Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/935358
24 – 2018 McDonald County Directory Economy Agriculture McDonald County is a leader in the state regarding livestock production. e processing of millions of chickens every year in the two poultry processing plants of Tyson Foods and Simmons Foods puts the county near the top in that category. Agriculture has a huge impact on McDonald County and the state, a report commissioned by the Missouri Department of Agriculture and Missouri Farm Bureau shows. Missouri has a diverse agriculture industry that is especially strong in growing grains and oilseeds (soybeans), cattle and hog farming and many further food and forestry processing industries. is study of the Economic Contributions of Missouri Agriculture and Forestry quantifies the importance of these industries to the state. In 2017, agriculture, forestry and related industries in Missouri contributed: • $88.4 billion economic impact • $33 billion in value-added plus $55.4 billion in inputs • 378,232 jobs • $17.5 billion in labor income • $2.2 billion in state/local taxes • $4 billion in federal taxes Of the $33.0 billion in added value from the agriculture, forestry, and related economic activity: • Crops, Livestock, Forestry, and Fisheries Production contributed $9.4 billion • Agriculture Inputs and Services contributed $5.0 billion • Food and Related Products Manufacturing contributed $15.5 billion • Forestry Products Manufacturing contributed $3.2 billion Of the industries studied, the following are the top three contributors of value- added to the State: • Breweries: $2.9 billion • Oilseed Farming: $2.3 billion • Dog and Cat Food Manufacturing: $2.3 billion Overall Contributions to McDonald County Agricultural, forestry, and related industries support 5,020 jobs in McDonald County. Additionally, these industries contribute $1.3 billion in sales, which translates to $316.4 million in added value to the area aer $955.9 million worth of inputs are purchased. Of this $316.4 million, $195.6 million is comprised of labor income. Tax revenues generated by the agricultural, forestry, and related industries in McDonald County are $55.4 million. McDonald County has 1,291 farms, that have 299 acres, with 801 square miles in the county, more than half — 603 square miles. A summary of McDonald County farms show: • 214,707 acres in cropland • 92,111 acres in pasture • 58,413 acres in woodland • 20,774 acres in other farm use. e top three contributors, ranked by value-added, are: • Poultry processing, with inputs of $750.9 million, value added of $196.6 million, sales of $947.5 million, and employment of 3,585. • Broilers, with inputs of $84.2 million, value added of $71.2 million, sales of $155.4 million, and employment of 399. • Beef cattle ranching and farming, with inputs of $14 million, value added of $14.1 million, sales of $28.1 million, and employment of 348. e estimated population of the county in 2015 was 22,643. Land prices in McDonald County averaged just $95 per acre in 1964. e value jumped to $193 in 1969, $342 in 1974, $696 in 1978, $775 in 1982, dropped back to $757 in 1987, then rose steadily from $885 in 1992, to $1,256 in 1997, $2,029 in 2002, $2,370 in 2007 and was at $2,477 in 2012. In comparison, 2012 prices for neighboring counties were: Newton, $2,577 per acre; Barry County, $2,538; and Jasper County, $2,337. M A hay barn, more than 100 years old, is a feature at the Right Choices Corn Maze near Southwest City, Mo. Visitors can view the corn maze from the hay loft or view items exhibited in the barn. Photo by Randy Moll