The ag industry adds about $10 trillion to the economy each year, a new report shows

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.

Related Stories
Plan for sharp, short-term volatility after unexpected outages; permanent closures rarely trigger major price spread disruptions.
Ethanol output softened, but underlying supply-and-demand trends indicate stable longer-term use despite short-term volatility in blending and exports.
Strong Farm Credit finances help cushion producers, but prolonged low crop margins could strain renewals in 2026.
USDA data confirms that U.S. agriculture remains overwhelmingly family-run despite structural shifts in scale and production, according to a new analystis by Farm Flavor.
American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) economist Danny Munch joined us on Thursday’s Market Day Report to break down the scope of the U.S. Christmas Tree industry and what growers are up against.
Rising beef supplies and lower cattle prices, weaker hog markets, and softening dairy prices will shape producer margins heading into 2026.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Tim and Sharyn Abbott of the Music City Celebration Sale recap the weekend’s premier auction, which drew top dairy breeders and buyers to Nashville again this year from across North America.
The bill to once again allow schools to offer whole milk and 2% milk will now go to President Trump for approval.
Plans are underway for the 27th annual Great Eastern Iowa Tractorcade, a June event celebrating farm heritage, tractor history, and rural traditions. Event manager Matt Kenney joins us to highlight the importance of commemorating farm heritage.
Farm Legal Expert Roger McEowen with the Washburn School of Law joins us to share more about the North Dakota court decision and the its larger impact on agriculture.
Fertilizer markets face uncertainty after President Trump raised the possibility of tariffs on Canadian imports, with analysts warning of supply and pricing risks. Josh Linville with StoneX provides a fertilizer industry outlook.