Thirty-five food and agriculture groups released the 10th annual Feeding the Economy report, a farm-to-fork study of the entire agricultural supply chain. The report analyzes the direct and indirect economic contributions of one of America’s most essential industries to US jobs, wages, economic output and taxes.  

The 2026 report confirms that America’s food and agriculture industries remain a cornerstone of the US 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.  
- US 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% 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,” Eric Dell, ABA president and CEO, said in a statement. 

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 US 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  
US Dairy Export Council  
US Grains & BioProducts Council  
United Soybean Board