FARGO (AP) - Farm production expenditures in the six-state Plains region rose 16 percent last year, to $64.3 billion.

The Agriculture Department says the largest expenditure was for livestock, poultry and related expenses, which increased more than 14 percent.

The region includes North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. Nationally, farm production expenditures last year rose a little more than 9 percent from 2006.

On average, each farm in the Plains region spent just under $133,000 last year. The national average was about $126,000.