The latest Census of Agriculture shows the numbers of farms in South Dakota decreased from 2012 to 2017 with 2,000 fewer farming operations. SDSU Extension Ag Economist and Risk Business Management Specialist Matt Diersen says the loss of farm and operations getting larger follows the national trend.
The Ag Census shows 1,850 or a majority of farms lost in South Dakota from 2012 to 2017 were smaller operations, between 10 and 1,000 acres. Diersen says it’s difficult to say what caused that type of loss.
He says all sectors of agricultural are currently facing a financial pinch and there’s not a lot of good news out there.
Diersen advises producers to keep talking to their lenders and stay out in front of any problems they may have before they get worse.
