Economic Impacts of Florida-s Agricultural and Natural Resource Industries

The state of Florida has a large complex of agricultural and natural resource industries which produce a wide array of food, fiber and mineral products, and associated services. Florida's subtropical climate and abundant water resources provide a comparative advantage for production of high-valued products such as citrus, sugar, vegetables, and ornamental plants. The state also is a leading producer of forest products, seafood, livestock and animal products, and phosphatic fertilizers. For many of these commodities, production is closely integrated with manufacturing and service activities. This report reviews the historical economic trends in Florida's agricultural and natural resource sectors and estimates their total economic impact using the IMPLAN input-output modeling system. Direct impacts of the agricultural and natural resource industries in 1997 included $31.4 billion (8) in industry output (sales), $18.28 in exports from the state, $12.38 in total value added, and 314,000 jobs. The direct employment and value added represented 3.9 percent and 3.3 percent of the entire Florida economy, respectively. Total impacts, reflecting the multiplier effects of exports, local final demand, intermediate demand of other industries, and personal consumption expenditures of industry employees, were estimated at $49.28 in industry output, $23.88 in valueadded, and 544,000 jobs. Results are detailed for 102 individual industry sectors and 11 major industry groups including fruits and vegetables, sugar and confectionary products, field crops, dairy products, livestock and meat products, forest products, seafood products, other food and tobacco products, ornamental plants and landscape services, agricultural inputs and services, and mining.