Farming and Ranching
Texas has a rich heritage in farming and ranching. Karnes
County is no exception. Farming and ranching constitute two of the main interests in
Karnes County. With 1,053* farms turning a total
of 383,573 acres, Karnes
County farming interests cover a large majority of the total county acreage.
The ranching industry in Karnes County is just as impressive, with cattle being it's prime business. One of the largest cattle ranches in Karnes County is the famous Veladi Hereford Ranch, owned by Mr. Arturo Torres and family. The Veladi Ranch is a well know steak restaurant in the San Antonio area, raising it's own Hereford beef right in Karnes County.
The farming and ranching agribusiness constitutes a large portion of available jobs, with a workforce of 686 farm hands. Several of the ranches are large employers, with 176 employing 3-4 workers, and an impressive 151 employing 5-9 workers.
Here are some other Karnes County Farming and Ranching Statistics:
County Summary Highlights |
|
... |
|
| Land in farms as percent of total land | 80% |
| Average size of farm (acres) | 364 |
| Est. Mkt val land & bldg@1 avg/farm ($) | $209,773 |
| Irrigated Land - Total 1992 (Acres) | 431 |
| Cropland - Total 1992 (Acres) | 167,683 |
| Average Value of Land and Buildings per acre 1992 | $598 |
| Individual or Family Farms - Number 1992 | 922 |
| Individual or Family Farms - Land in Farms 1992 | 314,036 |
| Rural Farm Population | 874 |
| Cattle and Calves Inventory (farms) | 926 |
| Cattle and calves inventory (number) | 63,293 |
| Beef Cows (farms) | 875 |
| Beef Cows (number) | 38,239 |
| Milk Cows (farms) | 22 |
| Milk Cows (Numbers) | 765 |
| Cattle and calves sold (farms) | 918 |
| Cattle and calves sold (number) | 28,878 |
... |
|
 |
For more information concerning the Karnes County Agribusiness, please contact: KARNES
COUNTY Agricultural Extension Service |
| Grain companies abound and prosper throughout the county. |
|
*Statistics taken from :1992 Census of Agriculture, Karnes County, Texas.