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Importance of Cropland

Economic Importance of Cropland for South Dakota

Agriculture is South Dakota's leading industry.  It has a $17 billion impact on the state's economy.  Approximately 16.5 million acres, or 37 percent, of the land resource in South Dakota is classified as cropland.  In 1998, the total cash receipts from farm marketing in South Dakota were $3.5 billion.  From this total, $2 billion was received directly from crop sales, with an additional undetermined amount sold ultimately through livestock sales.  As an agricultural resource, cropland has a significant impact on the economic as well as the environmental well-being of the State of South Dakota and the Northern Great Plains Region.