Over half of the 64,000 farms in Kansas raise cattle, with over 5.7 million head marketed annually. In 2003, cash receipts for all Kansas commodities was slightly over 9 billion dollars. Of this, approximately 62% of the total cash receipts in Kansas came from cattle and calves.

Nationally, Kansas ranks first in the number of cattle processed (approximately 8.2 million or about 23% of the U.S. total), second in fed cattle marketings (approximately 5.4 million or about 22% of the U.S. total), and seventh in beef cows (approximately 1.5 million or about 5% of the U.S. total).

Additionally, Kansas producers graze or background about 2.5 to 3.0 million stockers annually. Without question, beef production is the economic workhorse of Kansas agriculture.