South Dakota
Learn More About
South Dakota Farmers
- South Dakota Department of Ag
- South Dakota Cooperative Extension Service
- South Dakota Soybean Research and Promotion Council
- South Dakota Beef Industry Council
- Midwest Dairy Association
- South Dakota Pork Producers Council
- South Dakota Wheat Commission
- South Dakota Corn Utilization Council
Learn More about South Dakota Agriculture
- South Dakota Cattleman's Association
- South Dakota Poultry Industries Association
- South Dakota Farm Bureau
- South Dakota Ag in the Classroom
South Dakota Farmers
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South Dakota Soybean Farmer
“The technology that is used today has allowed us to grow much more food on the same number of acres.”
Lewis BainbridgeSoybean Farmer
Name: Lewis Bainbridge
Location: Ethan, South Dakota
Years farming: I’ve been farming for 33 years.
My family: My wife Charlene and I have three kids; Heidi, Matt, and Neal, who is married to Tara.
How I came to be a farmer: Becoming a farmer has been a life-long desire. While I grew up on the farm, I returned after graduating from South Dakota State University and spending five years in the U.S. Army as a helicopter pilot.
The best thing about being a farmer: I get to experience the ever-changing cycle of life. I witness our calves being born then growing into adult cows who have their own calves. I also get the satisfaction of planting a crop, watching it grow, and then harvesting it. I am also able to have the opportunity to farm with my sons and pass my knowledge of farming down to them. Being a farmer is very rewarding.
My personal philosophy on farming: Our philosophy is to do the best we can with what we have. That means taking care of our land and leaving the earth in better condition than the way we received it for the next generations.
Soybean Production in South Dakota and the United States
- There are 4.1 million acres of soybeans in South Dakota.
- More than 11,000 farms in South Dakota grow soybeans.
- South Dakota is the 8th leading soybean producer in America.
- 17.5% of South Dakota cash receipts came from soybeans in 2008.
- U.S. farmers account for 46% of the world’s soybeans.
- Each soybean plant has 60-80 pods containing two or three beans each.
- Farmers in more than 30 states grow soybeans, making it the second most popular crop in the United States.
- More than 5 million acres of South Dakota farmland are under environmentally friendly no-till farming.
- The average person consumes around 7 gallons of soybean oil every year in such items as vegetable oil, salad dressings, and mayonnaise.
- In 1999, the Food and Drug Administration announced that foods containing soy protein may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease — a claim substantiated by scientific research.
- Most soyfoods are low in saturated and trans fats, one reason why the American Heart Association has recognized soyfoods' role in an overall heart-healthy diet.
For more information about soybean farming in South Dakota, please visit www.sdsoybean.org.
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