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Abstract
The commercial bison industry is relatively new to North Dakota. There
were an estimated 23,000 head of bison in North Dakota in 1998, and these
animals were found in 47 of 53 counties. The purpose of this study was to
estimate the economic contribution of the bison industry to the North
Dakota economy. A survey of North Dakota bison producers and
processors was conducted to provide estimates of direct impacts of bison
activities within the state. Secondary economic impacts were determined
using the North Dakota Input-Output Model.
The direct impact of production and processing of bison in North Dakota in
1998 was estimated at $23 million. The $23 million in direct impacts
generated an additional $47 million in secondary impacts within the state.
The North Dakota bison industry supported a total of 757 secondary full-
time equivalent (FTE) jobs within the state. Total economic activity
generated within the state was estimated at $70 million, including $27
million in personal income and nearly $18 million in retail sales. In
addition, the bison industry generated $4 million in tax revenue (including
property, personal income, sales & use, and corporate income taxes). The
direct impact of bison production in 1998 ranked fourth in North Dakota's
livestock industry; below cattle and calves, dairy products, and hogs, and
above turkey and sheep.
The average direct impact generated for every bison in the state was
$1,000. Total economic activity generated per bison in 1998 was $3,100
(includes direct and secondary impacts from production and processing).
For every 30 head of bison an additional secondary FTE job was supported.