North Dakota Agriculture Industry Economic Contribution Analysis

This report is one in a series of summary documents examining the role of agriculture in North Dakota.

Data for this study came from industry surveys, crop and livestock producer records, NDSU Extension, and other secondary sources.

The definition of the Agriculture Industry and methods used to estimate its economic contribution are  consistent with studies examining the economic contribution of other industries in the state. As usual,  these studies are snapshots in time and economic contributions often vary from year to year with  commodity-based industries.

The following figures combine all segments of the Agriculture Industry. Crop and livestock production are a three-year average from 2018 through 2020, all other industry segments represent a three-year average from 2015 through 2017, and economic metrics include direct and secondary economic effects.

Economic Metrics for North Dakota Agriculture

• $30.8 billion gross business volume
  • $18.2 billion from production
  • $12.6 billion from commodity handling, transportation, processing, and manufacturing
• 110,500 jobs (direct and secondary)
  • 77,600 jobs supported by production
  • 32,800 jobs supported by commodity handling, transportation, processing, and manufacturing 
• $7 billion in labor income
• $13.4 billion contribution to state gross product
• $790 million in local and state government revenues

Share of State Economy

• 28.4% of the state’s gross business volume
• 19.2% of all employment (wage/salary jobs and sole proprietors)
• 20.6% of labor income
• 24.2% of state gross state product
• 9.0% of total state and local government revenues