Study puts Ag’s impact on U.S. economy at $6.7 trillion

Just over a fifth of the U.S. economy and more than a fourth (28 percent) of American jobs are linked, directly or indirectly to the food and agriculture sector. That’s according to a new study commissioned by 22 food and agriculture organizations that puts the economic impact of the sector at $6.7 trillion. “We have long understood that the food and agriculture industries play an absolutely vital role not only in feeding Americans, but also in feeding and growing the nation’s economy,” Leslie G. Sarasin, CEO of the Food Marketing Institute, said in a release. The study found the sector supports some 43.3 million jobs with total annual wages of $1.9 trillion dollars and exports worth just over $146 billion. The study, which includes an interactive map breaking down each state’s contributions to the ag and food industry, can be accessed by clicking here.