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South Dakota dairy continues to grow

A dairy industry leader says Agropur’s recent plant expansion highlights more than a decade of support for South Dakota’s dairy industry.

Lloyd Metzger, a professor at South Dakota State University, tells Brownfield most of the nine dairy processors have expanded along with the state’s milking herd. “There really was a concerted effort by the state to grow the dairy industry.”  

Agropur’s Lake Nordon facility tripled its milk processing capacity to more than 9 million pounds early this year which is expected to provide $1 billion in economic activity for South Dakota.

In 2012, milk production was at a 40-year low from a herd of about 80,000 milking cows.  In April, USDA reported the herd size was 124,000 while the March all milk prices were $1 above the national average at $18.50.