Economic Importance Of Iowa's Beef Industry

 

The Iowa Beef Industry Council, partially funded through the $0.50-per-head Iowa State Beef Checkoff Program, commissioned an economic impact report by partnering with Iowa State University to conduct the study. Additional partners instrumental to Iowa’s economic beef industry assessment included Iowa Cattlemen’s Association, Iowa Corn, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, and the Iowa Area Development Group. In an effort to fully understand and illustrate the economic impact Iowa’s beef industry has on the state, the analysis included both economic activity generated and the opportunities for growth.

 

 

Iowa is home to almost 28,000 cattle operations, and as of Jan. 1, 2017, was home to an estimated 3.85 million cattle and calves. In addition, Iowa has more feedlots and more cattle feeders than any other state. In 2016, Iowa marketed 1.76 million fed cattle, and more than 395,000 fed cattle were estimated to be harvested and processed in the state.

 

 

In 2016, Iowa’s beef industry generated an estimated $6.30 billion of economic activity in the state of which $4.09 billion was the result of direct spending by the industry. While there are harvest facilities within the state’s borders, the majority of Iowa’s cattle (almost 75%) are harvested outside the state in neighboring states like Nebraska, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Kansas.

 

 

Iowa’s beef industry supported an estimated 32,317 jobs in 2016. Of this, the industry directly employed 19,528 people. There are cattle production total economic impacts determined for all of Iowa’s counties, which highlights animal agriculture continues to be a valuable asset for jobs that ultimately grow communities.