As part of May’s World Trade Month celebrations, the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) and the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) recently released a study that found the export of grain and grain products in 2014 generated $82 billion in economic output, supporting more than 370,000 jobs.

Other critical facts from the study include:

• Exports of just U.S. corn and corn products generated $74.7 billion in annual economic output in 2014.
• All feed grains examined – corn, corn products, sorghum and barley – increased the U.S. GDP by $33 billion over what would have otherwise occurred, affecting 371,536 jobs.
• The export of corn and corn products increased the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) by $29.8 billion over what would have occurred without such exports.
• The number of full-time equivalent jobs linked directly or indirectly to corn exports totaled 332,787.
• Every $1 in exports of grains and grain products generates an additional $3.23 in business sales across the United States.

The study was released to coincide with agriculture week of World Trade Month, which the Council, NCGA and other agricultural groups have been celebrating on social media.

The month-long promotion of trade’s importance to the U.S. economy is designated by the International Trade Administration, a U.S. Department of Commerce agency that promotes U.S. exports.

The Council encourages everyone to join the conversion on Twitter this month by sharing your favorite agricultural trade fact.

Click here to visit the Council’s Twitter page.