FARGO (AP) - Farm production expenses in the Plains region rose 4.8 percent in 2005, to $49.5 billion, the Agriculture Department says.

The region includes North Dakota, South Dakota, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas.

Livestock, poultry and related expenses, the largest expenditure in the Plains at $8.6 billion, rose 14.8 percent from the previous year.

The largest increase in expenses was for fuel, which rose 23.1 percent.

Decreases in expenditures were reported for feed, tractors and other farm machinery, and vehicles.

Nationally, farm production expenses increased 5.3 percent last year.