Value-Added Agriculture
Nestled in one of the nation's most productive agricultural regions and with seamless access to major markets nationwide, Sunflower’s service territory is a prime location for leading food producers and manufacturers. With a rich agricultural-friendly culture and a strong track record of supporting agribusiness, the region is an ideal environment for value-added agricultural operations.
Leading Food Firms
Access to Raw Materials
More than 21 million acres in Kansas are harvested for crops, and more than 16 million pastureland is utilized for grazing animals. Farmland accounts for more than 88% of all Kansas land.
In 2023, Kansas achieved a record-high export value of $14.08 billion, marking an increase of nearly $66.89 million, or 0.48 percent, compared to the previous year. This surpasses the previous peaks of $14.02 billion in 2022 and $12.5 billion in both 2021 and 2008.
The top five exports include:
- Beef
- Wheat
- Soybeans
- Corn
- Pet foods
Kansas is a recognized leader in agriculture in the United States.
- Ranked #1 in grain sorghum production, growing more than 46% of the nation’s crop
- Ranked #2 in sorghum for silage production
- Ranked #2 in wheat production
- Ranked #3 in cattle production and beef processing
- Ranked #4 in sunflower production
Kansas is also quickly becoming the new dairy frontier in the United States In 2023, Kansas was home to 176,000 dairy cows, producing 4.2 billion pounds of milk. This represents a significant increase compared to 2014 when Kansas had 143,000 cows and produced 3.1 billion pounds of milk.
Competitive Labor Costs
Hourly wages for many occupations in demand by ag-related industries are at or below average for the region and the nation.
| Occupation | SW KS | KS | CO | NE | US |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $27.96 | $26.84 | $29.65 | $26.95 | $27.78 |
| Bakers | $11.47 | $11.00 | $11.90 | $11.34 | $12.06 |
| Butcher and Meat Cutters | $14.31 | $15.65 | $14.62 | $14.40 | $14.36 |
| Food Batchmakers | $13.23 | $15.15 | $11.72 | $12.93 | $13.37 |
| Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders | $14.07 | $14.69 | $13.63 | $14.98 | $13.63 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $14.10 | $13.80 | $11.99 | $13.28 | $11.61 |
| Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $14.24 | $14.36 | $16.00 | $16.31 | $15.80 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $16.87 | $20.93 | $18.42 | $17.75 | $17.68 |
Sunflower Electric Economic Development: A Partner You Can Count On
Sunflower Electric Power Corporation delivers wholesale generation, transmission, and support services to six-member rural electric cooperatives that power local communities in central and western Kansas. Through Sunflower Electric Economic Development, we partner with these cooperatives to drive business growth.
Beyond reliable power, we support value-added agriculture, manufacturing, energy, and information technology companies with site selection, connections, and solutions to get your business running smoothly.
Think Kansas for your next venture—contact us today to discover how Kansas fits your company’s future.
