Agriculture: Responsible for 15% of All U.S. Employment

With your Southeast Regional Ag News, I am Haylie Shipp. This is the Ag Information Network.

Commissioned by 25 food and agriculture groups, the Feeding the Economy Report highlights the impact of the food and agriculture sector. Veronica Nigh, American Farm Bureau Federation Senior Economist, says the report illustrates the critical role agriculture plays in our economic system…

“Overall, as we look across the United States, it shows that these industries are responsible for over $8.6 trillion of the country's economic activity, which is nearly 20 percent, and directly supports nearly 23 million jobs, which is 15 percent of U.S. employment.”

Nigh says the data in the report is another tool in the toolbox for advocates telling the story of agriculture, especially when talking to legislators…

“I think this is certainly an excellent tool for agriculture. When we think about legislation that's being considered in 2023, certainly when your legislator comes back into your district and wants to talk about things like the Farm Bill, it's important to let them know how important agriculture is in every part of the United States. So, it certainly highlights the farm to fork nature of agriculture and that our reach is well beyond our fence rows.”

Learn more at FeedingTheEconomy.com.