The ag industry is a powerful economic driver and has seen strength in recent years.
New research shows the industry adds nearly $10 trillion to the economy annually, and while it is a stunning number, it is not as high as it once was.
New data was released this week from Feeding the Economy, a group of more than 30 ag groups, like the Farm Bureau and NASDA. This year’s report shows U.S. agriculture will add $9.5 trillion to the economy this year, along with 1,000,000 jobs. Last year the industry brought in $9.6 trillion.
Despite the decline, they found that agriculture has seen big growth since the pandemic, but they do remain cautious about continued pressure.
A big area of the report featured ag manufacturing. It shows jobs in that sector have fallen year over year, with around 30,000 jobs gone since 2020. The Association of Equipment Manufacturers joined us this week on Market Day Report, and they say they have seen sales numbers decline in recent months, and are urging lawmakers to take action, starting with a Farm Bill.
USDA data show that 2.1 million landlords rent out 347 million acres, emphasizing a rising dependence on leased farmland as owners age and land supply tightens. ASFMRA’s David Klein also shares his outlook on land trends in Illinois.
March 18, 2026 04:55 PM
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Geopolitical tensions in the Strait of Hormuz disrupt fertilizer shipments, raising costs and creating uncertainty for U.S. farmers ahead of planting season.
March 18, 2026 03:21 PM
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This year at CattleCon 2026, RFD Network’s Kirbe Schnoor caught up with Donna Emick from Pneu-Dart to get her perspective on why education, safety, and accountability matter in the field.
March 18, 2026 01:22 PM
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Nebraska’s largest wildfire on-record has burned 650,000 acres, with three other major fires also burning across the state, destroying pastureland and threatening cattle.
March 18, 2026 12:53 PM
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Producer input costs are rising faster than expected — and this latest PPI report does not reflect the last two weeks of geopolitical tension.
March 18, 2026 11:58 AM
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Acreage shifts could influence spring marketing decisions.
March 18, 2026 11:20 AM
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