Texas ag contributes $100 billion in economic impact

According to the Texas Department of Agriculture, forecasts predict that Texas's vital ag sector will achieve a record $100 billion in economic impact for the state.  This will surpass even the highest previous level of $85 billion in 2004.
 

"All Texans should be proud of the dedicated men and women who put food on our tables and clothes on our backs," said Texas Ag Commissioner Todd Staples in remarks this week at the Texas A&M AgriLife Conference.
 

The Texas agriculture industry employs nearly two million, contributing approximately nine percent of the gross state product.  Not only is Texas the top state in the nation in number of cattle, but the state is currently leading the nation in biodiesel production, and some of the largest increases this year are from crops used to produce biofuels.
 

More information on the conference is available at http://tti.tamu.edu/conferences/2008agrilife.