Washington, D.C., March 23, 2026 – CRA joined 34 other food and agriculture organizations in releasing the 10th annual Feeding the Economy report, a comprehensive farm-to-fork analysis of the entire food and agriculture supply chain. The report measures the direct and indirect contributions of America’s food and agriculture industries to U.S. jobs, wages, economic output, and tax revenue.
This year’s report underscores the immense reach of the food and agriculture sector across the U.S. economy. America’s food and agriculture industries generate more than $10.4 trillion in economic activity, representing nearly 20% of total U.S. economic output. These industries support more than 48.7 million jobs nationwide, including nearly 24.3 million direct jobs, demonstrating their importance to communities in every region of the country.
Compared to the previous year’s report, the sector’s economic impact increased by nearly $894 billion, reflecting continued growth across the food and agriculture value chain despite inflationary pressures, a challenging farm economy, and global market uncertainty.
“America’s food and agriculture sector continues to demonstrate remarkable resilience and economic strength,” said John Bode, President and CEO of the Corn Refiners Association, which has championed Feeding the Economy since the study’s inception. “Even as farmers, producers, and manufacturers face significant economic headwinds, this sector remains a critical driver of economic growth, job creation, and opportunity in rural, suburban, and urban communities across the country.”
Feeding the Economy highlights:
- America’s food and agriculture industries generate more than $10.4 trillion in economic activity, touching every ZIP Code in the U.S. and supporting jobs in nearly every congressional district.
- These industries support nearly 49 million American jobs, accounting for roughly one in five jobs nationwide, with direct employment totaling nearly 24.3 million workers.
- Food and agriculture employment generates more than $3 trillion in wages for American workers, with wages increasing 4 percent year-over-year and 13 percent over the last decade.
- Food manufacturing remains the largest manufacturing sector in the U.S., employing more Americans than automobile, truck, and chemical manufacturing combined.
- The U.S. exports more than $177.3 billion in food and agriculture products, highlighting the critical role global markets play in supporting American farmers, producers, and manufacturers.
While the sector continues to expand its overall economic impact, the report also identifies emerging pressures facing the industries. Agricultural exports declined by nearly $5.4 billion year-over-year, underscoring the importance of strong trade agreements and reliable access to international markets for U.S. agriculture.
Employment levels in agricultural production and food manufacturing underscore the need for investment in rural communities and the durability of the jobs despite challenges in the farm economy. Jobs in both categories are relatively flat year over year, highlighting the need for policies that strengthen rural economic growth and domestic manufacturing.
The 2026 Feeding the Economy Report reinforces the connection between the strength of the agriculture sector and the health of the broader U.S. economy. Understanding the scale and impact of food and agriculture is essential to ensuring the continued growth of one of the nation’s most important industries.
The full report is available at FeedingTheEconomy.com. Sponsoring organizations that helped make the 2026 study possible also provided commentary on this year’s findings.
