Overview: Agriculture

Agricultural production in McPherson County from 529,000 acres of land in farms has an annual market value of nearly 100 million dollars. Rainfall averages about 30 inches with the highest amounts from May to August. Sales of crops account for nearly 70% of the total; livestock, mainly beef cattle, provides over 30%.

The major crop in the county is hard red winter wheat with over 220,000 acres planted annually. McPherson County has the second highest acreage in the state and is usually first or second in average yield per acre. Grain sorghum is the number two crop in the county, followed by corn and soybeans. Over 17,000 acres of corn is grown as an irrigated crop. The major forage crops are alfalfa and grass hay.

The topography ranges from level crop land in central and southern portions of the county to native grass-covered hills in the northern part of the county. Native and improved pastures along with feedlots support some 65,000 beef animals. McPherson County is in the transition area between tall and short native grasses and has a mixture of warm season grasses including bluestems, buffalo and the grama grasses. Over 70 species of wild flowers are found in the county.

The McPherson aquifer provides excellent quality water for farms, towns, and for irrigation. Winter wheat has been the best adapted crop for McPherson County and provides wheat for export and the milling industry located in McPherson.