Agriculture and forestry are not only essential to daily life but also play a crucial role in Alabama's economy, contributing $77.3 billion annually and ranking among the state's top industries.

That figure was highlighted in the newly released "Agriculture & Forestry Grow Alabama: An Economic Contribution Study," unveiled earlier this month during a press conference hosted by the Alabama Agribusiness Council at the RSA Plaza Terrace in downtown Montgomery. According to a news release, the study, conducted by researchers from the Alabama Cooperative Extension System and Auburn University, examines the economic footprint of agriculture and forestry across the state.

Per the report, these industries support 273,271 jobs, accounting for 10% of Alabama's workforce. The economic impact includes production of goods and services, costs of inputs and additional household expenditures.

"The prosperity and sustainability of Alabama's economy is heavily influenced by agriculture and these allied industries, and I'm proud to represent the hard-working people employed in those endeavors," said Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries Rick Pate. "Commodities produced in our state help feed and clothe people across the globe. They also add beauty to our environment and protect our natural resources."

The economic numbers include production of goods and services, costs of inputs to production and additional expenditures from household income. Alabama Farmers Federation President Jimmy Parnell emphasized the significance of these findings, noting the potential for growth in the sector.

"Agriculture and forestry have been in the past and continue to be an extremely important part of Alabama's economy, but to know that we are contributing $77.3 billion to our state's economy each year is extremely valuable," Parnell said. "What's really exciting is to think about how much this number could grow in the future if our state would focus on more economic development that supports these industries."

The study, commissioned by the Alabama Agribusiness Council, offers a detailed breakdown of economic contributions by commodity and across 10 geographic regions as defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Researchers plan to update and release new figures every two years. Funding for the study was provided by 20 agricultural and economic organizations.

Among the key commodity contributions:

Timber production and processing: $30.6 billion, 91,372 jobs

Poultry and egg production and processing: $19 billion, 47,205 jobs

Soybean, corn and wheat production: $812.4 million, 4,736 jobs

Beef production: $703.6 million, 10,063 jobs

Cotton production: $566.9 million, 4,797 jobs

Greenhouse, nursery and floriculture production: $510.6 million, 4,360 jobs

Peanut production: $238 million, 1,940 jobs

Catfish production: $161.3 million, 676 jobs

To read the full report, visit GrowAlabama.org.