New Mexico Agriculture Industry Surges Past $50 Billion in Economic Impact

 New Mexico’s food and agriculture industry continues to show strong momentum, generating more than $50 billion in economic impact in 2025, according to a newly released statewide economic report.

The annual Feeding the Economy report found New Mexico’s food and agriculture sector produced a total economic impact of $50.5 billion last year, marking an increase of more than 12 percent compared to $45 billion reported in 2024. The report tracks the full farm-to-fork supply chain, including farming, ranching, food processing, distribution, and restaurant services.

State officials say the industry remains a major driver of jobs and income across New Mexico communities. The report shows the sector supported 265,032 jobs statewide and generated $14.36 billion in wages, an increase of more than 11 percent from the previous year. Businesses tied to agriculture also contributed more than $5 billion in business taxes and produced over $301 million in exports.

New Mexico Secretary of Agriculture Jeff Witte said the numbers highlight the importance of agriculture to the state’s economy and rural communities. He noted that agriculture activity extends beyond farms and ranches to include food processors, restaurants, and transportation networks that keep products moving from producers to consumers.

Nationally, the report found food and agriculture industries contributed $10.4 trillion to the U.S. economy in 2025, representing about 20 percent of total economic output. The study also noted that nearly 200,000 food manufacturing, processing, and storage facilities across the country employ workers in a wide range of fields, from food science and engineering to logistics and trucking.

The Feeding the Economy report is produced each year by a coalition of major agriculture and food organizations and provides a detailed look at the economic role of the industry nationwide and in individual states.