Grocery storeNew USDA data shows farmers and ranchers received just 5.8 cents of every food dollar in 2024, a slight decline from the previous year and a reminder of how little consumer spending reaches the farm. Crop farmers saw their share fall, while livestock ranchers experienced modest gains, highlighting uneven financial pressures across agriculture.

The report underscores that most of the food dollar is captured beyond the farm gate, with the majority going toward processing, transportation, packaging and retail. As a result, even small swings in input costs or commodity prices can have an outsized impact on farm profitability, reinforcing ongoing financial pressure for farmers.

Read the full report to understand where your operation fits in today’s food dollar breakdown.