Utah State University Ag. Economics Study
Introduction
Production agriculture and the agricultural processing and manufacturing sectors are important elements of the economy in the state of Utah. These economic sectors contribute jobs, income, fiscal revenues, and quality of life to not only rural regions of the state, but also to its more urbanized regions.
The agricultural processing sector and the production agriculture sector together account for $15.2 billion in total economic output in Utah after adjusting for multiplier effects.
Based on Utah’s 2008 Gross State Output, production agriculture and its associated processing sector accounts for 13.9% of total state output.
Production agriculture and the agricultural processing sector directly employ 22,522 people. They account for another 43,840 jobs due to a multiplying effect for a total of 66,500 people with income compensation of $2.4 billion.
When including the value of agricultural products used on the farm but not sold, total economic output of agricultural production and processing is $16.3 billion, or 14.8% of the Utah economy.
The production agriculture and processing sectors generate $350 million in state and local taxes. This includes $267 million in indirect business taxes, $66.1 million in personal taxes, and $18 million in corporate taxes.
Play videos of report authors Ruby Ward and Paul Jakus as well as Commissioner Blackham.
posted: February 22, 2010