The agricultural and food component of the U.S. economy is large and dynamic by most economic measures. While farming accounts for just over 1 percent of GDP and employment, the full economic significance of farming is much larger because agricultural products are used in value-added activities such as food manufacturing, services, and food stores. A broader definition of food and agriculture implies a 6 percent share of GDP and an 11 percent share of employment. More than half of the nation’s 2.3 billion acres is in farm and ranch-land uses. These lands also provide environmental and recreational services to an …read more
Source: The American Interest
