US Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Sector

The 1.9 million farms and establishments involved in agricultural support, forestry, fishing, and hunting make up the sector. Establishments in this sector are focused on propagating and harvesting plants and animals for food, materials, and sport. While the vast majority of operations are small or family-owned businesses, corporate enterprises are entering the sector at a growing rate.

Food Safety and Traceability

Intentional and unintentional contamination of the US food supply is a growing concern.

Reliance on Government Support

The agricultural and fishing subsectors benefit from government subsidies that increase income and reduce risk and costs.

Aug 16, 2026 - Federal Plan Threatens Steep Water Cuts

• The Trump administration has proposed deep reductions in Colorado River water deliveries to Arizona, California, and Nevada during dry years over the next decade, The New York Times reports. The plan aims to address decades of drought, overuse, and shrinking river flows but could trigger prolonged legal battles over water rights and increase uncertainty for agricultural producers . Because the Colorado River irrigates about 5.5 million acres of farmland, stricter water limits could reduce irrigation for crops such as alfalfa, vegetables and other high-value produce, forcing farmers to fallow acreage, invest in water-saving technologies or shift to less water-intensive crops. Greater water scarcity may also increase production costs, reduce crop yields and tighten supplies of certain agricultural commodities, particularly in the Lower Colorado River Basin, while leaving long-term water availability uncertain as states continue negotiations.
• In July, NOAA Fisheries unveiled regional priorities under the Trump administration's America-First Seafood Strategy aimed at expanding opportunities for US commercial fishers by reducing regulatory burdens, increasing seafood production, and improving industry profitability. The plan calls for modernizing fishing fleets, revising quotas, easing monitoring requirements, reassessing area closures, improving access to fishing grounds, and maximizing harvest opportunities across regional fisheries. It also seeks to strengthen the domestic shrimp industry against import competition, increase flexibility in quota programs, and pursue higher international catch limits for highly migratory species. If implemented, the initiatives could boost catch volumes, lower compliance costs, and improve profitability for many commercial fishing operations, although regulatory changes will still require review through the regional fishery management council process.
• Farm lending remained generally healthy in the first quarter of 2026, but credit conditions are becoming more uneven across the US farm sector, according to latest Federal Reserve commercial bank data. Agricultural banks continued expanding both production and real estate lending in Q1, while several of the largest non-agricultural banks reduced production loans by nearly 10%, reflecting greater caution toward financially stressed crop producers. Farm loan delinquencies remained low overall, supported by government payments, strong cattle income, and stable farmland values, although large lenders continued to report weaker loan performance than smaller agricultural banks. The shift in lending suggests farmers may increasingly rely on specialized agricultural lenders for operating credit, while crop producers facing lower commodity prices and tighter margins could encounter more selective lending standards from the nation's largest banks.
• The 2026 wildfire season is intensifying pressure on US forests as prolonged drought, extreme heat, and reduced federal forest management capacity fuel larger, more destructive fires, the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) reports. By late June, more than 35,000 wildfires had burned nearly 3 million acres, about 195% of the 10-year average for that point in the year, with forecasts calling for 5.5 million to 8 million acres burned in 2026, per the NIFC. Dense forests with accumulated fuels and reduced hazardous fuel treatments are increasing the risk of severe crown fires that damage timber, wildlife habitat, and watersheds. The NIFC argues that restoring forest management capacity, expanding fuel reduction projects such as thinning and prescribed burns, and strengthening wildfire resilience are critical to protecting forest resources and reducing future wildfire losses as fires become increasingly difficult to suppress.

Industry size & Structure

The agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting sector comprises 23,300 establishments and 1.9 million farms that together employ over 2.2 million workers and generate about $616.8 billion in annual revenue.

• The sector represents 0.9% of US Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employs 0.8% of the country's workers.
• The sector is highly fragmented, dominated by independent farms and owner-operated businesses.
• In addition to employer establishments, the agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting sector (aside from farms) has 255,956 owner-operated establishments with no employees. Subsectors with the highest numbers of nonemployer establishments are crop support services (26%); fishing (24%); and animal support services (23%). The owners of nonemployer firms typically perform the work and may outsource support functions like marketing and accounting.
• Overall employment in farming, fishing, forestry, and hunting occupations is projected to increase by just 1,400 jobs (0.1%) between 2024 and 2034, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Within the sector, agricultural workers (farmworkers and laborers) are expected to lose 3% of their jobs, logging occupations are projected to lose 1,000 jobs (-2%), and forest and conservation workers are expected to lose 500 jobs (-5%) over the decade.