ELKHART— The population of livestock in Indiana is growing faster the human population.
New research funded by the Indiana Soybean Alliance examines the impact of growing Indiana’s animal agriculture industries.
According to a 2012 Census report, Indiana was home to nearly 21,200 animal agriculture operations with livestock valued at $3.7 billion. The market value of Indiana's livestock population has increased steadily from $1.7 billion in 2002.
“Indiana’s hogs, cattle and poultry are an Indiana soybean farmer’s best customers, consuming 95 percent of all soybean meal produced in the state each year,” said Tom Griffiths, Indiana Soybean Alliance chairman and farmer from Kendallville.
The U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Department of Agriculture take a census of agriculture nationwide every five years. The next count is getting under way this summer.
Lee Lewellen, executive director of the Indiana Economic Development Association, said the expansion of the livestock population and value in Indiana creates a number of opportunities for economic development.
"For counties with significant livestock assets, they may have the opportunity to attract food processing facilities that create new local markets for the farmers, new job opportunities for citizens and new tax base for local government," he said. "There is also new opportunities to attract new companies that are part of the supply chain for the food processors and the farm operations."
The research has shown that Indiana communities should consider animal agriculture as a strategic option when thinking about economic development.
"The livestock report helps quantify what a significant economic resource we have with livestock and how it can be a building block for other economic development opportunities," said Lewellen.