Tenth Annual ‘Feeding the Economy’ Report Marks 10 Years of Measuring the Economic Power of America’s Food and Agriculture Industry

American agriculture contributes $10.4 trillion in economic value and supports nearly 49 million U.S. jobs 

Washington, DC – The 10th annual Feeding the Economy report (a farm-to-fork study of the entire agricultural supply chain) was released by 35 food and agriculture groups. The report analyzes the direct and indirect economic contributions of one of America’s most essential industries to U.S. jobs, wages, economic output, and taxes. 

The 2026 report confirms that America’s food and agriculture industries remain a cornerstone of the U.S. economy, generating more than $10.4 trillion in economic value—representing nearly 20% of the overall national economy. This marks an increase of nearly $894 billion year-over-year, reflecting growth across the agricultural value chain amid ongoing inflation pressures, a challenging farm economy, and an uncertain global trade environment.  

America’s food and agriculture sector supports 48.7 million jobs across the economy, including nearly 24.3 million direct jobs in farming, manufacturing, processing, distribution, retail, and foodservice. Direct employment has grown 6.5% over the past decade, though job growth slowed in the past year as parts of the sector faced economic pressures.  

Additional highlights from the 2026 Feeding the Economy report include: 

• Food and agriculture generate more than $3 trillion in wages for American workers, with wages rising 4% year-over-year and 13% over the past decade, generally outpacing inflation. 
• Food manufacturing remains the largest manufacturing sector in the United States, employing more than 2.28 million workers. 
• U.S. food and agriculture exports totaled more than $177.3 billion, though exports declined by roughly $5.4 billion year-over-year, underscoring the importance of maintaining strong trade agreements and expanding market access for American producers. 
• The food and agriculture sector generates $1.35 trillion in tax revenue for federal, state, and local governments, a 7% increase year-over-year.  

“The Feeding the Economy report affirms the vital role food and agriculture play in our nation’s economic resilience and food security. Commercial bakers have long been proud partners to American agriculture, sourcing 85 percent of their core ingredients from domestic farmers. This enduring connection between bakers and farmers helps the baking industry generate nearly 800,000 American jobs and ensure families across the country can count on nutritious, delicious, accessible, and affordable baked goods every day.” 

Despite the industry’s continued economic impact, the report reveals several emerging challenges. Direct employment in production agriculture and food manufacturing remained largely flat year-over-year, reflecting pressures on farmers, producers, and rural communities. Export values have also declined in inflation-adjusted terms over the past decade, further demonstrating the importance of stable and reliable international markets for U.S. agriculture.  

Sponsoring organizations from the food and agriculture industries, who helped make the 2026 study possible, provided commentary on this year’s findings. The full list of sponsoring organizations includes: 

American Bakers Association 

American Beverage Association 

American Farm Bureau Federation 

American Frozen Food Institute 

American Soybean Association 

Association of Equipment Manufacturers 

Consumer Brands Association 

Corn Refiners Association 

CropLife America 

Edible Oil Producers Association 

Farm Credit Council 

The Fertilizer Institute 

FMI- The Food Industry Association 

Global Cold Chain Alliance 

International Dairy Foods Association 

International Fresh Produce Association 

Meat Institute 

National Association of Manufacturers 

National Association of State Departments of Agriculture 

National Association of Wheat Growers 

National Corn Growers Association 

National Farmers Union 

National Grain and Feed Association 

National Grocers Association 

National Milk Producers Federation 

National Oilseed Processors Association 

National Pork Producers Council 

North American Millers’ Association 

Peanut and Tree Nut Processors Association 

Pet Food Institute 

Plant Based Products Council 

The Sugar Association 

U.S. Dairy Export Council 

U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council 

United Soybean Board 

About the American Bakers Association  

The American Bakers Association (ABA) is the largest, most established, and diverse trade association for the commercial baking industry in the United States. ABA’s community includes more than 350 member companies representing over 1,200 commercial baking facilities and the extensive industry supply chain.  

Since 1897, ABA has served as the voice of the baking industry, offering compelling advocacy, insightful thought leadership, and comprehensive research on industry trends. ABA members also benefit from extensive business services including premier networking events, impactful knowledge sharing, and effective workforce development programs and training resources. ABA is committed to enhancing its mission by growing the category and promoting the industry as the destination workplace. In 2025, ABA earned the prestigious Great Place To Work® Certification, underscoring its commitment to delivering on the Higher Level Impact strategic objective by fostering a strong internal culture that drives excellence for the commercial baking industry.