The value of all principal crops grown in South Dakota in 2007 more than doubled from the previous year to $5.29 billion, according to the Agricultural Statistics Service.

The 2007 total was up 112% from the $2.49 billion value of 2006 crops and 99% above the $2.66 billion value of 2005 crops.

The increase last year was due to record corn and wheat production along with higher prices for most crops, the service said.

Corn for grain was the leading valued crop of 2007 at $2.09 billion, up from $921.4 million in 2006. The 2007 corn crop was a record 544.5 million bushels.

Alfalfa hay brought in $498.7 million.

In North Dakota, the value of crop production last year reached its highest level on record, paced by demand that drove up prices for spring wheat, corn, and other commodities, the state’s Agriculture Department said.

The overall production value of $6.46 billion, an increase of 75% from 2006, was mainly due to higher prices, the department said in a report Friday