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South Dakota
FARMS, LAND IN FARMS,
AND LIVESTOCK FARMS
News Release
February 18, 2000
FARM NUMBERS UNCHANGED FROM 1998
SIOUX FALLS, February 18, 2000 -- The number of farms in South Dakota in 1999 is estimated at 32,500,
unchanged from the previous three years, according to USDA's South Dakota Agricultural Statistics
Service. This is down 7 percent from 35,000 farms ten years ago and 17 percent from 39,000 farms twenty
years ago. Total land in farms, at 44 million acres, is also unchanged from a year ago; as is the average
farm size, at 1,354 acres.
By sales class, there were 7,000 farms in the $1,000-$9,999 size group, unchanged from 1998; 15,300
farms in the $10,000-$99,999 size group, unchanged from a year earlier; and 10,200 farms in the $100,000
and over sales group, also unchanged from last year.
The number of farms and ranches raising livestock during 1999 totaled: 21,000 raising cattle, 17,000 raising
beef cows, 1,700 dairy operations, 2,700 hog operations, and 2,500 operations raising sheep.
For more information contact
William Hamlin at
605-330-4235
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