Kansas Agriculture

• Who is Kansas Agriculture?

  • In 2017, there were 58,569 farms in Kansas, which generated more than $18.7 billion in agricultural output.
  • Family-owned farms and ranches are the backbone of Kansas agriculture:
    • 84.6% family
    • 6.2% partnership
    • 5.3% corporation
    • 3.8% other-cooperative, estate or trust, institutional, etc.
  • The face of agriculture is changing in Kansas. The average age of the Kansas farmer is 58.1, according to the USDA Census on Agriculture.
  • The average size of a Kansas farm is 781 acres.

   *Data according to the USDA 2017 Census on Agriculture.

• How Does Kansas Agriculture affect the Kansas Economy?

  • Agriculture is the largest economic driver in Kansas, valued at nearly $65.7 billion, accounting for 42.3 percent of the state's total economy (5-year average). 
  • The agriculture sector in Kansas employs 248,216 people through direct, indirect and induced effect careers, or 12.6 percent of the entire workforce in the state. 
  • If food retail and ethanol production are included, the economic contribution rises to over $80 billion, and employs more than 21% of the workforce.
  • In Kansas, there are 45,759,319 acres of  farmland, which accounts for 87.5 percent of all Kansas land. More than 21 million acres in Kansas is harvested for crops and over 14 million is pastureland for grazing animals.
  • Agriculture in Kansas is not just about growing crops and raising animals. The Kansas agricultural sector includes renewable energy production, food processing, research and education, agribusiness and more.
  • Kansas is part of the animal health corridor. Between Columbia, Missouri and Manhattan, Kansas sits the single largest concentration of animal health interests in the world.
  • Kansas farmers and ranchers are feeding the world. Kansas exports nearly $3.8 billion in agricultural products. The leading exports are beef, wheat, soybeans and corn.
  • Click here for more data and a full report on the estimated impact of agriculture, food and food processing sectors on the Kansas economy.

• What do Kansas Farmers and Ranchers Grow?

  • The top five agricultural products grown or raised in Kansas include:
    • Cattle and Calves
    • Wheat
    • Corn
    • Sorghum
    • Soybeans
  • Kansas is a recognized leader in agriculture in the United States.
    • Kansas is ranked first grain sorghum production, growing more than 55% of the nation's crop
    • Kansas is ranked first in sorghum for silage production
    • Kansas leads the nation in wheat production, growing nearly 20% of the nation’s crop, and also ranks first in flour milling capacity.
    • Kansas is ranked third in cattle production and beef processing.
    • Kansas is ranked fourth in sunflower production.
  • Kansas is quickly becoming the new dairy frontier in the United States. Kansas is the 16^th ranked dairy state for milk production and is home to 160,000 dairy cows on over 300 dairy farms. Milk processing capacity has grown significantly in recent years, and now 75 percent of the milk produced in Kansas stays in the state for processing.

  To view Kansas' complete ranking in U.S. Agriculture, click here.

• Kansas Farm Facts

  Farm Facts is a reliable reference book that contains statistical data on agricultural production, prices, farm income and various other economic figures within the state. Data for this publication is collected through the voluntary cooperation of Kansas farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses who responded to surveys conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistic Service (USDA NASS) and the Census of Agriculture.

  Farm Facts is an active document that is updated regularly when new facts are released. The information is compiled by the Kansas Department of Agriculture.
  
  Kansas Farm Facts, October 5, 2018
  Kansas Farm Facts, August 14, 2017
  Kansas Farm Facts, October 5, 2016
  Kansas Farm Facts, September 1, 2015
  Kansas Farm Facts, February 13, 2015
  Farm Facts, August 5, 2013
  Farm Facts, 2012