Texas is not known for leading the nation in soybean production—except, agricultural experts believe the first soybean harvest of the year is occurring in South Texas.

They also believe more South Texas farmers should consider soybeans in their crop mixes, considering the potential for high yields, good prices and relatively low production costs.

“Our soybean crop in the Rio Grande Valley of a few thousand acres is just a tiny blip on the nation’s huge soybean crop, but those who plant it here do quite well,” said Brad Cowan, a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service agent for Hidalgo County. “Our soybean yields are outstanding. They require little or no insecticides and no expensive fertilizers. They can vastly improve a grower’s soil conditions, and in a market like we have now, there’s a tidy profit to be made.”

The South Texas soybean crop is primarily exported to Mexico for use as livestock feed, but its oil and beans also make their way into the human food chain, Cowan said. Read more about South Texas soybean production.