Texas A&M Agrilife and West Texas A&M’s research shows fed cattle economic impact

AMARILLO, Texas (KFDA) - Texas A&M Agrilife and West Texas A&M’s research shows that the High Plains region is responsible for producing 30 percent of the nation’s beef and dairy industry.

According to the research, the industry successfully brings in over $7 billion to the regional economy each year.

“The feed yard workers, ranchers, they’re going to go out. They’re going to buy pickups. They’re going to buy groceries, and they’re going to do that in Amarillo, or they’re going to do that in the region. So, that four billion local impact is about a 7 billion regional impact,” said DeDe Jones, risk management economist.

According to Jones, the Panhandle is responsible for 80 percent of the beef production and over 50 percent of dairy production in the state, with over 60,000 employees involved in agricultural related jobs.