Marshall-Saline
Development Corporation

Agriculture

Agriculture is a very important part of the economy in Saline County. In 1997, total cash receipts for agriculture were $102,633,000 with $68,392,000 coming from crops and $34,241,000 coming from livestock. Cash receipts from crops ranked 11th out of 114 counties in Missouri.

When the plow was finally put to the sea of tall prairie grass in the 1800's, this plains area was found to contain very deep brown loam soil, which produced abundant crops. The early stockman and agriculturalist founded a community of commercial agriculture that thrived and reaped enormous benefits starting with the Santa Fe Trail trade of the 1830's and 1840's. By 1860 only two states exceeded Missouri's production of corn and Saline was one of the top five Missouri counties. By the end of the 19th century, Saline County had experienced many decades of expanding commercial agriculture. The 1905 Soil Survey reported this area as being the richest agriculture land in Missouri. Today we know that we have not only the richest land in Missouri, but also in the world. As a result, Saline County's agricultural industry continues to thrive.

Today Saline County ranks 1st in Missouri counties in production of corn.