Agriculture is the silent engine driving McPherson County’s economy. Even when assembly lines go down and unemployment spikes, agricultural producers continue to harvest crops and grow livestock that bring millions of dollars back into the county.

McPherson County is home to 1,142 family farms, which are responsible for 566,309 acres of farmland. Among the largest wheat-producing counties in the state,McPherson County producers harvested 195,000 acres of wheat in 2010, which amounted to 8 million bushels. Soybeans are the county’s second most popular crop, accounting for 55,200 acres. Corn makes up about 40,000 acres, followed by grain sorghum. Crop production generates about $57.3 million for the local economy each year.

The county is also home to 53,400 head of cattle at any given time.During the winter and spring months, farmers will help in the delivery of about 15,700 new calves annually. Cattle account for $62.5 million in annual economic impact.

In addition to crop and livestock receipts, the county benefits from several agriculturerelated industries.McPherson is home to a John Deere dealership and Moundridge is the headquarters for Mid-Kansas Cooperative, an 11-county agricultural cooperative.MKC has more than 6,600 farming customers and pays Back millions of dollars in patronage each year. Crop spraying services, auto dealerships, and farm and livestock equipment stores all cater to the needs of local farmers.

There is never a dull moment on the farm in Kansas. Fluctuating temperatures mean farmers must deal with extreme conditions and ready themselves and their operations for adverse conditions.During the winter months, many cattle owners spend their days feeding cattle and helping cows deliver their calves.The process is a natural one, but snow and constant cold can impact a cow's ability to care for her young.

In the spring,work moves to the fields. April and May are largely devoted to planting corn, which will be picked in the fall. In late May and early June, soybeans and grain sorghum are planted. By mid-June, combines begin hitting the fields for wheat harvest.

Harvest generally lasts between 10- 14 days in McPherson County, and keeps farmers busy from sun-up to sun down.

With the wheat out of the ground, producers begin the tedious process of irrigating their crops. About six percent of the county’s cropland can be irrigated through the use of both surface and ground water sources. Irrigation continues through July and August and is largely dependent on the amount of Rainfall the county receives.

In September, farmers again move the combines out of the sheds and into the fields for fall harvest.This time, the corn is picked and soybeans and grain sorghum plants are cut. By the end of the fall, the cattle are again readying for delivery and the process begins again.