The Economic Engine

South Dakota may only have 31,300 farm and ranch families working the land and tending to the livestock, but it is the economic engine that drives our state's economy. The impact on South Dakota's economy alone from agriculture is $21.3 billion.

According to a study conducted at South Dakota State University, the agriculture sector in the state also employs 173,101 people and contributes $645 million in tax revenues. Each dollar of revenue generated in the state from production agriculture creates another $1.374 in economic activity.

The economic impact from over 12 million head of livestock in the state accounts for over $5.7 billion of the state's economy, with the grains grown on nearly 17 million acres impacting the state's economy by $5.5 billion.

Listed below are some facts and figures that further tell the story the importance of agriculture in South Dakota.

There are 31,300 farms and ranches in South Dakota.

15,171 cattle producers
450 dairy farms
1,042 pork producers
11,000 farms growing corn and soybeans

The average farm in South Dakota is about 1,400 acres.

4.75 million acres corn
4.1 million acres soybeans
3.6 million acres wheat

Livestock/Poultry Inventory

1.75 million calves born annually
400,000 cattle finished in state
2.3 million hogs marketed annually
90,000 dairy cows
3 million laying hens
2 million turkeys

Milk Production

Milk Cows (Average head) 90,000
Milk Production per Cow (lbs) 19,956
Production (lbs) 1,796,000,000

For a full listing of all South Dakota agricultural statistics or statistic for your county visit www.nass.usda.gov/sd.