Some Factors Affecting the Growth of Grain Elevators in South Dakota

The grain elevator industry in South Dakota is currently undergoing considerable change. Small, inefficient elevators are being replaced with larger, more mechanized units. In South Dakota in 1960, there were 533 elevator companies in 368 towns but by 1968 only 450 elevator companies survived in 345 towns. An elevator company includes all the facilities and businesses that are under one management. Throughout this study elevator companies will be referred to as elevators. All of this points out that the industry is dynamic and changing. Some elevators keep up with these changes, while others fail to adopt new ideas. What are the characteristics of firms that are growing as opposed to those that have a declining growth rate? What kind of services do the growing firms offer? What can one expect the future of the South Dakota grain elevator business to be like if present trends continue? How does one determine which elevators are likely to grow