Behind every meal that feeds the nation lies an economic powerhouse, as the U.S. agriculture and food sector contributed a staggering $1.530 trillion to the national GDP in 2023.
Key Takeaways
- Agriculture, food, and related industries contributed roughly $1.530 trillion to U.S. GDP in 2023
- The output of America’s farms contributed $203.5 billion to the GDP in 2023
- Food service, eating, and drinking places accounted for $776.1 billion of the value added to GDP in 2023
- There are approximately 1.9 million farms in the United States
- Land in farms consists of about 880 million acres across the U.S.
- The average farm size in the United States is 463 acres
- U.S. farmers produced 15.3 billion bushels of corn in 2023
- Soybean production in the U.S. totaled 4.16 billion bushels in 2023
- All wheat production in the U.S. totaled 1.81 billion bushels in 2023
- Market hogs and pigs inventory was 67.5 million head as of June 1, 2024
- Total cattle and calves inventory in the U.S. was 87.2 million head as of January 1, 2024
- The number of milk cows in the U.S. was 9.3 million head in 2023
- Agriculture accounts for about 10% of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions
- Soil management practices account for 50% of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions
- Enteric fermentation (livestock methane) accounts for 27% of agricultural GHG emissions
The U.S. agriculture industry is a massive economic force, contributing trillions to GDP and employing millions.
Crop Production
1U.S. farmers produced 15.3 billion bushels of corn in 2023
Verified2Soybean production in the U.S. totaled 4.16 billion bushels in 2023
Verified3All wheat production in the U.S. totaled 1.81 billion bushels in 2023
Verified4U.S. cotton production was estimated at 12.1 million 480-lb bales in 2023
Directional5Total rice production in the U.S. was 218 million cwt in 2023
Single source6U.S. sugarbeet production reached 35.2 million tons in 2023
Verified7Sugarcane production for sugar and seed was 33.3 million tons in 2023
Verified8Peanut production in the U.S. was 5.89 billion pounds in 2023
Verified9Potato production in the U.S. totaled 441 million cwt in 2023
Directional10Dry edible bean production reached 24 million cwt in 2023
Single source11Sunflower production totaled 2.26 billion pounds in 2023
Verified12U.S. sorghum production was 318 million bushels in 2023
Verified13Barley production for 2023 totaled 185 million bushels
Verified14Oat production was estimated at 57 million bushels in 2023
Directional15Alfalfa hay production totaled 49.9 million tons in 2023
Single source16All other hay production totaled 68.9 million tons in 2023
Verified17U.S. apple production was 9.8 billion pounds in 2023
Verified18Grape production reached 6.1 million tons in 2023
Verified19Total orange production for 2022-2023 season was 2.5 million tons
Directional20Strawberry production totaled 2.6 billion pounds in 2023
Single source21U.S. almond production (shelled basis) was 2.5 billion pounds in 2023
Verified22Walnut production reached 820,000 tons in 2023
Verified23Pistachio production in the U.S. hit a record 1.49 billion pounds in 2023
Verified24Peach production was estimated at 543,000 tons for 2023
Directional25Cherry production (sweet and tart) totaled 421,000 tons in 2023
Single source26Blueberry production (utilized) in the U.S. was 711 million pounds in 2023
Verified27Cranberry production reached 8.1 million barrels in 2023
Verified28Pecan production was estimated at 240 million pounds in 2023
Verified29Pear production totaled 670,000 tons in 2023
Directional30Commercial vegetable production value for the U.S. was $19.5 billion in 2023
Single sourceCrop Production Interpretation
Behold the awe-inspiring, calorie-bending, and fabric-weaving power of American agriculture, where each year our farmers orchestrate a symphony of billions of bushels, tons, and pounds so vast it could generously feed and clothe a nation while still leaving enough for a truly epic fruit and nut platter.
Economic Impact
1Agriculture, food, and related industries contributed roughly $1.530 trillion to U.S. GDP in 2023
Verified2The output of America’s farms contributed $203.5 billion to the GDP in 2023
Verified3Food service, eating, and drinking places accounted for $776.1 billion of the value added to GDP in 2023
Verified4Food and beverage manufacturing contributed $323 billion to the total U.S. GDP in 2023
Directional5Agricultural exports reached a record value of $196 billion in fiscal year 2022
Single source6Total cash receipts from crops were estimated at $273.6 billion in 2023
Verified7Total cash receipts from animals and animal products reached $244 billion in 2023
Verified8Net farm income is forecast at $116 billion for the 2024 calendar year
Verified9Production expenses for U.S. farmers are estimated at $458.9 billion in 2024
Directional10Direct government farm payments are forecast at $10.4 billion for 2024
Single source11The average net cash farm income for farm businesses is projected at $90,100 for 2024
Verified12Intermediate product expenses like feed and fertilizer accounted for $267.4 billion in costs in 2023
Verified13Total farm sector assets are valued at approximately $4.27 trillion in 2024
Verified14Farm real estate debt reached an estimated $381.8 billion in 2024
Directional15Non-real estate farm debt reached $159.2 billion in 2024
Single source16The debt-to-asset ratio for the U.S. farm sector is projected at 12.68% for 2024
Verified17Agriculture and food sectors provide 10.4% of total U.S. employment
Verified18U.S. agricultural imports were valued at $195.4 billion in fiscal year 2023
Verified19Corn exports from the U.S. generated $12.3 billion in revenue in 2023
Directional20Soybean exports represented the highest value crop export at roughly $28 billion in 2023
Single source21Dairy product exports reached $8 billion in value during 2023
Verified22The total value of beef exports from the U.S. was $9.9 billion in 2023
Verified23Pork exports contributed $8.16 billion to the U.S. economy in 2023
Verified24Poultry and egg exports were valued at $5.5 billion in 2023
Directional25Tree nut exports (almonds, walnuts, pistachios) were valued at $8.2 billion in 2023
Single source26California leads the nation in agricultural cash receipts with over $50 billion annually
Verified27Iowa is the second leading state in cash receipts, generating over $30 billion
Verified28Nebraska ranks third in agricultural cash receipts at approximately $25 billion
Verified29Texas agricultural cash receipts total roughly $24 billion annually
Directional30Minnesota ranks fifth in agricultural cash receipts at $17 billion
Single sourceEconomic Impact Interpretation
For all the talk of Silicon Valley, it turns out America's most essential trillion-dollar industry still runs on actual soil, sweat, and a shockingly narrow profit margin, where farmers feed the world on a shoestring while the real money is made after the food leaves the farm.
Land and Demographics
1There are approximately 1.9 million farms in the United States
Verified2Land in farms consists of about 880 million acres across the U.S.
Verified3The average farm size in the United States is 463 acres
Verified4Approximately 39% of U.S. farmland is rented or leased
Directional597% of U.S. farms are family-owned and operated businesses
Single source6Small family farms (less than $350k GCFI) operate 45% of U.S. farmland
Verified7Large and very large family farms account for 46% of the total value of production
Verified8The average age of all U.S. farm producers is 58.1 years
Verified9The number of beginning farmers (10 years or less experience) is 1,057,190
Directional10There are 1.2 million female producers in the U.S., representing 36% of all producers
Single source1158% of U.S. farms have at least one female decision-maker
Verified12Military veterans make up 9% of all U.S. agricultural producers
Verified13The number of farms with American Indian or Alaska Native producers is 60,118
Verified14There are 41,807 Black-operated farms in the United States
Directional15Hispanic-operated farms number 112,686 in the 2022 Census
Single source16Asian-operated farms in the U.S. total 23,267
Verified17Only 1 in 4 producers are under the age of 45
Verified18Total cropland in the U.S. is roughly 380 million acres
Verified19Pasture and rangeland account for about 415 million acres of U.S. land
Directional20Forest-use land on farms accounts for about 69 million acres
Single source21The number of farms in the U.S. has declined by 7% since 2017
Verified2274% of U.S. farms have internet access as of 2022
Verified23Texas has the highest number of farms of any state at 230,662
Verified24Missouri ranks second in number of farms with 87,887
Directional25Iowa has 80,419 farms, ranking third in quantity
Single source26Oklahoma contains 70,378 farms
Verified27Kentucky has 69,425 farms
Verified28The average value of farm real estate (land and buildings) is $4,170 per acre
Verified29Cropland value in the U.S. averaged $5,570 per acre in 2024
Directional30Pastureland value in the U.S. averaged $1,830 per acre in 2024
Single sourceLand and Demographics Interpretation
The American farm, now primarily run by geriatric guardians on ever-valuable land, presents a paradox of resilient tradition clinging to an asset base that increasingly defies both the youthful vitality and the diverse future trying to take root.
Livestock and Poultry
1Market hogs and pigs inventory was 67.5 million head as of June 1, 2024
Verified2Total cattle and calves inventory in the U.S. was 87.2 million head as of January 1, 2024
Verified3The number of milk cows in the U.S. was 9.3 million head in 2023
Verified4Total milk production in the U.S. for 2023 was 226 billion pounds
Directional5There were 2.87 billion broiler chickens produced in the U.S. in 2023
Single source6Total egg production in 2023 was 109 billion eggs
Verified7The inventory of all sheep and lambs was 5.03 million head as of January 1, 2024
Verified8Total turkey production reached 218 million birds in 2023
Verified9Honey production by commercial beekeepers was 139 million pounds in 2023
Directional10U.S. goat inventory totaled 2.47 million head on January 1, 2024
Single source11Red meat production in the U.S. totaled 54.4 billion pounds in 2023
Verified12Beef production totaled 26.9 billion pounds in 2023
Verified13Pork production totaled 27.3 billion pounds in 2023
Verified14Lamb and mutton production totaled 131 million pounds in 2023
Directional15Veal production totaled 48.6 million pounds in 2023
Single source16Average milk production per cow in 2023 was 24,117 pounds
Verified17Wool production in the U.S. was 22.7 million pounds in 2023
Verified18The number of cattle on feed in lots with capacity of 1000+ head was 11.3 million on June 1, 2024
Verified19Total catfish production (foodsize) was 323 million pounds in 2023
Directional20Trout sales in the U.S. totaled $101 million in 2023
Single source21There are 2.52 million colonies of honey bees in the U.S. as of January 1, 2024
Verified22Commercial layer chicken inventory averaged 379 million birds in 2023
Verified23Angora goat inventory was 107,000 head in 2023
Verified24Mohair production totaled 500,000 pounds in 2023
Directional25Total commercial hatch of broiler-type chicks was 9.94 billion in 2023
Single source26Total commercial hatch of egg-type chicks was 637 million in 2023
Verified27Mink pelt production was 1.33 million pelts in 2022
Verified28In 2023, 127 million hogs were slaughtered in the United States
Verified29Total cattle slaughter in 2023 was 32.2 million head
Directional30Calf slaughter totaled 283,500 head in 2023
Single sourceLivestock and Poultry Interpretation
America has a protein empire so vast, the chickens need their own spreadsheet, the cows require a dedicated census, and the bees are working double shifts just to keep the toast interesting.
Sustainability and Tech
1Agriculture accounts for about 10% of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions
Verified2Soil management practices account for 50% of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions
Verified3Enteric fermentation (livestock methane) accounts for 27% of agricultural GHG emissions
Verified4Manure management accounts for about 14% of agricultural GHG emissions
Directional5Precision agriculture technologies are used on approximately 50% of U.S. corn and soybean acres
Single source6Cover crops were planted on 19.7 million acres in 2022, a 17% increase from 2017
Verified7No-till farming practices were used on 105 million acres in 2022
Verified8Reduced-tillage (conservation tillage) was used on 103 million acres in 2022
Verified9Organic sales in the U.S. reached $67.6 billion in 2022
Directional10There are 17,048 certified organic farms in the United States
Single source11Renewable energy producing systems are installed on 153,101 farms
Verified12Solar panels account for 76% of renewable energy systems on U.S. farms
Verified13Geo-thermal energy systems are present on about 3,000 U.S. farms
Verified14Wind turbines are utilized by approximately 14,000 U.S. farms
Directional15Methane digesters are utilized on approximately 330 livestock operations
Single source16Agriculture uses approximately 80% of U.S. consumptive water use
Verified17Over 55 million acres of U.S. farmland are irrigated
Verified18Nebraska has the most irrigated land with 8.2 million acres
Verified19Sprinkler irrigation systems are used on 55% of irrigated acres
Directional20Drip or trickle irrigation is used on roughly 10% of irrigated land
Single source21Use of Variable Rate Technology (VRT) for fertilizer has grown to 40% of large corn farms
Verified22Auto-steer GPS technology is used by over 70% of large-scale grain farmers
Verified23Genetically modified (GM) corn accounts for 93% of all U.S. corn acreage
Verified24GM soybeans account for 95% of all U.S. soybean acreage
Directional25GM cotton (herbicide tolerant/insect resistant) accounts for 97% of U.S. cotton acres
Single source26Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) enrollment is capped at 27 million acres
Verified27Approximately 30,000 farms use drones for crop scouting or monitoring
Verified28Vertical farming/controlled environment ag is projected to be a $3 billion industry in the U.S. by 2025
Verified2940% of the U.S. food supply is wasted, totaling $218 billion annually
Directional30Soil carbon sequestration on U.S. agricultural lands has the potential to offset 10-15% of annual fossil fuel emissions
Single sourceSustainability and Tech Interpretation
The American farm is a study in profound contradictions, wielding GPS-guided tractors and genetically modified seeds to feed the nation while its own soil and livestock remain the source of a tenth of our emissions, yet it is also quietly deploying solar panels, cover crops, and no-till fields in a race to turn its vast acreage from a climate problem into a carbon-sequestering solution.
Sources & References
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- Reference 3CENSUScensus.govVisit source
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