National Grain and Feed Association study details industry’s $401.7B impact, 1.16M jobs

ARLINGTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) today released The Harvest Economy, a new economic impact study highlighting the vital role the U.S. grain and feed industry plays in powering jobs, tax revenues, and economic growth across America.

“This new study quantifies what many of us already know – that our industry is essential to rural communities, domestic and global food security, and the U.S. economy.”

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Among the study’s key national findings:

• $401.7 billion in total economic output (1.3% of U.S. GDP)
• 1.16 million jobs supported, including direct, supplier, and induced employment
• $85.9 billion in total wages and benefits
• $32.7 billion in taxes paid to federal, state, and local governments

Conducted by John Dunham & Associates and accessible on NGFA’s website, the interactive study provides national, state, and congressional district-level data showing the full economic footprint of the industry.

“Grain and feed companies transform America’s harvest into economic opportunity,” said NGFA President and CEO Mike Seyfert. “This new study quantifies what many of us already know – that our industry is essential to rural communities, domestic and global food security, and the U.S. economy.”

According to the study, America’s grain and feed industry makes a positive economic contribution to every state and congressional district in the country. All told, there are 9,683 grain and feed facilities in the United States. The 175,737 people directly employed by those facilities make, on average, $84,768 per year.

NGFA also launched a redesigned website in conjunction with the economic impact report. The site includes a platform that allows users to download fact sheets and explore data by state and congressional district, illustrating the industry’s local impact.

To explore the report, visit: https://www.ngfa.org/industry-impact/.

NGFA, established in 1896, consists of grain, feed, processing, exporting and other grain-related companies that operate facilities handling U.S. grains and oilseeds. Its membership includes grain elevators; feed and feed ingredient manufacturers; biofuels companies; grain and oilseed processors and millers; exporters; livestock and poultry integrators; and associated firms that provide goods and services to the nation’s grain, feed and processing industry.