Production

It takes a lot of land, labor, and resources to produce beef. But the beef industry also generates significant economic benefits for individual states and the nation as a whole.

• The total economic impact of American beef production, from farm to table, exceeds $300 billion annually.

• Beef production and related industries employ around 1.6 million people with good wages.

• At the state level, leading beef producers like Texas, Nebraska, and Kansas each see over $10 billion in direct economic benefits from beef production in their states.

• State and local taxes funded by the beef industry exceed $8 billion per year. This helps support schools, infrastructure, and essential services.

• On top of economic impact, beef production supports the social fabric of rural communities and preserves open spaces through grazing lands.

As a nutrient-dense protein source for Americans and consumers worldwide, growing demand will ensure beef production continues as a vital economic driver across the country’s cattle-producing regions. The states producing the most beef today have become specialists in the land, climate, and operations necessary for efficient beef production now and into the future.