USDA on Seattle Port and Annual Feeding the Economy Report

**California Farm Bureau President Jamie Johansson says the Golden State is failing to live up to its water promises.

Addressing the Capitol Ag Conference, he noted the lack of progress in building water storage under Proposition 1, approved by voters in 2014.

Johansson urged farmers and ranchers in America’s largest agricultural economy to let legislators know “how important we are to this state.”

**Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack announced plans for improving shipping in the Seattle area by prepositioning containers of U.S.-grown ag commodities near port terminals to help improve service for shippers.

The USDA is partnering with Northwest Seaport Alliance to enhance access to a 49-acre pop-up site to accept either dry agricultural or refrigerated containers for temporary storage.

The Northwest Seaport Alliance saw a nearly 30% decline in exporting ag commodities in the last six months of 2021.

**Food and ag groups released the sixth annual Feeding the Economy report, showing that 7% of the nation's economy and 29% of American jobs are linked to the food and agriculture sectors, either directly or indirectly.

Amidst the global supply chain and inflation crises, these sectors also exported nearly $183 billion worth of goods.

In 2021 these sectors contributed a total of $3 trillion to the U.S. economy. The report shows the total food and industry economic impact at $7.43 trillion.