• We've just completed our 4th week of the 2013 Session.  In the House Agriculture and House Transportation Committees on which I serve, we have been seeing an increase of bills to review. As a farmer and rancher myself, I know the importance of agriculture to our SD economy.  I'd like to share a few facts which highlight just how important this industry is to our state.
• Ag is SD's #1 industry with a $20.9 billion dollar economic impact. In 2012, no state in the country derived a larger percentage of its Gross Domestic Product from agriculture than SD. We actually get 10.9% of our GDP from Agriculture. The SD Department of Agriculture works to promote and develop agriculture as well manage divisions within the department such as conservation and forestry, wildland fires, and the State Fair.
• The SD Department of Ag receives a total of $16.6 million

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