More Than Food: Agriculture’s Economic Footprint

Mar 27, 2026

By Daniel Munch

Key Takeaways

Food and agriculture supports $10.4 trillion in total U.S. economic output, representing about 20% of all economic activity.
The sector supports nearly 49 million jobs, or roughly 30% of total U.S. employment, even though on-farm jobs account for less than 2%.
Food and agriculture generates more than $1.3 trillion in tax revenue, reinforcing its role as a foundation of local, state and federal economies.
Maintaining domestic food and agriculture production helps anchor jobs, income and economic activity within the United States.

Each year, the Feeding the Economy report provides one of the most comprehensive looks at the full economic footprint of U.S. food and agriculture. While often discussed in terms of farm receipts or commodity production, the report highlights a much broader reality: agriculture is not just a sector, it is a foundational driver of economic activity that supports millions of jobs, trillions in output and significant tax revenue across every state.

The 2026 Feeding the Economy report estimates $10.4 trillion in economic output tied to food and agriculture, accounting for roughly one-fifth of all U.S. economic activity, while supporting nearly 49 million jobs across the economy. At the center of that system are farmers and ranchers, whose production underpins economic stability by supplying the raw goods that feed families, sustain industries, support jobs, keep supply chains functioning nationwide and help ensure that the economic value tied to food production remains in the United States.

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Video: Winter Canola Trial in Mississippi | Can It Work for Double Cropping? | Pioneer Agronomy

Can winter canola open new opportunities for growers in the Mid-South? In this agronomy update from Noxubee County, Mississippi, Pioneer agronomist Gus Eifling shares an early look at a first-year winter canola trial and what farmers are learning from the field.

Planted in late October on 30-inch rows, the crop is now entering the bloom stage and progressing quickly. In this video, we walk through current field conditions, fertility management, and how timing could make this crop a valuable option for double-cropping soybeans or cotton.

If harvest timing lines up with early May, growers may be able to transition directly into another crop during ideal planting windows. Ongoing field trials will help determine whether canola could become a viable rotational option for the region.

Watch for:

How winter canola is performing in its first season in this Mississippi field

Why growers chose 30-inch rows for this trial

What the crop looks like as it moves from bolting into bloom

Fertility strategy, including nitrogen and sulfur applications

How canola harvest timing could enable double-cropping with soybeans or cotton

Upcoming trials comparing soybeans after canola vs. traditional planting

As more growers look for ways to maximize acres and diversify rotations, experiments like this help determine what new crops might fit into existing systems.