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Nearly 30 percent of American jobs linked to food and agriculture

Seven percent of the nation’s economy and 29 percent of American jobs are linked to the food and agriculture sectors, according to the new Feeding the Economy report.  

John Bode, president and CEO of the Corn Refiners Association, says the report showcases the economic impact of the industry.

“It shows that the food and agriculture sector is big, and its impact is tremendous, but also it reaches into the American economy in ways that surprise so many people,” he says. “It starts with the American farmer who is best in the world and produces more sustainably than any other farmers in the world and then a supply chain through food processing all the way to consumers with food retail and restaurants. It’s an amazingly large and complex system.”

He tells Brownfield it also highlights how food and agriculture overcame pandemic-related disruptions.

“The other big takeaway, I thought, was that except for the restaurant industry, jobs in the agriculture-related industry have recovered from the shock of the pandemic,” he says. “…the report captures how the agriculture-related economy is responding and shows that the jobs are generally back to pre-pandemic levels, even though upply chain disruptions continue to be substantial.”

The U.S. food and agriculture sectors contribute $7.4 trillion dollars a year to the nation’s economy.

Other study highlights include:
-Total Jobs: 43,464,211
-Total Wages: ​$2.3 trillion
-Total Taxes:​$718.2 billion
-Exports:​$182.9 billion

Bode says “we tend to underestimate how important agriculture and its related industries are to the American economy as a whole. The industry is in it together and we should be working together to promote American agriculture-related industries and that includes a development of our export markets.”

This is the sixth annual Feeding the Economy report, commissioned by 30 food and agriculture groups.

Click here for more information.

Audio: John Bode, Corn Refiners Association

Sponsoring Organizations include: American Bakers Association, American Beverage Association, American Farm Bureau Federation, American Feed Industry Association, American Soybean Association, Association of Equipment Manufacturers, BIO, Corn Refiners Association, CropLife America, FMI – The Food Industry Association, Global Cold Chain Alliance, Institute of Shortening and Edible Oils, International Dairy Foods Association, International Fresh Produce Association, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, National Automatic Merchandising Association (NAMA), National Corn Growers Association, National Grain and Feed Association, National Milk Producers Federation, National Oilseed Processors Association, National Pork Producers Council, National Restaurant Association, NCA – The National Confectioners Association, North American Meat Institute, Peanut and Tree Nut Processors Association (PTNPA), SNAC International, The Fertilizer Institute, The Sugar Association Inc., U.S. Dairy Export Council, U.S. Grains Council.

State Information:

The Indiana food and agriculture sector contributes $171.7 billion dollars to the state’s economy. It also supports nearly 903,000 jobs and $43.7 billion in wages. 

The Ohio food and agriculture sector contributes $277.1 billion dollars to the state’s economy. It also supports nearly 1.6 million jobs and $74.1 billion in wages. 

The Arkansas food and agriculture sector contributes $92 billion dollars to the state’s economy. It also supports more than 494,000 jobs and $23.1 billion in wages. 

The Tennessee food and agriculture sector contributes $153.7 billion dollars to the state’s economy. It also supports more than 949,000 jobs and $44.8 billion in wages. 

The Minnesota food and agriculture sector contributes $190.2 billion dollars to the state’s economy. It also supports 919,000 jobs and $54.6 billion in wages. 

The Iowa food and agriculture sector contributes $204 billion dollars to the state’s economy. It also supports nearly 801,000 jobs and $51.8 billion in wages. 

The Wisconsin food and agriculture sector contributes $222.8 billion dollars to the state’s economy. It also supports more than 1 million jobs and $56 billion in wages. 

The Kansas food and agriculture sector contributes $127.4 billion dollars to the state’s economy. It also supports nearly 578,000 million jobs and $34.2 billion in wages. 

The Nebraska food and agriculture sector contributes $131.9 billion dollars to the state’s economy. It also supports more than 510,000 jobs and $29.9 billion in wages. 

The South Dakota food and agriculture sector contributes $49.9 billion dollars to the state’s economy. It also supports more than 222,000 jobs and $12 billion in wages. 

The Missouri food and agriculture sector contributes $162.4 billion dollars to the state’s economy. It also supports nearly 955,000 jobs and $43 billion in wages. 

The Illinois food and agriculture sector contributes $359 billion dollars to the state’s economy. It also supports more than 1.7 million jobs and $105.2 billion in wages.  

The Michigan food and agriculture sector contributes $188.3 billion dollars to the state’s economy. It also supports 1.1 million jobs and nearly $54.6 billion in wages.