SD-CROP-LIVESTOCK

                        South Dakota         
                      MILK PRODUCTION 

News Release                                   October 17, 2005
     
          JULY - SEPTEMBER 2005 MILK PRODUCTION UP

SIOUX FALLS, October 17, 2005  - -  The July - September
2005 quarterly milk production for South Dakota totaled 358
million pounds, 8 percent above last year, according to the
South Dakota Office of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics
Service.  This is up 7 percent from the recent five-year average
of 335 million pounds for the third quarter.

The average number of milk cows during the quarter, at
81,000, was 1,000 head above a year ago but unchanged from
the second quarter of 2005.
     
 The complete report can be accessed at www.usda.gov/nass/
        or call Carter Anderson or Steve Noyes at
                         605-323-6500