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MARYVILLE

KXCV-KRNW


News Brief

Aug. 6, 2025 |  By: KXCV/KRNW News Staff

Impact of agriculture in rural economies

A snapshot of the labor market in Northwest Missouri shows the impact of agriculture in rural economies.

Many counties in our region count agribusiness, which includes agricultural production, processing, and related industries, as a major source of private sector employment.

In the state overall, more than 10% of private sector workers in rural areas are working in ag. But that percentage is even higher for the northwest region.

Almost half of private sector jobs in some of our region's counties, including Atchison, Mercer, Holt and Sullivan, are in agribusiness.

The analysis comes from the University of Missouri Extension Office, which also notes many employers in rural areas are struggling to fill positions, across industries -- not just in agriculture.