The tenth annual “Feeding the Economy” report, a comprehensive study analyzing the economic contributions of the entire U.S. food and agriculture supply chain, finds that America’s food and agriculture industries generate more than $10.4 trillion in economic activity, an increase of nearly+ $894 billion year-over-year. That represents nearly 20% of the U.S. economy, and supports nearly 49 million jobs nationwide.
The food and ag sector includes not just America’s nearly 2 million farms, but also some 200,000 food manufacturing, processing, and storage facilities that employ food scientists, engineers, production workers, logistics specialists, and truck drivers. Another 1 million restaurants and around 200,000 retail food stores fall under the sector umbrella. The jobs created by these businesses provide more than $3 trillion in wages and contribute $1.35 trillion in federal, state, and local taxes. Direct employment has grown +6.5% over the past decade, though that growth has slowed in recent years. And the economic ripple effects extend even further. Wages earned across the food and agriculture supply chain are reinvested locally — supporting housing, health care, education, small businesses, and infrastructure. In many rural communities, food and agricultural economic activity is the backbone of the local economy.
While the sector continues to expand its overall economic impact, the report also identifies challenges. For instance, agricultural exports declined by nearly -$5.4 billion year-over-year, underscoring the importance of strong trade agreements and reliable access to international markets for U.S. agriculture. The report also highlights largely flat year-over-year employment levels in agricultural production and food manufacturing, reflecting pressures in the farm economy and rural communities. The full report includes a state-by-state breakdown of the food and ag industry’s contributions to local economies. Check it out HERE.
