The latest Feeding the Economy report shows how vital the food and agriculture sectors are to the Texas and U.S. economies.

The study, commissioned by 34 food and agriculture groups, found food and agriculture supports nearly 24 million U.S. jobs and contributes more than $9.6 trillion to the U.S. economy each year, while exports contribute another $181.36 billion.

The economic output has grown over a trillion dollars since last year’s report.

The U.S. agriculture sector has a broad reach from the national, state and district levels.

“The report goes over the impact of agriculture upstream and downstream. And, of course, farmers are at the heart of that, but it starts with the folks that supply farmers and goes all the way out to the to the folks that eat,” Roger Cryan, AFBF chief economist, said.

The report accounts for more than one-third of the entire U.S. economy. Agriculture directly supports over 15% of U.S. employment, while 20% of the total U.S. output is attributed to agriculture.

“The direct impact of the food supply chain from farm to retail was about 24 million jobs, about $990 billion in wages and $3.8 trillion in economic activity. When you add in the multiplied impacts, it’s more than doubled to 49 million jobs and $2.8 trillion in wages and $9.6 trillion in economic activity,” Cryan said.

Texas food and agriculture sectors contributed over 4.5 million jobs, about $236.2 billion in wages and $860.8 billion in economic activity.

The report shows how vital agriculture is to the U.S. and helps illustrate the need for a new, modernized farm bill to strengthen national food security, Cryan said.

“The agricultural supply chain is everywhere. It’s critically important to the economy, let alone how important it is just to feed and clothe people. Numbers like this can help drive home to everybody in every state the importance to them of the agricultural economy, and why it’s so important to recognize that we need a farm bill to support that enormous engine for economic activity,” he said.

Millions of jobs support the food supply chains in food manufacturing, processing, and storage facilities. Agriculture also touches more than one million restaurants and about 200,000 retail food stores.

Agriculture continues to bring economic benefits as workers in the food and agriculture sectors spend their income, helping support local economies, particularly in rural America.

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Favorable conditions for spring wild turkey season

The spring wild turkey season is shaping up to be a favorable one for hunters, thanks to a mild winter and early spring green-up.

Much of Texas saw an increase in production and recruitment last year, and hunters can expect to see many young birds this spring. That sets the state for a rise in male harvests in 2025 and beyond, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD).

However, due to the 2022 drought, hunters can expect to see fewer two-year-old males this spring.

“Don’t just limit yourself to the early season,” said Jason Hardin, TPWD Wild Turkey Program leader. “The middle and later portions of the season usually have fewer hunters in the woods, and you never know when you will strike a tom in the mood to strut and gobble. Go early and go often.”

Ten counties in Central Texas—Bastrop, Caldwell, Colorado, Fayette, Jackson, Lavaca, Lee, Matagorda, Milam and Wharton—offer a spring season from April 1-30.

Historically, there have been low numbers of turkeys in this region resulting in spring-only seasons. Hunters will be allowed a one-bird bag limit per county. All wild turkeys harvested in these counties will have a mandatory harvest reporting requirement and must be reported within 24 hours through the My Texas Hunt Harvest app or online.

Twelve counties in East Texas—Bowie, Cass, Fannin, Grayson, Jasper, Lamar, Marion, Nacogdoches, Newton, Polk, Red River and Sabine—will have a one-gobbler bag limit for the entire region and mandatory harvest reporting is required.

Hunters with a digital Super Combo license have a digital tagging option. Hunters who chose to use the digital tagging option must report their wild turkey at the time of harvest. Rules and guidance associated with the new digital tagging option can be found on the TPWD website.

Data from these harvest reports will help TPWD better manage the wild turkey population.

In addition to a Texas hunting license, hunters must possess an Upland Game Bird Stamp Endorsement to hunt wild turkeys.

Spring 2024 turkey season dates

Youth Only

Rio Grande: North Zone – March 23-24; May 18-19

Rio Grande: South Zone — March 9-10; May 4-5

Spring Regular Season

Rio Grande: North Zone — March 30 – May 12

Rio Grande: South Zone — March 16 – April 28

Rio Grande: Special One Turkey Bag Limit — April 1-30

Eastern Turkey: April 22 – May 14

Visit the Outdoor Annual or TPWD’s website for more information on season dates and hunting regulations.