The Economic Engine
South
Dakota may only have 31,000 farm and ranch families working
the land and tending to the livestock, but it is the economic
engine that drives our state’s economy. In 2003,
the impact on South Dakota’s economy alone from
agriculture was $17.8 billion, nearly twice that of the
nearest industry.
The economic impact from
the nearly 12 million head of livestock in the state accounts
for $5.7 billion to the state’s economy, with the
grains grown on nearly 10 million acres impacting the
state’s economy by $6.4 billion.
Listed below are some facts
and figures that further tell the story the importance
of agriculture in South Dakota.
-
The average size farm
in 1974 was 1,050 acres large; today, farms average
1,380 acres
-
There are 43.8 million
acres of farm and ranch land in South Dakota
$3.8 million is the market value of agriculture related
products in 2004, which is on average $120,000 per farm
-
There are 80,000 dairy
cows on 750 dairy farms
-
An average dairy cow
will produce 16,838 pounds of milk each year
South Dakota is home to five cheese processors, two
fluid milk plants, one milk powder plant and one whey
processor
-
55% of dairy farmers
are between the age of 55 - 75
-
2.3 million hogs are
raised by 800 producers
-
11 ethanol plants have
been built in South Dakota
-
Over 8,000 farm families
have invested in ethanol plants
-
1 of 3 rows of corn
goes to ethanol
-
4.40 million acres
of corn will be planted in South Dakota in 2005
-
The 2004 corn crop
averaged 130 bushels per acre, the highest ever recorded
-
The 1894 corn crop
only averaged 4 bushels per acre
-
4.05 million acres
of soybeans will be planted in South Dakota in 2005
on over 11,000 farms
-
The 2004 soybean crop
averaged 34 bushels per acre
-
South Dakota is home
to the first farmer owned soybean processing facility
in the nation, South Dakota Soybean Processors in
Volga
-
Carpet, insulation,
and truck bed liners are just a few of the products
made from soybeans processed at The Volga plant
-
Over 3.3 million acres
of wheat will be planted in South Dakota for the 2005
harvest
-
There are 3.75 million
of cattle in South Dakota on 18,000 ranches and farms
The typical beef feedlot contains 210 head of cattle
-
2,100 sheep ranches
and farms in South Dakota raise 375,000 head of sheep
-
4.7 million tons of
alfalfa is grown on 2.2 million acres
-
3.2 million chickens
and geese were raised in 2004
-
933 million eggs were
produced in 2004
-
4.5 million Turkeys
were raised in 2004
-
South Dakota produces
more than 22.5 million pounds of honey.
Did you know South Dakota cattle producers have a $3.2 billion impact on the state’s economy, and the beef they produce is full of essential nutrients? That important message is being shared at cafes and steakhouses across the state, in a partnership between Ag United and the South Dakota Beef Industry Council. For a complete list of participating establishments, click here.
South Dakota’s National
Rank in Agriculture
First
- Bison
Second
- Oat Production
- Proso Millet Production
- Sunflower Seed Production
- Honey Production
Third
- Alfalfa Hay Production
- Flaxseed Production
- Rye Production
- Lambs Born
Fourth
- Other Spring Wheat Production
- All Sheep & Lambs
Fifth
- All Hay Production
- Durum Wheat Production
- Beef Cows That Have Calved
- Market Sheep and Lambs
Sixth
- All Wheat Production
- Corn for Grain Production
- All Cattle and Calves
- Land in Farms and Ranches
- Heifers 500 Lbs and Over
Seventh
- Sorghum for Grain Production
- All Cattle and Calves
- Steers 500 Lbs. and Over
- Cattle and Calves on Feed, all feedlots
Eight
- Harvested Acres, Principal Crops
- Soybean Production
- Winter Wheat Production
Eleventh
- All Hogs and Pigs
- Pigs Born
- All Other Hay Production
Information from
the South Dakota Agriculture Statistic Service
www.nass.usda.gov/sd
