Industrial hemp farming continues to expand in South Dakota.
The latest USDA hemp acreage report shows South Dakota farmers grew 3,900 acres of hemp in 2024. That’s up 22 percent from the previous year.
However, the amount of hemp produced fell over 14 percent due to a drop in yield per acre. Despite this, the overall value of the state’s crop jumped 50 percent due to a sharp rise in the price of hemp.
2024 saw Texas surpass South Dakota as the nation’s leader in industrial hemp acres planted, but South Dakota retained the top spot when it came to acres harvested. Texas planted 4,900 acres last year but only harvested 1,500. Of South Dakota's 3,900 acres, 3,700 were harvested.
The report showed nationwide, farmers planted 45,294 acres of industrial hemp in 2024, an increase of 64 percent from 2023. The total value of the crop rose 46 percent to $417 million.